Lion’s are alike this time of year. I should know. This is
my second year as assistant to the Big Cat zookeeper. And I saw this same thing
when I first started. The Arizona heat makes them sleepy and irritable. At
first I assumed they were just lazy from too many years in captivity, I mean if
someone had been bringing me slabs of meat twice a day I’d still be on his sleeper
sofa in sweatpants rather than gainfully employed.
Mr. Alverez was kind for hiring me. While it’s true I have
very little training, and it’s also true that my dad pushed them so hard to
give them me a job, I like to think I will soon prove myself with my meticulous
work habits. When they asked me what I envision myself doing at the Zoo I
imagine they hoped I would say a service position, like manager of the jungle
café. At worse they feared I would say an administrative position and their
jobs would be in jeopardy. But what I said was Tigers. Looking back on it now,
I may have come across more like a seven year old and not a graduate from
college. Either way the administrative staff looked relieved. One even laughed
to herself.
The first words Mr. Alverez said after I handed him the slip
of paper was “I don’t need an assistant.” What I’ve come to appreciate about my
boss is his taciturn candor. At first I wondered if he didn’t speak English
that well, but now I think he just doesn’t talk if he feels like he doesn’t
want to. And when he does he speaks his mind. I think this is one of those
things where someone likes animals more than people. I’ve seen him with the
leopards and such – he’s great. I’m determined to be his favorite person, but
he doesn’t know that yet.
I’ve come so far in the last twelve months. Mr. Alverez
doesn’t chide me for my ineptitude nearly as often. He trusts me so much, I’ve
moved from more superfluous tasks to actually prepping the lion’s meals in the
morning. I may only be pulling the meat out of the freezer to thaw, but I think
it’s a step in the right direction. I had been so proud of how I had been
doing, which is why I so surprised when he came in last Tuesday so completely-
