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Roaring Road Trip Part 1: Revelations, Lamentations and Exodus

"Did you sleep well?" I asked Julie made her way down the stairs, rubbing sleep out of her eyes.

"I slept well, thank you. Do you... usually get up this early?" She asked as she settled onto the couch, folding her legs under her as she was wearing one of those extra-long nightshirts.

I shook my head. "Usually I get up about an hour before work, but Cleo woke me not too long ago so I decided to get up for the day since it was light out already. I helped myself to a piece of that pie you brought for breakfast. It's actually good."

Julie chuckled. "I just grabbed it at the store, but I'm glad you like it."

"Would you like a piece, or... do you have something in particular you'd like for breakfast? I usually just grab something to munch on like chips or whatever and stuff my face while driving in." I smiled and moved to get up from my recliner.

"A piece of that pie would be nice... and if you have something to go with it to drink," Julie said, and I got up to dish up the dessert.

"Glass of milk? Can of soda? I don't usually make coffee but I could whip some up if you'd like that...." I stood in the kitchen doorway.

"Milk would be good, Jim. Thanks," came the response.

I poured her a reasonable glass of milk and brought it, and the plate of pie, out to my houseguest. "Here you go."

I sat back down in my recliner and sipped my soda while she ate. "I'm glad you invited me over, and equally glad you let me stay the night," she said.

"Any particular reason, or... you just being courteous?" I chuckled as I asked her.

"Oh... you've... well... kind of opened my eyes to some things. I...." she set her fork down and looked down. "I kinda... poked around the DVDs you had upstairs last night... and...." I looked curiously at her, and she blushed even more. "I watched one, something homemade... and... it showed more about how.... lions... get their.... uh...."

I chuckled. "Semen collected? Yeah, I know I have those videos up there."

Julie turned several deeper shades of red and it was as though her eyes were riveted on her plate. "I... well..."

I chuckled softly. "Julie, it's ok. Just spit it out."

She looked at me, then back down at her plate. "I was wondering if... I could...."

"Could.... what?" I asked.

"If I could... help with something like that... sometime?" Her voice diminished in volume and she barely managed to whisper it out.

I smiled and reached over to pat her arm. "Sure. That shouldn't be any problem."

She looked at me in astonishment. "Really? I can.... actually... touch a male lion's.... stuff?"

I nodded. "I don't see why not. I do it all the time." I laughed and she giggled a little.

"Were you really doing that with Cleo last night when I caught you?" she asked, a little more forwardly this time.

"You mean when I had my hand on Cleo's vulva? No, sorry. That was just where my hand ended up after petting her for a time. But she likes it when I do that." I said, matter-of-factly.

"And what about when Cleo roared out last night after I'd gone to bed?" she asked, inquisitively.

"She has interesting dreams sometimes... once in awhile her roaring wakes me if I'm not deeply asleep." I tried to pass it off but not outright lie to her denying it.

"Oh. I'd come down the stairs because it woke me and you two seemed... cuddled close. Like maybe you'd been.... intimate." Her expression was inquisitive and not at all judgmental.

I couldn't help but smile, which gave it away. "Yeah, her and I had some fun down here last night. She wanted it and I'm a sucker for a pretty face."

"I kinda figured, but... well.... it was cute. You and her cuddled together like that." Julie smiled and drank some more of her milk.

Cleo, for her part, had been sleeping further back in the living room, back by my desk and the bookcases, but she'd come forward and stood by the corner of my chair and looked at me. "Do you want up?" I asked her. A nod came in reply, so I put out the footrest and Cleo heaved herself up into my lap before stretching out some.

Julie reached over and pet Cleo's head as she lounged. "You've got quite a kitten, Jim. And I'm quite envious. Most men are anxious to get me into their bed, and here I get into yours and you're not joining me in it. Instead you're downstairs diddling your lioness."

I looked curious. "I should have been offending your sensibilities by being too forward rather than giving Cleo pleasure?"

Julie blushed. "That... didn't come out how I intended it. In fact, I'm quite flattered you respect me enough not to be just hitting on me." She pet Cleo's ear. "And I didn't mean for it to sound like Jim shouldn't be giving you love and attention." She looked down a bit. "I guess on some level I am kind of jealous that Cleo's found someone to love her that deeply and I've not found that yet for myself."

I chuckled. "Animals are easy to love. They don't make many demands, don't expect you to change to suit their preconceptions... they just are who and what they are. Human relationships are vastly more complex and so are more difficult to navigate." I touched Julie's arm. "I like you... you're a nice person. And I can see you're a good person, too, or I'd have never invited you out here. And while I love Cleo deeply, and intimately, it's not like my life is complete either. She's far more communicative than other animals I've known, pets I've had in the past or currently, but still she's not exactly the greatest conversationalist." I patted Cleo's rump and smiled at her. "I love her a lot, but I'd also like to have some woman to raise a family with, or at least share my life with." I sighed. "But therein lies the rub... I am who and what I am, just like an animal. I couldn't deny my love for Cleo just because I was sharing my life with a woman, and it wouldn't be right for me to ask a woman to share our bed with Cleo... or Peaches, or Pickles or any of the others. So here I am... together with my lovers but alone in human society. Maybe someday I'll meet the right woman that is willing to share me in that manner, but until that time, I'll keep my animals happy and enjoy the love they give me."

Julie looked at me seriously. "That is kinda sad, Jim. Makes it sound like you're rather lonely."

I nodded, "In some ways, I am. In others...." I pet Cleo's rump and smiled broadly, "... I'm the most loved man in the world." I then looked to her solemnly. "Many women think they can accept that their man loves others. Some manage to allow it. Few manage to accept it. Very few actually embrace it without trying to change the man, or without jealousy of the other or others taking up the man's time. That's why stable polygamy groups are very rare."

Julie looked curious. "I... guess that's so. But aren't there... women animal-lovers that you could meet up with?"

I nodded. "There are, but... well, many times they're women much older than I am. Divorcees that turned into man-haters, or ones that... well, frankly, I don't find physically attractive. Not that I'm the sort that looks for beauty only - far from it, but... you have to like the looks of it if you're going to buy the car, so to speak. That, and then, too, the woman can still be extremely jealous about the man having animal lovers in addition to herself. So that doesn't always fly that way either."

Julie pondered. "I.... can see how that'd happen. My roommate, she..." she shook her head "... she just kind of uses men as a fling, which bothers me so much because they really deserve better than that. But she seems to draw them like... like.... bees to soda pop. And here I am... and I can't really even get any dates that are worthwhile. It's either men that aren't really my type or ones that just want to get into my pants." She finished with a bit of disgruntlement. "I'm not that easy, so I guess it makes it difficult. Being as how my building only allows small pets, I never really thought... about.... dogs or anything in that manner before. But since you mentioned about that video... I've been thinking... wondering...." She stopped and looked down, totally embarrassed again.

"Wondering how it'd feel?" I volunteered. She looked at me and meekly nodded. I smiled, "Hey, it's alright. Only through asking the question can one hope to find the answer." I took a deep breath and furrowed my brow. "I'm not exactly sure if I'm really the right one to be answering it for you, though."

"On that video, there was a woman... with a... strap-on. And she... was... uh... mating the lioness... with it." Julie managed to squeak through that whole sentence, though the end was nearly inaudible again.

I nodded. "Yes. Like I said, zoophilia takes on nearly all the twists that human-on-human intercourse does, including lesbianism and sex toys."

"Well, what I don't really understand is... why was she doing that?" Julie asked.

"Well, there's the long and the short answer. Short answer is that she was inseminating the lioness in a more natural way. Longer answer is that with how that strap-on was arranged, she was also receiving pleasure from the toy, as well as the psychological pleasure from being intimate with her lioness and giving the lioness pleasure she couldn't achieve herself." I pondered a bit. "I guess it's something like the mutual pleasure Cleo and I get from each other even when we're not being intimate."

Julie looked at me curiously. "Did that lady also... have sex with.... the lion in that video?"

I nodded. "Yep, she has sex with him from time to time, both ways."

Julie looked completely confused. "Both ways?"

I smiled and nodded, "Yes... him mounting her, and her mounting him."

"You mean that lion.... likes...." her voice trailed off in disbelief.

"Likes things up his butt? Yep, that's why he was fully conscious for the semen collection and I used a bit bigger probe than typical for lions." I chuckled as I said it.

"You... he.... wow." Julie's vocabulary must have failed her as her brain went into overload.

I smiled and waited for her to process what all she just learned. "Could I....?" she asked, embarrassedly.

"Could you what? Mate with a lion?" I asked. She meekly nodded. "Now THAT one I can't really say. It'd all depend on the lion, and you, and... well, since you're not really familiar with lion behavior you'd need someone there to watch and help, just in case something happened."

Julie turned a few different shades of red again as the realization that someone would be watching her have sex washed through her consciousness. "I see what you mean.... I suppose things could go wrong in a hurry if someone didn't know what to do or not do."

I nodded. "Either way, I'll see about you being able to be there the next time I do a collection on Hugo or Jake."

