The Last Guy
“Another giraffe?” The van bounces, and I look up to see we’re entering the parking lot.
The window goes down, and he shows our press passes to the guard. The uniformed lady smiles and waves us through. We’re able to park close to the entrance, and I turn the narrow gold watch on my arm as I slip out of the van. It’s five fifteen. We’ve got plenty of time to get set up and get a few interviews before live coverage of the ribbon cutting starts at six.
Kevin is right behind me when I show our credentials at the gate. The attendant runs out to take a selfie with me, and I’m feeling pretty encouraged by the time we reach the new wing.
“Oh my goodness!” My jaw drops, and I grip Kevin’s arm. This is no ordinary petting zoo. This place is breathtaking, like something out of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. “Be sure to get those shots I asked for.”
Stepping into the large, open-air facility is like stepping into a jungle. Huge palms surround us with red succulent blooms rising from their centers. A net-roofed area is filled with tropical birds of all colors and sizes. Children shriek and run across roped footbridges suspended over ponds containing alligators and turtles, and smaller pens separate different types of animals.
The animals for petting consist primarily of the usual farm variety, including miniature horses, goats, chickens, and pot-bellied pigs. It’s a whole wilderness safari theme.
“You must be Rebecca!” A female voice greets me, and I turn to see a woman with shoulder-length brown hair and bangs, wearing a thick, white tank top and khaki shorts walking toward me.
“Stacy?” I ask.
“That’s me! Where would you like to start?”
“This place is amazing! I’m so glad I came.”
“Well, we’re glad to have the coverage. We’ve spent a lot of money on all this,” she laughs. “I didn’t have time to get it in the media kit, but we’re in the running for Top U.S. Family Vacation Destination and ‘Ten places to take your kids before 10’ by Parents Magazine.”
“That’s huge,” I agree, jotting notes quickly on my steno pad.
“The climate is perfect for this type of facility. With the awards and coverage, we’re making a major impact on the Houston economy.”
“And you’re not oil or football!” I squeeze her arm, thinking how I owe Cade a big apology when I get back to the station.
Stacy gives me the tour of the different “learning areas,” as they call them. She shows me the indoor reptile exhibit and we visit the bird shelter. Kevin is back with us, and I’m able to ask her questions for the ten o’clock package about school trips and future plans for the facility. The time passes quickly, and she waves over my shoulder.
“We’re getting ready for the ribbon cutting. Are we going live?”
“Yes!” I stop at a metal bench where Kevin has set up the satellite box with its tall antenna. “We’ll send the feed from here.”
Steps away, I see a man in a white shirt with a badge and epaulettes. He’s also wearing khaki shorts like Stacy, and he’s holding a small, brown monkey with a little pink bow on her head.
“Oh!” I cry. “She’s so cute! Do you think I could hold her?”
“What a fun idea! Let me ask.” Stacy walks to the platform where the man is standing.
Behind him on the elevated platform, sit the mayor, a few members of the city council, and the zoo president and CEO. Their information is listed on the press release Stacy sent us, and Lorie will read it over the B-roll Kevin shot earlier. He’d sent it back to the station, and Vicky picked out scenes.
While Stacy chats with the monkey man, I turn to Kevin. “Let’s set up the shot so we’re ready.”
“Becks? Can you hear me?” Vicky speaks to me from the control room, and I nod as I adjust the small headphone in my left ear.
“Loud and clear.” I look into the camera and smile.
“You look great from here,” she says. “What have you got for us?”
“Have Lorie ask me about the Parents Magazine awards. It’s two new things, not on the press release. I’ll say something about how they’re hoping to make a major impact on Houston tourism.”
“Sounds great.” I know Vicky is making notes as she speaks, and she’s clearly impressed.
I adjust my shirt, making sure the paper clip is holding steady, and this time I have my compact to powder my nose and forehead. I smooth my hair, and I’ve just reapplied my lipstick when Stacy returns with the man and his monkey.
“Rebecca, this is Albert Jones and Pixie.”
“Hi, Pixie!” I scrunch my nose and hold out my hand as if she’s a baby. “Is it okay if I hold her?”
“Sure.” Albert has a distinct, flat accent.
“Are you from the Midwest?” I ask as he hands over the small primate.
“I studied at the University of Wisconsin,” he says.
“Oh!” My grip wobbles, and Pixie immediately grabs my neck and shoulder, pulling hard on my shirt. “She’s heavier than I expected . . . and strong!”
My earpiece lights up, and Vicky is speaking fast. “Ready, Becks? We’re leading straight in with you at the top of the hour.”
Kevin is behind the camera, and I’m doing my best to loosen Pixie’s death grip on my throat.
“She doesn’t seem to want to let go,” I say with a nervous laugh, looking to Albert for assistance.
He’s focused straight on the camera lens, hands behind his back, no smile.
“We’re ready in five, four, three . . .” Kevin points out the last two numbers in the countdown, and I’ve finally managed to relocate Pixie’s ridiculously strong paw . . . hand?
The red light goes on, and I lift the mic for the tease. “It’s a big day here at the J.P. McGowan Children’s Zoo. I’ll have all the highlights when we return!”
I do my signature wink, and they cut away for Lorie to announce the other top stories in tonight’s broadcast. Pixie jerks and once again has a hold on my precarious blouse. She’s climbing around on my waist, her monkey toes cutting into my hips, and I have less than five seconds to rearrange her before we’re live again.
“She’s like an octopus!” I look to Al for help, but he’s a deer in headlights.
“Coming back to you, Becks,” Vicky says fast.
“It’s a beautiful day for a ribbon cutting.” I hold my smile steady as the monkey climbs me like a tree. “Get ready to have your socks knocked off, Houston, because this new facility is truly top notch!”
They cut to the B-roll Kevin shot of the different areas, the succulents, the waterfall, and Lorie reads the text I sent over to go with it. I’ve finally got Pixie situated on my hip, and I look down into her little face.
“You gotta work with me here, Pix. Okay?” I smile, and her round eyes move over my face then down to my blouse. Naturally, the silver paper clip catches her attention, and she picks at it. “No no!” My voice is high like she’s a baby. “Don’t touch that.”
“Pixie is too young to understand language.” Albert has finally rejoined the circus. “Once she’s weaned, she’ll learn more—”
“I’m sorry?” I’m still looking at Albert, eyebrows up, when I realize Kevin is pointing the countdown to me. My mic is in my hand, and I’m balancing a curious monkey-baby on my hip.