THE WILD WHITE TIGER
by Fi171
Long ago , white tigers roamed quite peacefully in a country called Siberia, until man came! Man spoiled it all. They killed the tigers for their fur or teeth or even
sometimes just for fun! Nowadays white tigers numbers are dwindling, and people have to take them and keep them in the zoo.
Elizabeth and Jessica Weaverbirds were identical twins, and their birthday was on the 21 st September. Our story starts on the day before this in the year 1999.
It was getting cold and the rain was pelting down nearly every day, though I suppose you would expect that in early autumn.
Jessica and Elizabeth were sitting in their bedroom trying to decide what to do tomorrow for tomorrow was their birthday, but Jessica seemed to be the only one
with ideas.
“How about ice skating?“ suggested Jessica.
“Can’t,” replied Elizabeth shortly.
“Horse riding.”
“Won’t.”
“Why?!”
“I’m too scared.”
“Since when.”
“Since Gloria got thrown off one and broke her arm.”
(Gloria was Elizabeth’s best friend.)
“OK, maybe not.”
Elizabeth turned on the TV. The adverts were on. The advert that was on said “Edinburgh zoo with many exotic animals. Come take a look at a Siberian tiger or a
lion from Africa. So, don’t delay! Come to us today.”
Elizabeth and Jessica looked at each other. “Lets go to the zoo,” they both said at the same time. They both burst out laughing.
“As long as we go to see the Siberian tiger,” blurted Elizabeth.
“How did you know I was going to say that?”
“We better go to sleep now,” sighed Elizabeth.
“Ok, good night.”
“Good night.”
In the morning, they woke up bright and early and went downstairs to find mum and dad with a bundle of presents each for them and decorations around the living
room.
“Happy birthday girls,” their mum and dad said.
“Have you decided where you want to go for your birthday treat?” their mum said smugly.
“Yes” the twins said together.
“Where then?” said their dad.
“Edinburgh Zoo.” said Elizabeth.
“It's only two miles away.”
“Oh well, I suppose I might if you open your presents first.”
“YEAH PRESENTS!” yelled the girls together.
“Here you go “(their mum and dad handed them the presents.)
“Wow a micro scooter!” yelled Jessica.
“A mini popcorn maker - thanks!” exclaimed Elizabeth.
After about ten minutes, all the presents had been opened, and they were eating a family breakfast of a full English fry up.
Once they were finished dad said,“Come on then you two get ready and we can go to the zoo.”
“Yeah.”
They pulled on their long black coats and green Wellington boots, they climbed into the car and they were off on their way to a day at the zoo.
Half an hour later they had got inside the zoo and were just picking up a table for the shows, it said:
ANIMAL
TIME
WHERE
COST
HORSE
10:30
SHOW ZONE
£1.00
SIBERIAN TIGER
12:00
TIGER ARENA
FREE
DOLPHIN
2:30
WATER SHOW ZONE
£1.00
FALCONRY
3:30
BIRD AREA
£0.50
CHIMPS
5:00
SHOW ZONE
£1.00
“Right then girls,” dad said, "You can choose one show each and one show between you to go and see.”
“I choose dolphins,” Elizabeth said quickly.
“I choose chimps,” Jessica replied.
“Now choose one between you.”
“How about tigers,” Elizabeth and Jessica said together.
“That’s sorted then.”
Little did they know that the only show they were going to see today was the Siberian tiger…
That morning they saw elephants, giraffes, lions and much, much more.
At five to twelve they made their way to the tiger arena. When they got there it was starting to get full. By the time the show started people were sharing seats and
even sitting on the steps to see the show. When the show got under way, everybody was amazed by what they saw. The white tiger could do so many tricks.
Suddenly a helicopter whirled above their heads. It was a police helicopter it had its sirens and its search lights on. This startled the tiger and he began to roar and
stand up on his hind legs. Soon he was jumping about like a bull, suddenly he took one almighty leap and landed right in the middle of the crowd, every single person
screamed and ran, a voice boomed over the loud speaker:
“Will everybody please stay calm and make your way towards the exit.”