"But isn't Jake... sterile?" Julie asked.

I put my finger to my lips. "Shhh... it's a secret. He's not anymore."

Julie looked shocked. "How?"

I smiled broadly. "Ask me no questions...." I chuckled and she smiled as well.

"You're a really neat man, Jim. I think I'd like to get to know you better." Julie smiled at me tenderly.

"Even if I'm a perverted, disgusting animal-fucker?" I asked, somewhat jokingly.

Julie couldn't help but laugh as well. "Even if." She patted Cleo's rump some, too. "Even if I have to share you with Cleo, and Peaches, and others from time to time." She looked up to me. "I....." She then looked down some.

"What is it?" I asked with genuine concern.

"I..." she looked at me and then looked away. "I just want someone to love me like you love Cleo. I want to feel... like how I felt last night when you were holding me close. I want to feel cared for. I've not...." she looked at me some again. "I've not felt that way in a long time, Jim. That's part of why I wanted to stay the night. I didn't want that feeling to end."

I smiled tenderly at her and shrugged a bit. "I am who I am, Julie. I'm pretty sure you've seen all the "warts" sides... the smut, the animal sex... the worries about being caught." I sighed deeply. "The recent worries about being caught having Cleo." I smiled kindly. "I've no right to force someone to deal with that all." I shook my head.

Julie looked cautiously curious. "And if they were willing to deal with it?"

I chuckled. "That'd be a little different. But then again, I'd have to question if they're willing to just deal with it, or willing to embrace it, and question what their motives would be for either one." I patted Julie's hand. "If it's not truly who they are inside, then it's not right, either. One shouldn't have to sacrifice who they are just to chase something they think they want... even for love."

Julie smiled as my hand rested on hers and looked down a bit. The clock chimed and I laughed, "Well, that answers that question."

Julie looked curious "What question is that?"

I chuckled and nodded to the clock. "Eight chimes. It's 8 o'clock. Time to head to wurrrrk!" I rolled the "r" like some cranky old Irishman and she giggled.

"I probably shouldn't exactly go in like this, should I?" she smiled and tugged a bit at the nightshirt.

"I wouldn't mind it, but you might get a few more of those undesirable suitors than you would like if you did," I quipped. I was already in my work duds, so that wasn't any big deal for me. "Besides, Jack would be more than a little disgruntled, and we can't have His Highness soiling his trousers over your work attire."

Julie giggled. "Yeah, he'd certainly have a fit. Oh well... I guess I'll go up and change. Be back down in a minute."

I watched as she bounced up the stairs and I wondered if I'd let on to too much, with admitting sex with Cleo and all that. Julie seemed to be ok with it, or at least wasn't upset about it, though only time would tell if she'd really want to be around it as an every-day reminder that she wouldn't be my one-and-only even if we were to become a couple. Though... she didn't go "ewwww!", and her admitting to watching the video made me think she was being genuine in her curiosity at the very least. However, social stygma and social morality are VERY big issues when it comes to animal sex. And her questionable self-worth means she could compromise what she believes in order to achieve what she thinks she wants or needs - a man in her life, and quite likely in her bed as well.

I canted my jaw and was thinking as she did come back down the stairs in relatively short order. "Wow, that was fast. For most women they'd be spending an hour primping in front of the mirror after spending an hour and a half putting on makeup."

"If I did that I'd be late for work every day, since that's what my roommate does. I don't use makeup often, just a bit of lip gloss or whatever, but never anything that'd take that much time," Julie said.

"I guess that's another thing that I like about you... You're natural rather than pasted and painted. Personally I find most women's obsession with makeup and "perfect appearance" to be rather off-putting." I shrugged and smiled as I patted Cleo's rump. She looked at me and then stood up, stretched, and padded off the end of the footrest to stand before me.

"Yeah, and it gets expensive, too. One time I saw a receipt of Amy's... I swear, she spent more on cosmetics than on rent that month!" Julie exclaimed and I opened the door for her. Cleo padded up to the door and I nodded. "Yep, time to go to work. Are you ready too?" Cleo nodded and padded out through the door, which I locked behind us.

Julie leaned up and kissed me on the cheek again. "Thanks for everything, Jim. I really did have a wonderful time."

I smiled and chuckled softly. "'Twas my pleasure, madam..." I bowed a bit and she giggled. Then I looked a bit more wistfully. "And I had a wonderful time, too. You're welcome here anytime."

Julie perked, her eyes playful. "How about tonight, then?"

I laughed. "Well... we'll see," I said as she got into her car and I let Cleo into mine. As she pulled from the drive before me, I looked into the rearview mirror as her car worked its way past the barn ramp and out onto the farm lane. I then looked back at Cleo lounging on the back seat and pondered. Maybe Julie really would be the one for me. She was about right in the looks department. A little shorter than me, but that was quite alright. I wasn't basketball-height anyway so it would be nice to have someone my height or shorter. She clearly liked animals, at the very least in the platonic sense, if not a little more. And she didn't wig out about the thought of people having sex with animals. Hm....

I put the Blazer in reverse and started off for work, pondering things the whole way in to work.

* * * * *

I pulled into the lot and Julie waved at me. It was still 30 minutes before opening, so Jack wasn't yet prowling about looking to harangue some poor soul. I let Cleo out and she padded over to Julie and together they went up the stairs as I grabbed my laptop bag and then saw the newspaper on my seat from the day before, so I grabbed that as well.

Julie was waiting by my office door and then she saw the post-it note and the headline. "Is that what got you worried yesterday?" she said, pointing to the news publication. I nodded as I unlocked the door. "Why? It's just a news article."

I waved her inside and she settled down into one of the chairs as I closed the door behind her. Cleo hefted herself up onto the cot, which creaked under the growing stresses of pregnant lioness. I sat down at my desk and pondered how to answer Julie.

"Well," I finally said, "it could be a setup from those investigators, trying to get me away from here long enough to do whatever they want to do to find Cleo. Then again, it could be something from J...." I realized at that moment she didn't know who had given me Cleo, and if she didn't know his name she could answer honestly to the investigators should they return and question people I knew. Julie gave me an inquisitive look as I stopped mid-sentence. "... could be something from the fellow that gave me Cleo, with some more pets for me. Or it could be that same fellow trying to turn me into some kind of sanctuary for big cats." I chuckled at that last thought. It wouldn't be too bad, but with my life and the zoo, it wouldn't be the best thing in the world either.

"More animals like Cleo?!?" Julie perked. "That would be TERRIFFIC!" She was practically bouncing in the seat again.

I laughed. "I don't know yet, so I guess it'll take a little digging. Anyway, it's almost time for Jack to be surveying his kingdom, so you'd probably best be off to your private dungeon serving His Majesty."

Julie made a bit of a sour look but nodded. "You'll let me know what you find out, right?"

I nodded. "Sure thing. We'll see what turns up." Julie let herself out the door and I looked at the newspaper.

Reading through the article it quoted the judge in the case, a local sheriff, the fellow who owns the animals and was getting evicted. I fired up my computer and used the gent's name as a search-word on Google. Well, the name had an address in the vicinity of the newspaper's origin. I tried the electronic white pages and it coughed up a phone number. I decided to try it.

I dialed the number and it started ringing. After about the 5th or 6th ring someone picked up and shouted, in a male voice, "Dammit, I wish you fuckin' reporters would stop callin' me all the time, QUIT CALLIN' ME!"

Before the fellow could hang up I shouted back. "I'm not a reporter! I'm Jim Peters from [name omitted for security] Zoo and I was directed to contact you! Don't hang up!"

The tone of voice on the other end of the phone changed. "Yer not a reporter?" the gent inquired more amicably.

"Nope. I could be one, but I'm a zookeeper and a friend sent me a news article about your problem, and I guess I'm supposed to help somehow," I said, and waited for a response.

"Wha'dja say yer name was?" came an inquiry from the other end of the line.

"Jim Peters. I'm the head keeper at [name omitted] Zoo in [location omitted]. Perhaps you know the friend that sent me the news story, Jeff Sadler?" I inquired, hopefully.

"Can't say as I recognize th' name, but that's jus' how my memory goes. But... I do have a couple lions here for someone matchin' yer name. This feller I know dropped 'em off 'bout... oh.... couple months back or so? I can't rightly remember how long with all what's been goin' on with me this past while. I'm sure y'know how it can be sometimes." Whoever it was on the other end seemed to be far more pleasant than when he first answered the phone.

"I'm sorry to ask, but is this Herbert Jacobs? In all the hubbub of when you answered, I don't think I caught your name," I said politely.

"Yeah, I'm Herbie. Sorry 'bout all that bluster b'fore. It's jus' that folks have been callin' here nearly non-stop and it's durn close to drivin' me batty!" the older fellow chuckled on the other end of the line.

"Oh, don't worry about it. I can only guess at what all you've been going through. Anyway, you said there was two lions you were holding for me?" I inquired.

