Flight of the Yellow Rocket

The flying banana never actually made it to the crowd. Just as it cleared the edge of the glass barrier, a streak of gray and brown intercepted it mid-air. It was Kali, a cheeky young chimpanzee from the neighboring enclosure who had been watching the drama unfold with intense interest. She caught the fruit perfectly in her left foot, swung gracefully from a low-hanging rope, and landed on top of a fake rock formation with a victorious hoot.

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, thinking it was all a carefully choreographed show.

Inside the gorilla enclosure, however, the mood was decidedly less celebratory. Baraka sat flat on his rump, staring up at the empty space where the prize had just been. He slowly turned his head to glare at his brother.

Bobby, completely oblivious to his brother’s frustration, was busy clapping his hands together. His snowy fur stood on end, making him look like a fluffy, oversized dandelion.

“Did you see that?!” Bobby squeaked, hopping from foot to foot. “I flew it! I made the yellow stick fly!”

“You lost our lunch, you big marshmallow,” Baraka huffed, crossing his arms over his chest.

“It was a tactical maneuver,” Bobby insisted, puffing out his small chest.

Mojo, the patriarch, sighed heavily. The deep, rumbling breath blew a few loose leaves across the dirt. He looked down at the woven basket resting in his massive palm. It was still piled high with yellow bananas, sweet apples, and leafy greens. With the patience of a saint, Mojo reached in, pulled out another pristine banana, and held it out between the two squabbling youngsters.

But the peace would not last long……