This just caused even more havoc. Everyone carried on screaming, and there was even more (if possible) pushing and shoving to get to the exits. In all this commotion
Jessica and Elizabeth found themselves getting pushed further and further from their mum and dad. They tried to shout to them but they couldn’t hear them over all
the screaming and shouting. Again they found themselves being dragged against their will, this time through the door they clung on to each other trying not to get
separated. Elizabeth dragged Jessica down a narrow alleyway just off the main path.
“Lets wait for everybody to pass then we’ll look for mum and dad,” Elizabeth whispered quietly.
“O…………”
The loud speaker cut off Jessica:
“Could everybody please evacuate the zoo?”
“I was going to say O.K., but it doesn’t look like we’ve got much choice now does it,” Jessica finished.
She nodded towards the alley entrance.
“Oh,” sighed Elizabeth “Sorry.”
“Its not your fault, its better here than it is being dragged along by a screaming mob!”
“We’ll just have to wait for the crowd to pass.”
Meanwhile, their mum and dad were waiting outside the zoo gate, everybody had found their families and fled, and they had all just got in their cars and drove away,
But the twins’ mum and dad, along with another boy’s mum and dad, were still shouting at a stressed representative trying to find out where their daughters were.
The twins’ mum was in tears. She was so choked with them that she couldn’t speak, and their dad was trying his best to keep his calm, but it was coming out in bursts:
“BUT WHERE ARE THEY,” she would shout or “YOU MUST KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.”
“We are doing our best to locate your daughters.” The representative replied.
“Exactly how vicious is this tiger?” mum finally piped up.
“Well I’m afraid that when wound up like this it would probably kill whoever it met.”
Mum suddenly went all white and fainted, but dad caught her.
“Oh no, I’ll call an ambulance,” the rep said sounding very worried.
“Okay, lets go,” sighed Elizabeth.
“No wait, listen.”
“I can hear something, but I can’t tell quite what it is.”
“I think it’s an ambulance siren.”
“Yes, it’s getting closer.”
There was a small silence.
“Oh come on, we have to go,” Jessica said suddenly.
They had just got out of the alleyway when Elizabeth pushed Jessica back in.
“It's there,” she whispered.
“What is?” said Jessica.
“Shh, the tiger,” hissed Elizabeth “get back.”
“Crouch down beside those bins and put your coat over yourself,” whispered Jessica.
“Yes and take off your wellies,” whispered Elizabeth back.
“Oh yes, they’re bright green.”
Elizabeth peeped round the corner. “Quick, it’s coming.”
There was a mad scramble to get under their coats, and when they finally did get sorted, it was none too soon. A couple of seconds later they heard a growling
sound just in front of them which clearly meant that the tiger was trying to decide whether to come down the alleyway. Neither of the girls dared move, let alone
talk. They were even trying their best not to breathe. After about a minute the tiger decided not to come down the alleyway, but continued down the main path.
After about five minutes, Jessica whispered, “Is it safe?”
“I think so.” Elizabeth answered.
She crawled towards the entrance.
“Yep, its safe.”
“Then lets get out of here.”
Back at the entrance to the zoo, their mum had woken up again.
“Oh do stay here - my daughters, my daughters are in there,” she had said blankly.
“Then we’d better get some police on the scene,” the paramedic had replied, and went off to call the police.
When the police arrived they asked mum and dad some questions:
Where did you last see your children?
Or, can you retrace your steps from the first time you entered the park?
Then the police asked the lion master some questions:
What startled the animal and how long should it take for the animal to calm?
Mum nearly fainted again when the lion master replied, “Well, it can take anything from a day to perhaps three weeks.”
Jessica and Elizabeth edged their way out of the alley.
"Arghhhhhhh!"
But, they weren’t the only ones screaming.
“What are you doing scaring two fine ladies like us in the middle of a deserted zoo?” screamed Jessica.
“Me! You’re the ones who scared me,” the other person screamed back.
“Both of you shut up,” whispered Elizabeth.
“Well sorry,” the other said at once.
“No, I mean you’ll attract the tiger.”
“Come on then get in here,” the other person said and dragged them down another side passage.