"Yeah, come from some feller way up at New York, I guess. And this feller I'd bought a tigress from a few years back asked me if I could take care of 'em for a little while and then when this all happened he called me and said that if he couldn't get 'em he'd have a friend of his named Jim Peters come for 'em, so I'm guessin' that'd be you, huh?" he asked, voice ripe with hope.

"I guess that would be me, yes." I smiled. "I looked you up on the internet and is your address still [address omitted for privacy]?"

"Yep, that's m' place.... well, for as long as I can keep holding onto it. Damned economy has everyone with ants in their breeches over damned near everything." I could hear the disgust in the older man's voice.

"Let me check on some things and I'll give you a call back sometime later today as far as when I can get the lions. Is that alright?" I asked.

"Well, if you read that dadgum article that young feller wrote 'bout me, ya know I ain't got too much time left for keepin' cats. Been doing so for better'n 40 years, and now some young schmuck what got hisself elected judge what doesn't know the diff'rence 'tween his crotch and the Chrysler Building sez I can't no more. Sum'n's messed up 'bout that all, I tell ya. But... Sheriff sez I gotta do what that durn judge said so... gotta figger out sum'thn dif'rent from here on out." I could hear the dismay in the old man's voice.

"Well, I'll see what I can do about getting down there as quick as I can, alright? You take care, now, and I'll give you a call later today. Nice talking to you Mr. Jacobs." I smiled as I closed out the conversation.

"Mr. Jacobs? Hell... jus' call me Herbie. I'm too old to give a dang 'bout all that "Mister" stuff. And nice chattin' with ya there... oh, hell. I've forgotten yer name already. Anyhoo, nice talkin' with ya and call back anytime. G'bye." And with that the old man must have hung up his phone.

I set my receiver back in its spot and started thinking a bit about just how I'd be able to get two cats back up here. Furrowing my brow, I brought up Mapquest on my computer and checked to see how long of a trip it would really be between Herbie and here. The answer surprised me some. Wow.... ok.... about 1800 miles one-way. Ouch. Well... hm... 180 gallons of gas at about $3.50 a gallon... that'd be 630 bucks one-way for my old pickup towing a trailer. So that'd suck, as it would cost me over 1200 to get two lions I didn't really want anyway. Well, I did but I didn't. Hm....

I decided to go on my rounds and let my mind work through things for a bit. I had a trailer already outfitted for such things, as I'd had a small tag-along touring show years ago for a couple seasons. So that would take care of that part of getting them relocated and not cost me anything. I walked down the steps and out across the courtyard towards the cathouse. Jerry saw me and waved, but apparently I was too lost in thought to notice him, so he startled me as he grabbed my shoulder.

"Hey! Didn't think you'd make it in today with what all you had going on at the house last night... so... how was she?" Jerry asked in his youthful exuberance.

I played along. "Lots of fur, but she was a good screw. Not much for pillow-talk, though."

Jerry's eyebrows shot up. "You mean you and....? Oh. Waitaminute. You're talking about Cleo and not Julie, aren't you, you bastard."

I smiled broadly. "How'd you guess? Jerry, you should know I'm more of a gentleman than that. Julie slept upstairs and I slept downstairs."

"And here I thought you'd have romanced her off her feet. Jeez, give someone an opportunity and he wastes it." Jerry mockingly shook his head.

"Eh, I got something else troublesome cooking at the moment to be worrying about romance today, Jerry." I frowned a bit.

"What's shaking? Someone back fishing for Cleo?" he asked as we reached the cathouse. I started circling the outdoor enclosures and he tagged along.

"No. That newspaper that was in my Blazer last night. The article was about some older fellow having a judge rule he has to get rid of his animals and vacate the property he's on. The fellow getting bounced from his place has a couple lions that someone left there for me. I'm guessing it's more of Jeff's refugees, but either which way, I gotta figure out how to get my ass down there and back without Jack getting his undies bunched and without breaking the bank."

Jerry looked curious. "Well, how far do you have to go?"

"About 1800 miles one-way, give or take." I answered firmly.

"Damn... Well, that'd be like... better than one day's travel either direction. Hm... I'd offer to go but..." Jerry smiled broadly. "I got something cooking, too. And she'd not appreciate me taking that kind of a road trip without asking her permission first."

"Yeah, I know... See? Being a bachelor has its advantages. Oh! That reminds me. I'll have to see if Jim Bridger can take care of Peaches while I'm gone." I scratched my beard and gave it some thought. "Yeah, he would probably be able to. It's not that far out of his way and it's just a matter of giving her some chicken every day. And I shouldn't be gone that very long."

I was looking at the outdoor enclosure spaces as we wandered and talked. Tatiana was outside for a change, getting some sun. Hugo and Flo were up on the loafing platform sunning themselves as well, both spreadeagled and giving the public sweet views of estrus lioness and horny lion. Jake must be inside with Pickles and Lola because I didn't see them. As I turned around and headed back towards the entrance I got to thinking, I just needed someone with a truck that got better mileage than mine, more or less. That ruled out Jerry, but... hm.... I'd have a talk with Chet as maybe one of his grunts had one I could borrow. And Kody did owe me a good favor for fixing his screwup on the Corliss last year.

"You've come up with something, haven't you, Jim?" Jerry snickered as he looked at me.

"Maybe. Will just have to see. Anyway, I'll let you know what's what when I figure things out." I smiled and entered the cathouse.

"Ok, see you later, Jim." Jerry waved as he took the diverging path back to his bears.

As I started doing my check of the indoor enclosures there were the inevitable questions about this-and-that, which I answered. Even though it wasn't exactly socially appropriate, I corrected one father's errors as he was explaining things about lions and tigers to his young son. The father was a bit affronted at first, but as I explained things to both of them, he became far more open and inquisitive himself about the difference between what I knew and what he'd been told.

It always made me feel good to correct misrepresentations and misinformation that the general public has been told, or assumed, over the years. Some misinformation is literally centuries old, dating from before there was any profound understanding of really any "wild" animals' habits and ecosystem inter-relationships, so it's not surprising that some people still cling to the old, mistaken beliefs. But that's part of what I'm here for - education towards enlightenment.

As I made my way around the cathouse enclosures I always got asked about the two empty ones, which I explained once contained different animals of species we no longer had, as the animals that were in there had passed away from age and had just never been replaced so far. I went on to explain that some animals, due to their rarity, are exceptionally difficult to just come by, and that to purchase them would require a significant outlay of funds on the part of the zoo, which just wasn't practical for the current budgets as the expense of just day-to-day operation of the facility was several times the household expenses of a single family, and that to keep our gate prices down as low as they were, we had to choose carefully just where that income goes.

A number of the adults nodded in mute understanding, likely experiencing budgetary cutbacks themselves with the way the economy was, but such is how life can be at times.

I excused myself as I passed by Zeus and Anna, and went back outdoors and headed back towards the powerhouse.

* * * * *

I knocked on the door to Chet's dingy office as he was leaned back in his chair, snoozing with his feet propped up on his desk. He snorted awake and nearly tipped his chair over as he was startled by the knocking, causing me to laugh heartily. "Hard at work again, Chet? Good thing it was me and not Jack."

Chet spluttered as he righted himself. "Hell, Jack doesn't come down here unless he absolutely has to, you know that. Anyway, look what the cat dragged in." He winked and smiled broadly, his hair a little more rumpled than usual. "What brings you down here, Jim? Got another cat to sneak in?"

I chuckled at that comment. "Not quite. I'm down here to ask a favor. Got anything in the zoo fleet or that you know I could borrow that would be able to do about 4000 miles over the next few days and get better than 10 to a gallon when towing a trailer?" I looked hopeful as I asked.

"Why, whatcha hauling?" Chet asked.

I canted my jaw a bit and wondered whether to tell him or not. It'd not be too likely anyone would ask him, but then again. "Would you believe me if I told you I was going to rescue a couple lions?"

Chet canted his head and studied me for a minute before blurting out. "Yeah, with you, I'd believe it. The zoo ain't got nothing like that, just that old U-hole dumper we sometimes use to get supplies and move larger stuff about, but that ain't anywhere near the condition you'd need. And you said you got a trailer so that wouldn't help too much anyway since it's a cube truck. 'Sides, that old piece only gets 8 to the gallon on a good day. She's just too beat, Jim."

Chet ran his dirty fingers through his greasy, thinning hair then scratched his scalp some. "Well...." He sat back. "What'd be in it for whoever I lean on to get you a truck? And you just needed a bumper hitch, right? Something that'd take... like a carhauler trailer weight?"

"About like a cattle trailer. It's one of my specialty rigs from when I had the touring show. I don't know if I ever showed you pictures or not." I scratched my own head at the question. "Well.... " I looked about the powerhouse and thought. "How about a large pizza, case of beer, and the gratitude of the head keeper?" I offered as incentive.

Chet laughed and stood up. "I'da settled for just the last one. Here ya go, Jim." Chet tossed me a set of keys.

I looked at them and then at Chet. "You serious?"

