I headed off to work at the supermarket this morning, leaving Mum and Dad to sort out what needed to be done with the animals. Locking up my bike out the front of the mall, I headed through into the staffroom and left my bag there, then got to work stacking tins on shelves. The day passed by, the store opening without incident. Per the decision last week, there wouldn’t be an Australian mammals TAG meeting, so I didn’t have to take a break. I left work at the end of my shift, riding home. I’d told Mum and Dad that I would help out with the animals for the late afternoon and evening, so that they would have some time to themselves, and also get work done. I returned home, stashing my bike in its new location. Heading inside the house, I washed my hands at the sink and fetched a drink. I was tempted to lie on the lounge and scroll through my phone. However, with a little bit of work to do, I set off, out the back door and into the zoo grounds. This is the life I’ve chosen, and the life that’s chosen me. I walked through the nocturnal house. Everything felt right, like we’d imagined when we very first drew up the plans and envisioned what it would be like to bring the jungle to Tasmania. The tarsiers were all brachiating, despite the food which had been provided for them on the ground in order to try to replicate their natural behaviours, which involve foraging for food on the ground.
Abbey Sim is the founder of Huldah Media. She is a creative writing, law and theology student who lives on the lands of the Dharug people in Sydney, Australia. Abbey has long had a passion for the weird and the wonderful of stories, sport and zoo animals. 'From the Wild' is her first anthology.
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