When they got in, Elizabeth and Jessica examined the other person. It was defiantly a boy about the same age as them. He had short spiky brown hair, blue eyes
and wore a blue blazer, black trousers and shiny new black shoes.
Finally the boy said, “So I take it your identical twins.”
“Good observation, smarty pants.” Jessica said sarcastically.
“Jessica,” Elizabeth said sternly.
“It’s okay,” said the boy “What’s your name? Oh I mean names.”
“Mine’s Jessica.”
“And mine’s Elizabeth.”
“They're pretty names.”
“Thanks,” replied Elizabeth.
“Okay, quit the compliments. We need to get out of here.” This time it was Jessica’s turn to be stern.
“Okay. But just so you know, my name's Ben. Why are you here? I’m here for my birthday. It’s today!”
“What?! Today’s our birthday too! And this is our birthday treat, but lets cut the chitchat like Jessica said. We have to get out of here,” cried Elizabeth.
“Okay.. But do either of you know how to get out of here?” said Ben.
“Only the way we came in.” shrugged Jessica.
“Okay, let's go then,” replied Ben with a waving movement of his arms.
So the three of them set off towards the entrance of the park with Ben in the lead, Jessica in the middle, and Elizabeth bringing up the rear.
Suddenly as they turned a corner, Ben pushed them back.
“Shh.” he hissed. “Go that way.”
“What is it?” asked Jessica.
“Just go,” Ben hissed again. “Quickly.”
So Elizabeth, Jessica and Ben edged the other way and down another path.
“It’s the tiger,” hissed Ben.
“Go that way then.” whispered Elizabeth.
“Suits me,” shrugged Jessica.
“And quick!” beckoned Ben.
After a little while, Ben stopped them again.
“Not the tiger again!” sighed Jessica.
“Nope, our ticket out of here.”
“What do you mean?” asked Elizabeth.
“Well, that’s the horses' cage.”
“And?” Asked Jessica.
“Let me finish! We could ride them out of this place.”
“No way.”
“Why?” Asked Ben.
“Because Gloria fell off one and broke her arm.”
“And does she still ride?”
“Well….”
“Yes she does.” Jessica butted in.
“Look, you either stay here and wait for the tiger to come and make a tasty snack out of you, or you come with us and ride a horse out of here.”
“Well if you put it like that.”
“Great come on. They're really tame.” Ben said hurriedly.
So together the three of them walked cautiously towards the horses.
“I know which one I want.” Both the twins said at the same time. Jessica was staring at a pure, jet-black stallion whilst Elizabeth was staring at a pure white mare.
“Looks like I’m having this one then.” Ben nodded towards the remaining brown stallion. “Not that I mind.” He added hastily.
After a few minutes of saddling the horses, they were on their way galloping this way and that. After about quarter of an hour Ben called back, “stop.”
They all staggered to a halt.
“Why did you want us to stop?” Elizabeth asked breathlessly.
“I just wanted to say, well I’ve rather enjoyed spending time with you two, and I’d like to see you again.”
“Ah thanks, Ben. We’d like that too.”
“Come on then. The gates are only just around this corner.”
They all led their horses around the corner to an enormous amount of screaming and crying:
“We thought we’d never see you again!” or “We were so worried!”
The zoo rep piped up.
“We’re all happy you got out safely, but I’d just like to know what on earth are you doing with those horses?”
“Perhaps we’d better tell you the whole story.” replied Ben.
So Ben (with a little help from Elizabeth and Jessica,) told the story from beginning to end, starting with when they all got separated from their parents and
ending with them coming round the corner to see their parents again. It took about five or ten minutes for them to tell the whole story but when they had finished,
the grown-ups all started talking furiously together, and Ben took Jessica aside and whispered something in her ear, Jessica nodded in return.
Later that evening Jessica sighed.
“What’s the matter?” asked her sister.
“Oh nothings the matter. I’m just glad today’s over.”
“Yeah, today has been pretty hectic.”
“Well at least one good thing’s come out of it.”
“And what’s that?” asked Elizabeth.
“I got a date with Ben!” replied Jessica smugly.