Chet shrugged. "You help out a lot around here when you don't need to, fixing some of the shit even I only have vague ideas about how it works. It's a diesel so it should do you fine even though the fuel will be a bit more expensive. It's an automatic so don't go honking on the third pedal thinking it's the clutch, that's the jake-brake. The receiver's got four balls on it so it should fit whatever you've got. Just don't put any dents in it if you can help it. My younger brother's crunched the tailgate a couple months back and I'm still a little pissed at him. But he's family so... whatcha gonna do?" Chet shrugged and smiled.

"Well, if I take this, how will you get home?" I asked.

Chet waved towards the shop floor. "One of these jackasses will give me a ride. They just don't know it yet." Chet winked and laughed.

I chuckled. "Lucky them."

"Whaat?" Chet jibed, "it should be an honor to chauffeur the boss around, right?"

I chuckled some more. "I guess. Anyhoo, thanks, Chet. This is a real weight off my shoulders. I was worried I'd have to feed that old Ford of mine, and you know what a gas hog that old 351 Cleveland can be."

Chet nodded. "That's a great old truck, Jim, but yeah, it's nothing to be going that far with unless you own a gas station, or this place or something. Or are making money off the trip. I'm guessing this one is being funded out of your own pocket, again, right?"

I nodded and sighed. "Yep, looks like I'll never have that million in the bank we're both chasing after." I winked.

Chet laughed. "Yeah, well... I'd settle for a dozen good friends over a million dollars any day. She's parked around the side so these schmucks can't clobber it with the forklift or those Mexican drivers don't back into it when trying to get to the loading dock."

I knew Chet wasn't a bigot, but he was right in that many of the drivers that the rubbish removal company hired weren't adept at their trade, and generally took three or four shots to back up snub with the loading dock. And some of the grocery delivery drivers were even worse with their box trailers. "Thanks again, Chet. I gotta get up front and start making phone calls before all them lovely government paper-pushers decide to hang it up and start the weekend early."

Chet looked confused, so I answered his unasked questions. "Because of stupid federal and state regulations you pretty much have to have a paper permit for each state you're traveling through to move cats across state lines. Welcome to the future, huh?"

Chet grunted. "Pencil pushers... may they all get lead poisoning!" He winked and smiled.

I chuckled and waved as I headed out the door back towards the main office. I'd get Chet's truck later.

* * * * *

I was on hold with the third state on my list as I heard a knock on my door.

"Kommen sie!" I said loudly.

Julie ducked in and shut the door quickly. I looked curious as the receiver was hung on my shoulder as the state's recorded "hold" crapola played. "What's shakin?" I asked.

"Is it true?" Julie was practically bopping.

I looked totally befuddled. "Is what true?" For the time being I was totally in the dark as to what she was inquiring about with such a nondescriptive question.

"Are you really going to get Cleo's brothers?" Julie looked like she was about to burst out in cartwheels if I said "yes".

I laughed "You must have been talking to Jerry, haven't you? Yes, that newspaper note business has me on the trail on a couple lions that someone said I should get. Don't know if they're related to Cleo or if they're like her or anything just yet. Gotta get all the crap in place to be able to get them, first. It's not like just going to visit relatives or anything simplistic like that."

"This is Margaret Pembleton, have you been helped yet?" the phone spoke and I grabbed the receiver, putting it to my ear.

"No, not yet. This is Jim Peters at [name omitted] Zoo in [location omitted]. I'm calling to get a transport permit to move three big cats across your state sometime between Sunday the 8th and Sunday the 15th. I realize this is sort of short notice. Can you fax me the relevant paperwork, or can you just issue a permit with information over the phone and fax it to me here?" I inquired, likely swamping the poor clerk.

"I'm unsure of what sort of permit you're asking for. Are you relocating any lions or tigers here to this state?" the lady on the other end of the phone asked. Yep, I did throw her for a loop.

"No, ma'am. I'm going to be heading across your state and as such will require a passage permit, or whatever your state calls that sort of document, granting me permission to move the animals THROUGH your state. I'm moving them from their current location in [state omitted] to our zoo here." I was polite but somewhat urgent with her as I had four more calls to make before states' wildlife offices closed for the weekend.

"Oh... ok. That'd be something I can just fax you. What's your USDA license number?" she asked politely.

I gave her my personal Class C license number, and my personal fax number at home.

"Well, I guess that's all I'm needing, Mr. Peters. If there's something more I'll call you right back." she said kindly.

"Extension 4328, if you do call back, and thank you very much Mrs. Pembleton." I hung up the phone.

I did an internet search for the next number I'd need then dialed it and began navigating the "push this for that" menus. Julie looked curious, "Was all that in order to get permission to get the cats across that state?"

I nodded. "Legally, yes. Most people just skip this step and do "cleanup" afterwards if there's a problem. Because I work here I'm doing it this way, otherwise I'd just cross my fingers.... Hello?" I asked into the phone as I thought I heard a real voice at the other end. It was a real voice, but it was recorded, not live. I set the phone on my shoulder again to wait the "*digitized voice* 3 minutes" for the next available person.

"Wow, I didn't think it'd be THAT complicated..." Julie said.

I frowned. "Didn't use to be this way. There were only a few states you had to dance around when moving animals, but since the passage of the Captive Wildlife Safety Act on the federal level, effectively banning private movement of big cats across state lines, most of the states now require some sort of permit to pass through them, even if you're not stopping there or anything. It kind of sucks to get everything lined up for an emergency trip like this one, which is why a lot of people skip this step and just pay whatever fine if they get caught without proper paperwork. That's IF the cops that stop you know you're supposed to HAVE paperwork. A lot of them don't so they just kind of wave you off unless you did something wrong."

"I see. So... When are you going to go?" Julie asked, curiously.

I shrugged. "Well, it'll be a helluva long trip, at the very least three days. So... I figured tomorrow and Sunday for two of them as my weekly days off, and then call in sick for Monday and probably Tuesday as well. Or just use those as next week's days, or comp time or something. I'm salaried so it's not like I really HAVE days off specifically. I show up most days anyway."

"Can I come, too?" Julie asked.

I furrowed my brow. "Well... I don't mind. In fact, I'd like that a lot. The problem is, what would you tell Jack? I mean, he got his knickers knotted when I borrowed you for a couple hours that afternoon to check Cleo, let alone go on a road trip with you for a couple days."

Julie smiled. "I'm off tomorrow and Sunday as well, so I could just call in sick like you."

I smiled "Not quite like me, Jack can shitcan you. He can't do that with me."

Julie laughed. "Can you picture Jack trying to run this office without me?" I freely admitted I couldn't. "See, so I might not have the OFFICIAL insulation you do, but I got my own aces to play when it comes to Jack. Besides, he's not the one that answers the phone... it's me or Shelia, so it's not like I'd have to talk to him at all." Julie smiled smugly and I laughed.

"Well, I guess that settles that. I just hope you're not like most girls that have to pee every 50 miles or we'll never get there." I winked at her with the jibe.

"Oh... well, not usually, but I could try to be if that'd be more to your fancy." She winked back and nearly skipped towards the door. "I'll see you after work, Jim. And thanks."

"[State] Department of Wildlife, what can I do for you?" crackled across the phone... oh well, three more to go after this one.

* * * * *

"So what'd you find out?" Jerry asked as he caught me doing another patrol of the cathouse.

"Well, everything's pretty much set, more or less. I'll be gone for three or four days so if you'd not mind keeping an extra eye on things around here for me, I'd be ever so grateful, and if some shit really happens, you've got my cell number, and I could probably talk you through whatever went wrong." I was looking around the outdoor exhibits as we chatted.

"Yeah, I can do that. No real problem. So.. four days? Taking a vacation?" Jerry winked at the pun.

"Yeah, road trip to get some big pussy." I said, after having made sure there weren't any visitors within earshot.

"I kinda envy you a bit with that, Jim, but then again, I can only imagine what you're paying to do all this and what your grocery bills must be like." Jerry smiled.

"Actually, not really all that bad. Even with two extra lions I'd not be paying anywhere near as much as if I had a single child. About five to six bucks a day per cat is all, for food. Not that much, really, if you're willing to give up some things of your own to even it out. That's why you don't see me going out to the movies or driving new cars or shit like some of the younger junior keepers do. Then again, I COULD do that if I wanted to, but I just don't want to." I chuckled softly.

"Maybe Julie will convince you otherwise sometime." Jerry ribbed.

"I don't know about that, Jerry. Maybe I'm a bad influence on her because she just asked to go along with me, even though it includes ditching work for a couple days." I chuckled as Jerry's jaw dropped.

"You're shittin' me, right?" he asked in earnest.

"Straight-up." I said as we walked the paths towards the office. "She asked and I said she could. Oh! That reminds me..." I fished out my cellphone and dialed the vet's number.

"West Side Animal Hospital, this is Dr. Bridger." came the unexpected response.

"Answering your own phone now, Jim? Either it's a real slow day or Michelle had to go home sick." I joked.

"Both, actually. What's up with you, Jim?" the vet asked.

