儿童英语读物 The Mystery of the Mixed-Up Zoo CHAPTER 2 The Mix-Up

Benny, awakening 1 before anyone else, climbed down the bunk’s ladder and tiptoed to the closet. He pulled on pants and a shirt. Then he sat by the window to wait until Henry woke up.



After a few minutes, unable to wait any longer, he went over to Henry and whispered, “Henry, Henry, are you awake?”



Groaning 2 softly, Henry rolled over and opened his eyes. “I am now,” he said.



“Get ready. We’re going to the zoo,” Benny urged. Sitting up, Henry said. “Look at you, Benny. You’re dressed and ready to go.”



Benny nodded.



“Okay,” Henry said, swinging his legs over and rubbing his eyes. “I’ll bet we’re the first ones at the breakfast table.”



But he was wrong. Coming into the kitchen, he was surprised to see Violet setting the table and Jessie mixing pancakes. Henry pitched in and broiled 3 bacon while Benny poured orange juice.



Edward and Grandfather soon joined them. Edward’s bushy eyebrows 4 shot up. “Well, well, what have we here?” he said. “What a treat.” He chuckled 5. “I only keep a few groceries on hand, but I see you’ve found a use for them.”



“Edward,” Jessie began as she set a stack of pancakes on the table, “I wonder if …”



“Yes?” he looked at her expectantly, pulling a chair to the table and sitting down.



“All of us like to cook and clean and garden.” Jessie paused, passing the syrup 6. “And, well, we’d like to do a few things for you.”



Edward chewed his bacon. “That would be wonderful. An old bachelor like me doesn’t pay much attention to the house. Or have many home-cooked meals.”



“Could we stack up your newspapers and magazines?” Violet asked.



“Of course.” Edward thoughtfully rubbed his chin. “You know, there’s an old cabinet in the basement. Maybe you could bring it up and hide them in there. Anything else you find down there that might be useful,” he added, “haul it up.”



“Thanks,” Henry said. “If you like, we could plant a few shrubs 7 and flowers, too.”



“I’d like to have a hand in that, too,” Grandfather said.



“Great!” Edward said, smiling. “I’ve got plenty of cash in that cookie jar.” He pointed 8 to an orange glass pumpkin 9 with a green stem for the lid. “Help yourselves to whatever you need to buy.”



“Thank you!” Benny said eagerly. “We won’t waste it. I’ll help weed and plant flowers.”



Edward threw back his head and laughed.



“I can see your visit is going to be the best thing that’s happened around here for a long time.” Then he patted his stomach. “That was delicious. Usually I eat a bowl of dry cereal.” He rose. “And now, are you ready for your tour of the zoo?”



“I’m ready!” Benny said promptly 10, jumping up from the table.



“I think we all are,” Grandfather Alden said. “Lead the way, Edward.”



And so on a beautiful morning with the sun streaming through the leaves, they walked to Marlow’s Zoo.



Going through the iron-grilled gates, they walked down a tree-lined path. Birds sang and tigers rumbled 11.



A young woman carrying a bucket walked toward them. She wore khaki knee-length shorts and a matching shirt.



Edward waved. “Pat!” he shouted. “Come meet my friends.”



She hurried over. “Hi,” she said. “This must be the Alden family.” A smile lit her tanned face. “Edward’s been talking about your visit for weeks.”



“This is Pat Kramer” Edward said, introducing each of the Aldens. “Pat’s the best animal keeper this side of the St. Louis Zoo. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”



Pat shook James Alden’s hand and then each of the children’s. “If I can explain anything about the animals, let me know,” she offered pleasantly.



“Thanks,” Benny said.



“And that goes for all of us,” Henry added.



Pat smiled. “I have to get back to Leona.”



“Leona?” Violet questioned.



“Leona, the lion,” Pat said. “She hasn’t been herself lately, so I’m giving her a special diet.”



“Let me know how she reacts,” Edward said.



“I will,” she promised and went on her way.



Looking over the zoo, the Aldens could see that many animals were not in cages.



“I think it’s wonderful that many of the animals aren’t behind bars,” Jessie said.



Edward, strolling along, said, “Each animal has an area that is as close to its home in the wild as we can make it.” He stopped before three giraffes. “In some cases a moat separates visitors from the animals,” Edward explained, pointing to a deep ditch between them and the long-necked giraffes, who munched 12 contentedly 13 on tree leaves. Once they stopped to stare at their visitors, their soft eyes with long lashes 14 blinking at the Aldens.



“Wow! Look how tall they are,” Benny said, leaning back and looking down. “They have a longer neck than Miss Harrington, my first-grade teacher.”



Violet read the sign. “ ‘Grizzly Bear.’ ” Puzzled, she glanced at Edward. “Grizzly bear?” she repeated.



Edward bent 15 over to read the sign for himself. “Grizzly Bear!” He shook his head. “Well, now, we can see that’s not right.”



“Let’s see what it says by the elephants,” Benny shouted, running ahead.



He read the square card in front of the four adult elephants and one baby. “This sign says ‘Monkeys’!” Placing his hands on his hips 16, he said, “Did I read it wrong?”



“No,” Violet said. “You’re right, the card is wrong.”



“Well, I’ll be,” Edward said, catching 17 up. Bewildered, he hurried to the Bird House. “Look at this,” he said to the others who followed.



Jessie peered at the sign. “Why, the birds are all labeled ‘Panthers,’ ‘Lions,’ and ‘Tigers.’ ” As if in protest, the birds shrilled 18 and screeched 19.



Outside the Bird House, Benny passed a desertlike area on which a black snake slithered over the sand. “This card says ‘Fox,’ ” Benny said.



Jessie, Violet, and Henry laughed. “Someone is playing a funny prank 20 on Edward.”



But Edward didn’t laugh. “What’s going on?” he asked. “This is an awful mix-up!”



Grandfather stepped forward, a smile twitching 21 at the corners of his mouth. “It’s a joke, Edward. Don’t worry.”



“Well,” Edward growled 22. “I don’t find it very funny.”



“We’ll put the signs in their right places,” Violet said, snatching up the FOX sign. Soon all of them had been returned.



“Good, good,” Edward murmured. “I hope there are no more pranks 23!”



On the way home, Jessie glanced at Edward and could see he was still upset. “How about a nice dinner at home?” she asked. “We’ll cook your favorite.”



Edward’s smile wiped away his gloom. “I like a good steak, baked potatoes, and tossed salad.”



“That’s easy,” Henry said.



When they arrived at the house, Edward said, “But you’ll need to go to the store. Mike’s Grocery is only two blocks that way.” Pointing in the opposite direction from the zoo, he dug in his pocket and pulled out some money, giving it to Jessie. “Now you can buy whatever you need.”



Violet and Jessie, not wasting any time, hurried down the road.



Before long they were back and went directly to the kitchen.



Jessie stopped, her mouth dropping open. “Henry! Benny! You’ve cleaned the whole kitchen!”



Violet smiled. “Even the floor has been mopped.”



“We wanted to surprise you,” Benny said.



“You certainly did,” Jessie said.



Henry unloaded the groceries while Violet made a salad and Jessie scrubbed six big potatoes and wrapped them in foil.



That evening everyone was seated at the dining room table. When the thick seared steaks and steaming potatoes were served, Edward’s eyes lit up.



Cutting into his steak, Edward beamed. The children could see he felt a lot better than when he saw the mixed-up signs. They were glad they could cheer him up.