Brenna's Day at the Zoo!

While visiting the North Carolina Zoo with her brother David, Brenna noticed a really cute animal that she just had to have!

David went to buy an ice cream and left Brenna alone watching her new-found pet.

Brenna got a super brainstorm. While David was away, she could hide the animal in the trunk.

When David got back to Brenna with the ice creams, he noticed that the rhino wasn't in enclosure.

"Brenna, what happened to your rhino?"

"I can't say. Maybe it went somewhere!"

David shook his head and gave Brenna her ice cream.

Then they both went to look at the polar bear.

"I wish I could have one of those, they look so soft and cuddly!" Brenna said.

"It would eat us!" David exclaimed. "You can't take animals from the zoo!"

"I bet I can!" Brenna said mysteriously.

Then Brenna ran ahead of David. When he caught up with her, she was playing with a dung beetle. It was a huge dung beetle.

"Brenna, don't you know that is a dung beetle? You're all covered with ick!"

"David, you go ahead and I will get washed up!"

So David continued walking around the zoo while his sister cleaned up.

Brenna caught up with David at the turtle exhibit.

"Brenna, you're slower than these turtles!"

"I am not!" She replied.

"We should be going. Mom will be waiting for us. We don't want to be late." David headed for the car.

Brenna kept waving her arms until David was in the car.
"You're acting strange!" David said as he started the car.

They drove home to their grandparents where their mother was waiting for them.

When they got home it was almost midnight.

Sarah, their mom, was in the front yard.

"What took you so long?" she asked.

"I don't know!" David said.

"I brought you a gift!" said Brenna.

Sarah screamed! "There... there is a rhino tied to the car!"

"Brenna, don't you know messy rhinos are?" David said.

"I know. That is why I have a dung beetle in the trunk!"

"Brenna!" Then Sarah fainted.

The rhino felt bad for Sarah and began giving her a big lick to make her feel better.

Sarah woke up and saw the rhino licking her. She immediately fainted again.

Before she woke up again David and Brenna hid the rhino in Brenna's room.

Sarah woke up and thought she was dreaming until....The dung beetle kissed her.

Story contributors:
David B. Milliken
Brenna N. Milliken