"Got a favor to ask of you, if you don't mind." I said.

"Uh oh... what is it this time? I'm not gonna suture Jack's mouth shut if that's what you're about to ask." Jim had been involved in several verbal altercations with Jack in the past, and had been present when I'd gone toe-to-toe in shouting matches with the director, so it was a worthwhile joke to make.

"Naw, I just need you to drop by the next couple nights and feed Peaches. I've got an urgent trip to make and I'll be gone for at least two nights. I can feed her tonight as I need to grab one of my trailers back home before I head out and so she'd be set for tonight, and I should be back either late Monday or sometime Tuesday, so I can feed her Tuesday night, which would only leave Sunday and Monday feedings needing to be done. If you wouldn't mind doing it for me, that is..." I asked. I'd arrived at the door to the offices so I just parked myself on the small wooden bench nearby to finish the phone conversation.

"I'm pretty sure I can do that, and I've still got your key from the last time so that's no biggie. Her chicken is still in the same place, right?" Jim asked.

"Yeah, bottom left drawer in the refrigerator, though you may need to move another tray or two down from the freezer to thaw if there's not enough for Monday. I'll make sure there's enough for Sunday there, but you know how she eats sometimes." I did sometimes overfeed her a bit, but... I'm a sucker for a pretty face.

"Yeah, I can do that. So whatcha going after this time? I'm sure it's not an elephant if you're using your trailer." Jim was curious.

I laughed. "It'll have to be a surprise until you come out. Oh! That reminds me. Can you fax me a health certificate for Cleo, cuz I'll be bringing her with. Don't want to leave her behind. I'd tell you why but then you'd know. Y'know?"

"You want it to your home fax or to the zoo's?" Jim said as I heard papers rustling and then a scribbling as he was filling out the state health form.

"To mine is best. I've already got the state passage permits getting spit out there so may as well have all the papers together in one bundle. Thanks Jim. I'll make sure to have something special on hand when you come out next."

"Not that big of a deal. You're a good client and that'd give me some time to wrestle with Peaches, too." Jim chuckled on the other end.

"Just make sure to put her back in her room and not break anything while I'm gone. And thanks again. Talk to you later." I finished off my part of the conversation.

"Ok, g'bye." And with that, the vet hung up. I put my cellphone away.

"So, now everything is taken care of?" Jerry asked.

"Pretty much. Only thing left to do is to give Herbie a call to let him know we're set and that I'd call him when we're closer to him to set up a time to meet." I smiled and nodded, feeling a little bit better about everything now that much of the crapola was squared away.

"Well, good luck, Jim. I'll keep an eye on things here for you." Jerry patted my shoulder.

"Thanks, Jerry. Anyway..." I got up. "On to the zoo's paperwork crap." I headed up the stairs to my office as Jerry headed back across the courtyard.

"So, what's the news?" Julie asked as I passed by her office door.

"All set." I looked to the adjoining door between her and Jack's office, then raised my eyebrows in inquiry.

"He's already gone. He said something about dinner with a board member or whatever." She shrugged.

"Ah... you want to have your car stay here, or at your place?" I asked.

"You're leaving from here?" she asked, surprised.

"Yeah, Chet let me borrow his truck so I could use one of my trailers that's already outfitted with cages. I have a truck that'd make the trip, kind of, but it's old and a gas hog compared to newer vehicles." I said.

"How's Chet going to get home, then?" Julie asked.

"He said he'd catch a ride with one of his powerhouse grunts." I said with a shrug. "Oh, that reminds me." I went over to the switchboard and plugged in the headset to the jack for the powerhouse office and gave the magneto a sharp crank, a long one, and another sharp one.

"Chet Malin," came the crackly voice.

"Chet, Jim. Say, just wanted to make sure you don't mind if there's a bit of pet hair on your truck seats from our clothes, do you? Or anything we shouldn't do, like eat inside the truck or whatnot?" I asked.

Chet laughed on the other end. "I eat in there all the time and the pet hair will just cover up the grease stains. It's all good, Jim. But I do appreciate you asking. Anything else?"

"Nope, that's all I wanted to know. Thanks again Chet. G'bye." I said.

"Safe travels, Jim. G'bye." and the line clicked dead.

I flipped off the switch, unplugged the headset and hung it back on its hook, then looked to Julie. "Guess we're all set, then."

"Oh!" Julie spoke up. "I should probably pack a bag or something if we're going to be gone a few days." I laughed out loud and she looked at me curiously. "What?" she finally inquired.

"The difference between girls and guys, I guess. I was only gonna grab a B.O. bar and just wing it on a single set of clothes." I chuckled. "I guess I'm a bit set in my ways as a bachelor. Sorry."

Julie looked at me thoughtfully and then shrugged. "I guess I can try that, too. I got some antipersperant here and these clothes are pretty comfortable. And I got my nightshirt in my bag from last night. Come to think of it I think I have a spare pair of pants in my car...." I could tell she was already planning.

"But what about Cleo and Peaches?" Julie asked, suddenly realizing.

"Cleo's coming with us, so she can't get caught if those investigators are planning to poke around while I'm gone, and Peaches will be fine since Jim Bridger is gonna drop in and feed her Sunday and Monday nights." I smiled.

"Cleo is coming too! Oh that's TERRIFFIC!" She was practically bouncing again and I chuckled.

"Well..." I looked at the clock. "An hour and a half to go, so I better get some of my paperwork done so Jack doesn't have as much to complain about when I don't come back for two extra days." I turned to head to my office.

"Thanks, Jim." Julie said.

"You're welcome, Julie." I said in return and I headed back to my office.

* * * * *

I did my cursory walk-through of the cathouse just before closing, giving Pickles a special fuzzling as I passed by the lion cage. There wasn't anyone else in the building as far as on the public-access floor so I locked it up. Zeus called out to me and I smiled up to him. "Yeah, kiddo. I'll be gone for a little while, but I'll come back and then we can do something special, ok?" He went back and flumped down as I made my way through the brass-framed doors and they clicked shut behind me.

I walked the paths towards the powerhouse, and I saw Vic zipping by on a grunt and flagged him down. He whipped a U-turn and buzzed up near me. "Whatcha need, Jim?" he asked in a much more pleasant tone than he usually did.

"I've got to take a bit of an emergency trip, so Jerry said he'd keep an eye on things for me here while I was gone. I _might_ phone him if I think of something that needs to be done. Figured I'd tell you so you were aware I'd be gone and not think Jerry was trying to put one over on you if he says some direction or whatever came from me. Not that you really answer to me or anything anyway, but... you know how it goes." I smiled.

"Yeah, you young schmucks trying to order me around all day long." Vic's eyes twinkled as there was no malice behind it. "But, yeah, if it comes from you I know it's not just some fluffery shit like the stuff that drips out of Mr. Direktor's mouth. You know that pantywaste had one of my guys straighening out bunting? He wanted Jose to have his wife iron it so it'd lay just right! I put a stop to that right quick, but there ain't nothing that man's come up with what was worth three cents of beer in a farting contest, I swear."

"Easy there, Vic. Don't want to give yourself another heart attack. We need you around here, if nothing else to swear at Jack every day or two." I winked and Vic laughed.

"Where ya going, anyway?" he looked curious. "Gonna take some nice senorita out and show her the world?"

"Close." I smiled. "I gotta pick up some unwanted cats a good ways away, but Julie from the office is gonna ride with me, so you're partially right about the pleasant company. Jack doesn't know it but we're planning to call in sick on Monday and maybe Tuesday so we can take a bit more time with the trip than just doing time-trials along the interstate."

Vic's face crinkled into a smile. "Sounds like you'll have a fun time no matter what happens. Glad to see you've latched onto someone. Don't want to get old alone. I know I'd be a hell of a mess if I didn't have Ruthie to go home to each night. Even though she swears I'm a mess no matter what." The old man winked.

"Anyway, I've got to get rolling so we can get on the road. Keep an eye out for Jack... you never know what he might get up to if he knows I'll be gone for a day." I smiled.

"That little shit... if he gets to be too much, I'll make sure the lock jams on his private bathroom. All we'd have to do it slip TV dinners under the door for him, and he could stay in there for a week or two!" Vic chuckled and buzzed off to do whatever he was after.

I couldn't help but smile both inwardly and outwardly at the thought of Jack stuck in his crapper for a couple days.

I was still smiling as I pulled into the front lot with Chet's truck. While not new, it was certainly much newer than anything I had. A 2004 Ford F250 Extended Cab. The back was clean enough so it woudln't be a problem for Cleo to lay down back there, there was a toolbox in the bed that appeared to be reasonably well-stocked. In the tray I found an adapter for the trailer light plug at the back, so I wouldn't have to rig something up to switch from the circular plug to a flat plug. I stopped parked across the back of my Blazer and Julie's car, which was parked beside mine now. She and Cleo were waiting for me.

"Wow, this is... quite a truck." Julie said.

I laughed. "You've not been in a pickup truck for awhile?" I asked.

"No, not since I was younger and drove dad's truck now and again. This is really cushy." Julie was smiling and I opened the little back door.

I got a jacket and a different hat out of my Blazer, and a large sheet I'd used as a seat cover for the back seat. I locked my doors and shut them, then I folded the sheet and laid it out so Chet's carpeting wouldn't get as hairy. "Ok, Cleo. Up you go." I said as I patted the floor. She seemed a little hesitant but stepped up onto the running-board of the truck, but couldn't lift her hindfoot far enough to get purchase. I lifted her rump and she scrambled into the truck cab. I shut the smaller door and Julie shut the passenger door. "I'm ready, how about you?" she announced.

I dashed up the stairs and grabbed some papers I'd scribbled numbers down on, stuffed them in the satchel-flap of my laptop bag, and locked the office behind me before dashing back down the stairs. "Now I'm ready." I smiled as I hoisted myself into the cab and shut the door. A couple seconds of glow-plug and the engine fired right up with a heavy roar, at which I laughed.

Julie looked curious. "What is it, Jim?"

"It's just been some time since I've toodled down the road in a rig like this. I still prefer my '77 Ford to this, but... it'll all be good." I smiled and nodded for emphasis. Julie scooted over on the seat and snuggled up to me as we quickly navigated the parking lot and headed off to my place.

* * * * *

It took a bit of effort on the part of Chet's truck to convince my old trailer to move, but move it did, showing off where the wheels had sunk partway into the ground over the year-and-some since I'd moved it last - to its current place alongside the Quonset shed. I quickly pulled around the oilhouse and out onto the drive. In the light from the overhead goosenecks on the Quonset, I opened the back doors to the trailer and inspected the damage. Apart from some dirt, there wasn't really any wildlife to evict, nor any damage. I went forward to the sleeper section and was pleased that there weren't any rodent riders there, either. I guessed I got lucky.

Checking the tires, I aired up one of them, and figured the bearings should still be good. Even so, I threw a bearing packer, a couple tubes of JT-8 heavy grease, a putty knife, and a grease gun into a small tool box that already had sockets and combination wrenches and tucked that in the back of the trailer, along with several other cases of supplies I figured I might need. With a flashlight I fished around in the old chicken coop for a couple tires that could be used as spares if needed. I found some that weren't too bad, and they were already on 5-bolt truck rims so that would make it all the easier if we did have a tire go out. Those got tossed into the truck bed.

Julie was waiting in the office with Cleo while I got things ready. I threw a broom and dustpan into the back so we could clean out the trailer before putting the cats in, and even though it was overkill to have it rigged for 8 big cats, 12 canines, and all their feed, but that's what this one was set up for. My other trailer was rigged for 4 cats, 6 canines, but it still had all the roll-bags and poles for the two tops I'd had, so it'd not be as readily usable.

I locked up the trailer and smiled at the side, which, beneath the high line of windows, had a lion and tiger reared up holding a banner Pet a Big Cat. That was years ago, before such things were banned, and just before I started working at the zoo. A good friend had painted that for me, and it was really a good representation. Then again, she had living models to base it on.

I climbed up in the cab and... I figured Chet's tastes and mine were similar so I tried the horn. Yep, the heavy sounds of a 5-chime Nathan sounded from beneath the hood, and Julie came running out through the open overhead door to the machine shop. I couldn't help but laugh. "Ready to hit the road, Julie?"

She scowled a bit, but it broke into a smile. "You scared me half to death with that," she nagged a little.

"Good thing it wasn't the whole way." I winked and she smiled. Cleo padded out and I helped her into the cab. I started the engine to warm up a bit, as the night had turned colder, then set about locking up the place. I soon exited through the woodshed and latched its sliding door before climbing up into the cab. "Jolly Jim's Wildcat Extravaganza rides again." I winked to her as I put the truck in gear and it grumbled down the farm lane.

"Was that really your own show?" Julie asked.

I nodded as she snuggled up against me from the middle seat. "Yeah, but that was awhile ago. And I only toured for two show seasons. Just did the county-fair circuit as a tag-along show. No big star power here. Did pretty good at it until they changed the rules on me. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Hildebrandt..." I frowned a little.

"Who are they?" Julie asked.

"They're the parents of a teenager that got killed by a tiger in Kansas, and that started the whole ball rolling which produced ban-bills in a lot of states, and the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, which prohibits public contact with big cats any older than 12 weeks of age. Presumably to prevent such things from ever happening again, but it also prevents a lot of hands-on learning from happening, too." I frowned a bit and proceeded to tell about how this one teenager was wanting her picture with a tiger, but, being a girly-girl, she freaked out and did a number of things wrong, which resulted in her death, the death of a number of big cats right there, and the collateral damage of the deaths of hundreds as a result of them not being able to move along with their owners, or being outlawed in areas in a proactive manner to presumably prevent other incidents from happening, even though they were quite rare to begin with.

"That's just so sad that they're taking out their grief on innocent animal owners." Julie commented.

"Well, from their perspective it's a crusade to save other people from the same fate their Haley suffered. The problem is, they're not wanting to see the full truth in that it was mostly Haley's own uneducated actions that set the whole thing in motion. But that seems to be only natural and fairly common when it comes to fathers and daughters. The daughter can generally do no wrong in the father's eyes, no matter what the reality of the situation is." I sighed. "I'd imagine it'll be the same way with me if I ever have kids. I just might be one of the better ones at catching myself from falling into that trap."

Julie smiled as she snuggled up to me. We'd turned the other direction along the road and were headed towards the interstate along the back roads near my place, which were fairly deserted since it was getting close to 8pm. Then again, apart from when the school buses traveled that particular stretch of pavement, it was indeed a rarity to see more than just a couple vehicles in its entire length of several miles.

I wrapped my arm around her and drove with one hand on the wheel. Cleo was snoring behind us so I knew she was alright.

"I'd like a few kids someday," Julie said "I'm just... well..."

I looked down to her with a curious expression.

She smiled up at me. "Well, maybe I have found the right man for me, finally. But... I just don't know how I'd do it. And then there's...." she shuddered.

"What's wrong, Julie?" I asked.

"I'm... kind of afraid of hospitals, Jim. That and just medical stuff in general." She looked up to me in a rather sheepish manner.

I smiled and gave her a squeeze. "You didn't seem scared of what we were doing to Cleo when I let you watch." I pointed out.

"Well, that was... I dunno, kind of different. For one thing you were doing it to her and not me. For another... it wasn't like..." she shook her head. "I don't know. It was different, somehow. I mean, I KNOW you, so I guess that made things different, too."

I chuckled. "So if I was the one having you up in stirrups for a pap smear...?" I inquired, jokingly.

Julie shuddered again. "I don't know... I'd imagine I'd feel..." Her expression changed and then she blushed. "Ok, I know I'd feel a whole lot different about it." She smiled up at me. "I'd probably feel different about it even if you were just there with me."

"You know, you don't HAVE to go to a hospital to have a baby. Never have. All you need is someone who knows what they're doing there to help you." I shrugged a bit and kissed her forehead.

"I...." Julie smiled. "I never thought of it that way. I suppose you're right in that people were having babies long before there were hospitals everywhere."

I chuckled "Women were having babies. Men just brag about what they go through." I winked and Julie laughed.

"You're sweet, Jim. I love you." she leaned up and kissed my cheek.

I smiled. "Are you sure it isn't just a passing fancy? I'm sure there's a few more skeletons in my closet you've not yet discovered that might change your mind."

Julie smiled up at me. "I'll just take those as they happen, Jim. But... I don't think it is just a passing fancy. Like I told you this morning, you make me feel things I've not felt in a long time. And even with how you are, I still love you. And you've not seen any of my skeletons yet, so... maybe you'll not want me when you find out what they are."

I chuckled softly. "Well, I've seen one just now."

Julie looked surprised. "What's that?"

"You just mentioned your fear of medicine... that's one, isn't it?" I asked.

Julie blushed and snuggled in closer as we made the left turn at the 1860s country church way out in the middle of nowhere. Someone must have been cleaning inside for the Sunday service, as it was all lit up and there was a single car parked on the broad lawn that didn't look any different from when it held dozens of farm wagons and buggies at the turn of the previous century, shaded by a broad maple tree. It prompted me to start singing.

Rock of ages cleft for me Let me hide myself in thee...

Julie sat up a bit as I sang. "Wow, Jim. I didn't know you had such a beautiful voice."

I chuckled softly. "Eh... I am what I am. I'm no Tennessee Ernie Ford, though I suppose I might get close sometimes."

"What's that?" Julie asked.

I chuckled. "An old-time singer. You've probably heard him before singing his greatest hit - "Sixteen Tons"."

Julie's face scrunched up some. "I don't think I have. But I might have. I don't know." She snuggled up to me again.

"Do you like country music?" I asked her.

Julie shrugged. "I guess. Why, do you?"

I laughed heartily. "I grew up on the Outlaws of Country Music and other greats. An old AM radio station was my dad's favorite. WTSO, 1070AM. They quit playing older country music a good while ago, though. But I'll bet ya...." I reached forward and turned on the radio. Yep, I was right about Chet... it was a country station, just like I'd figured.

You're not supposed to say the word "cancer" in a song And tellin' folks that Jesus is the answer can rub 'em wrong It ain't hip to sing about tractors, trucks, or little towns, and mama, yeah that might be true But this is country music, and we do.

I smiled as I sang along with Brad Paisley...

Do you like to drink a cold one on the weekend and get a little loud Have you wanted to say "I'm sorry" or "I love you", but you don't know how Do you wish somebody'd have the nerve to tell that stupid boss of yours to shove it, next time he yells at you. Well, this is country music, and we do.

So turn it on, turn it up, and sing aloooonnnnng This is real. This is your life in a soooonnnnnnnggggg This is country music.

Julie smiled broadly at the line seemingly about Jack and started tapping her foot as I continued singing along while I pulled up onto the interstate on-ramp and accelerated up to the speed limit as we were bopping our way along, the white lines flashing on the left as we made our way towards the lions and perhaps more. Before the end of the song she was singing along with the chorus.

I turned the radio down some as some commercials came on and Julie kissed my cheek again. "You're fun, Jim. No matter what happens, I'm so very glad we're getting to spend time together."

I wrapped my arm back around Julie and gave her a squeeze. "I love you too, hon. And I'm glad too. Looked like you were getting into the music a bit there, too, weren't you?"

She blushed and nodded. "You seem to make it all the more fun. Even though it's sort of sappy to sing along with the radio."

"Hey, you were singing, too. I heard ya." I winked and she blushed more.

"I don't sing as well as you do, though." She looked down a bit.

"Comes with practice, Julie. I've been singing and playing music since I was a little shit whapping at an older 70s reed chord organ my mother had and singing along in church." I smiled.

"Our family didn't attend church much," Julie said. "Mother did sometimes but most of the time we only went on holidays like Christmas and Easter."

I nodded. "A lot of folks are like that. My mother was... different. So, for her church was a very big thing."

"Different, how?" Julie asked.

I smiled tenderly at her. "Let's just save that conversation for another time, ok?" I gave her a squeeze. "Wanna sing some more?" I chuckled.

Julie nodded as the next song came up... Merle Haggard.

My hat don't hang on the same nail too long My ears can't stand to hear the same ol' song And I don't leave the highway long enough To bog down in the mud 'Cuz I've got Ramblin' Fever in m'blood.

Raaaaamblin' Fever the kind that can't be measured by degrees Raaaaaaamblin' Fever There ain't no kinda cure for my disease.

Julie laughed as I even hummed the guitar riffs. "You really are weird. But weird in a fun way," she joked.

"Well, thanks, sweet-stuff." I winked.

"How about sticking with "honey"... one ex used to call me "sweet-stuff"... it didn't end well." Julie's eyes were pleading.

"Ok, honey." I smiled and gave her a squeeze.

We sang away mile after mile of the highways and soon we were down to a quarter of a tank of fuel. I started paying attention to the signs and Julie noticed the change in my demeanor. "What's going on, Jim?" she asked.

"Oh, just trying to find cheap gas. Time to fill this back up." I said.

"Anything I can do to help?" she asked.

I shrugged. "Not really..." I smiled as I saw a billboard saying there was a TransAmerica truck stop ahead. "Then again... mind going in the front flap of my laptop bag. Towards the back of the papers there should be a sort of billfold thing like a checkbook cover. Tooled leather."

Julie shifted over some and started fishing around in the front sachel flap. "Got it... Oh, this looks nice, Jim. Did you do it?"

I smiled as I took the slightly worn billfold from her. "No... friend of mine gave that to me as a gift a long ways back. It's got all my plastic in it from when I was touring. Somewhere in here I should still have a TA discount card so I can save a little bit on the diesel this thing will take."

"But isn't your truck a gas truck, not diesel?" Julie asked.

"They give discounts for anyone that fuels up frequently, just like Pilot, Flying-J, Metro, Petro... any of the major chains. That way truckers and people with big RVs are more inclined to use their chain than others. Though most likely they just go with whoever they like and have several different chains' discount cards like I do." I smiled and pulled through to the RV pumps. I checked the pump as I drove up and looked to Julie. "You'd want to use the bathroom here if you need to. It'll be another 300 miles before I'd want to stop again. Or until I get a bit too sleepy to drive more."

Julie nodded, then looked back to Cleo who had gotten up. "What about her?"

I looked around. The lot wasn't exactly quiet as it wasn't that late in the night for truckers to have tied up for the night or left for the next leg of their run. "Good question... I hadn't really thought about her. Um... You just go first and I'll find somewhere for her to go. I'll watch her while I gas up."

Julie nodded and climbed down out of the truck. I looked back to Cleo. "Do you need to go out?" She nodded and I smiled. "Ok, I'll take you out in a little bit. Oh, I'll bet you're hungry, too. Aren't you?" Again came a nod. "Ok, I'll figure something out."

I was still filling the tank when Julie came back. "Your turn, Jim!" She perkily said a bit loudly as she came back up to me.

"Actually, it's Cleo's turn. I think there's a leash in that same satchel part of my laptop bag. You'd have to fake it a bit because she doesn't have a collar on, but... I think you could take her to that little bit of lawn there between us and the truckers' lot while I finish filling this beast and go in to pay, then use the john myself." I said, looking around to see just how many people were out and about.

Julie let Cleo out and she was padding about trying to find a particular spot. No sooner had Cleo squatted to do her thing than I heard the heavy "thunk" of door latches and no fewer than 5 truck doors in the adjacent lot opened up. If Chet had installed a CB radio in his truck I'd have wagered there was a flurry of chatter of "look at that!" flooding through the airwaves. The fuel was still flowing into the truck's tank, which must have been an oversized aftermarket one given how much diesel it was taking, so I couldn't really leave it. I opened the drivers' door and reached under the seat for something I'd tucked in there, just in case. "Jim...." Julie called from the other side of the truck.

I strapped the leather gun belt on and the wood-handled, nickel-plated replica Colt .38 longbarrel glinted a bit in the lights of the lot as the pump clicked off and I put the nozzle back. I shut the door and stepped around the truck just as Cleo was finishing up doing both her bodily functions. I didn't want trouble, and wasn't itching for a fight, but usually the pistol tones down any hotheads on sight, even if it never leaves the holster.

A couple of the truckers hung back a bit after I stepped around the truck, but one strode forward faster.

"Hey, mister!" He called out. "Is that really a lion?"

I leaned against the truck. "Yes, she is. Something wrong with that?" I asked in a hesitant way.

The trucker turned around to see the small mob that had come with him, then turned back and laughed some. "Nuthin' wrong by me, mister. Just never seen one up close and personal before, let alone someone having one on just a leash!"

He got close enough for me to see his broad smile and I relaxed some, too, and leaned back against the truck. "Cleo's something special. That's how come she's so friendly for me and Julie. But I'd stay a bit back and don't close in or she might get a little worried, and then bad things can happen."

He turned around. "Stay back, boys. Don't want to have a mad kitty beatin' on us. But he sez she's friendly."

The first fellow crouched down. "This better, Mister?" He asked and I nodded. Julie was looking at me concerned, then Cleo looked at me. "It's alright, girl. Just go with what you feel."

Cleo then tentatively padded forward a bit towards the trucker and tilted her head, looking at him.

"Her eyes are all funky, ain't they?" he asked.

"She has some problems, but I'm sure she can see you clear enough." I said.

He reached out his hand and she shrank back a bit, then looked to me. "Go ahead, Cleo. He seems friendly."

She turned back to him and let him touch her head.

"Wow. Hey look at this, guys! I'm pettin' a real live lion!" The trucker seemed to be like a kid seeing his first snow, or getting the biggest, bestest Christmas present he always wanted. I couldn't help but laugh and a few of the others did too.

A couple of the other truckers got out their cellphones, at which I cautioned, "No pictures, please. This ain't quite legal with you guys here so I don't really need the inspectors gruntin' on my ass about it. Besides, the flash would likely startle her with undesirable results." They nodded and politely put away the electronics. A couple others had wanted to pet her, and Cleo was relishing the attention. The first fellow stood up. "How about I buy you a cup of somethin' inside? Or they got a pretty good restaurant here...."

I looked to Julie and then to Cleo, then I fished out my old watch from its pocket and did some mental math.

"My offer not that good?" the trucker inquired as I didn't respond right away.

I chuckled. "It's not that. We've got a long way to go to pick up a couple of her "cousins", so to speak. While we're not really on a schedule, I was just thinking how much time we could take."

"Oh! I gotcha. Didn't think of that since you weren't in a rig, but that'd make sense," he admitted.

I looked to Julie, who said, "I could eat." I couldn't help but laugh, then I looked at the truck stop, then to the group of truckers. "I dunno... wouldn't want to get in trouble by having her here. Like I said, it's not exactly legal for her to be just out and about like this."

From the back of the group I heard someone say "To hell with that! If Alex has a problem with it, we'll just all stop at Flying J in Perkins next time rather than here!" All the group seemed to agree "Yeah!" at which both Julie and I laughed.

We all walked towards the building but I stopped, and Cleo did likewise, as I reached the door to the truckers' lounge which read "No Pets". "Uh... guys..." I pointed to the sign. The head guy just opened the door, "C'mon in. We'll get ya set up."

I shrugged and followed. Turning the corner into the actual seating area, there were a couple other drivers watching TV. One of which saw the lead driver come in, then jumped up as he saw Cleo padding along behind him. "Holy shit, Fred! That's a fucking lioness!"

"That's right, Earl, and if you make any fuss about it you'll be having more trouble than that time down in San Antonio, so keep your face shut and behave yourself." The head fellow seemed to be fairly well-respected or at least enough of a bully to subjugate the smaller Earl, who sat back down.

"She ok with people?" he asked a bit meekly as the others came in and we sat down. I nodded and he settled back somewhat. "Never seen 'nuthin like it ever before in all my drivin'," he commented, a bit in awe.

"What'll ya have? Dinner's on me." Fred said.

I smiled kindly. "Well... you know you don't have to. We can pay our own way..."

"Hell with that... you just gave us something to be talking about for a good while, and enough of us seen it so they couldn't say we're bullshittin'. That's at least worth dinner." Some of the others nodded in agreement.

"I dunno what they have here. This is the first time I've been through this area," I admitted.

"Hey, Janet! Bring us a few menus down here!" Fred called out.

"You know I'm not supposed to!" came back the crackly deeper female voice but soon a waitress ambled in and looked surprised. "You gotta be kiddin' me, Fred. You bring THAT in here?"

"Oh, hell, Janet. She's friendly. See?" Fred went over and Cleo stood up to rub against his legs while he scritched down her spine.

"Well butter my buns...." Janet said, and nearly lost the piece of chewing gum she'd been chomping on.

I smiled "Got a few pieces of raw chicken back in the kitchen? She likes that best."

"And whatever these two folks want. The boys and me will fight over their tab later," Fred added.

"Yeah, I think we got some. Here's your menus." Janet shakily handed Julie and me the folded menus. Cleo got up on, then laid down on one of the table's bench seats. Fred just laughed at that. "She's gettin' comfy, huh?" I nodded and he found a single seat facing us and one of the flatscreen TVs.

One of the younger drivers came up. "Is that your truck and trailer out there?" he asked politely.

I nodded. "Yep, why?"

He smiled. "You probably don't remember me, but I caught your little show up in Wisconsin in like... 2004? Got to pet one of your lion cubs. Is she one of them that you had back then?"

I shook my head. "No, one of them is a lioness at the zoo I work at the others are... or at least WERE pets. Don't know about all of them anymore because laws keep changing."

"Which lioness?" Julie asked.

"Lola, she's the youngest one." I told her.

The young trucker smiled. "How come you quit? I went back the next year to the county fair and you weren't there."

I shrugged. "The regulations changed so I couldn't have people petting the adult cats, and after a certain age, now, you can't .. well, legally can't interact with big cats, so I couldn't run a whole show off just a couple cubs. They'd run out of interaction time before the show season ended so... I kinda got out of that biz."

"It sucks how the government messes with people. Then again, we all know how changing regulations mess with our driving!" Fred commented and others agreed.

Janet soon came back with a plate full of raw chicken parts and set it on the floor. Cleo looked at me for permission. "It's for you. Go ahead." She nodded and stepped down off the bench and laid down to munch her meal.

"What'll it be for you two?" Janet said and fished a pencil out from her hairnet and whipped out her receipt book from her apron.

I browsed the menu. "Well, I'll have the fish sandwich meal, if you don't mind. Mountain Dew to drink. And if you could put the soda in a to-go cup? Easy on the ice."

"Make it a large order, Janet." Fred added with a nod of emphasis.

"And what for you, hon?" Janet turned to Julie.

"The chicken fingers meal sounds delightful, please." Julie said.

"Soup or 'slaw?" Janet mechanically asked.

"Cole slaw please. And I'll have Sprite to drink. In a to-go cup as well. Jim's right that we have a long ways to go." Julie smiled as we proffered the menus to Janet, who collected them and headed off.

"Mind if I ask you a question?" Fred asked, looking at me.

I shrugged. "Ask away."

"Why the piece?" he inquired, nodding down to where my pistol was sitting against the plastic seat.

"Well, when working with cats... you sort of have to have a kill weapon just in case something really does screw up badly. It also helps sometimes if..." I smiled and shrugged a bit. "... if you're aproached by a bunch of people who you don't know their intentions."

Fred laughed heartily. "Yeah, I guess we could make a pretty nasty mob if we wanted to, and I can see how you didn't know what we were up to when we all got out and started your way. Can't rightly blame you, now that I hear what you were thinking."

Earl shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Fred noticed and commented, "Quit being a pansy. You can get up, she ain't gonna clobber you. Don't run, though. And if you call anyone you'll be looking for your teeth before you roll outta here!"

Janet came back with two platters that smelled just absolutely delicious. The fish was golden crispy, the 'slaw tangy, the tartar sauce left a pleasant tangy after-taste and the fries were absolutely perfect.

"Thanks, Janet," I said, at which the waitress looked down to Cleo and shook her head. "Never before seen 'nothing like this..." she was smiling, though. She looked back towards the restaurant. "Hey, BUD! C'mon out here and see this. You wanted to know about the chicken!"

white apron holding in a bit of a gut, grease-stained white t-shirt, paper hat and all, Bud lived up to the stereotype of the greasy-spoon cook. He took one look at Cleo munching on the chicken, crunching the bones quite happily and did an about-face. Janet laughed at him. "Scared of the big kitty! Well, that explains a lot!"

She looked to me and smiled. "He's a good fellow, just not really the curious sort. He ain't gonna say 'nuthin and your secret is safe with me. Hell, most people wouldn't believe me if I told them I served a lioness dinner."

I was busily munching my food and one of the other drivers who had been in the back before asked "Can I pet her?" as Cleo finished her food.

I swallowed my mouthful of fish and shrugged. "You can ask her yourself?"

The older fellow looked at me like I'd just spoken Swahili but Fred nodded and said, "Go on, Hal. You heard him." So the other fellow moved a few seats closer and asked, "Cleo, can I pet you?"

Cleo looked to me and I nodded to her, so she got up and padded over to the fellow and sat down just in front of him. He leaned back a bit and she climbed his lap, put a forepaw on his shoulder and gave him her version of a hug. The room broke out in laughter at seeing that, even Earl, and Hal started petting her sides as he laughed from beneath her.

"Cute," Fred said. "You train her to do that?"

I shook my head. "Some things cats just pick up on their own. Cleo's a lot more friendly and a lot more... well, she seems to learn faster than other cats I've had. So don't go by what she acts like if you ever get this chance again. She's something special, and one-of-a-kind."

"I don't doubt you one bit, mister." Fred said.

"My name's Jim Peters, and this is Julie," I offered.

"Fred Blanchard. And I tell you... this has been one helluva sight for this old gear-jammer. I've seen a lot of things happen in lots and yards over the years but this one takes the cake."

"Old, hell!" came a shaky voice from a wrinkled fellow towards the back of the group, "Yer only 43!"

"44, Hank. But he knows what I mean," Fred commented with a chuckle.

We finished our meal, and Cleo had fun entertaining our hosts. Everyone expressed their dismay when I scooted out from behind the table saying we should be getting going. Janet must have heard and offered to top off our drinks, which Julie and I gratefully accepted. When Janet set down the table check Fred swiped it before I could even glance at what the tab came to. "Told you, this one's on me," the big man said.

"I'm chipping in, too." came that shaky voice of Hank's. Fred turned with an inquisitive look.

"Seein' you young folks reminds me of when I was younger. My one uncle had cats and bears and... he always had sum'n around that he probably shouldn't have had. I kinda wanted to grow up and be like him, but then all of a sudden I had a family to worry about so after the mill closed I took to drivin' to pay for all the bills. It does my heart good to see that someone's out there still doin' what I wanted to all those years ago. You two look like you'd make yerself a good family when it comes time, and let your kids grow up with them critters so they know the fun of it all, too." The old man was smiling but had a wistful, far-away look in his eyes as he reminisced about a distant place, both chronologically and likely also geographically.

"Well, we'll quibble about that later," Fred said with a smile. "Nice to have met you, Jim, Julie." Soon a weighty rubbing passed along his legs. "And you too, Cleo." He reached down and fuzzled her head.

"I gotta hit the head, I'll be right back." I said as I started making my way through the group towards the restrooms.

"I'll see your lady and the lion out to the truck." Fred said. Julie smiled and headed out the door carrying our drinks with Cleo padding alongside. I had a bit of concern leaving them in the care of the truckers, but... I dashed off to the john, took a leak, then hurried back out to the truck.