Manatee Blues Read Online Free PDF Page A

says as she crouches down and puts Francis back in his cage. “He gets all the dandelions, strawberries, and sweet potatoes he can eat, and in the winter we make sure he’s warm and snug.”
    A parrot in the corner caws loudly.
    “Is there any kind of animal you can’t take in?” Dr. Mac asks.
    Gretchen stands up. “Cougars and bobcats. There’s a rehab center farther south that specializes in them. We have the room but not the money. There’s one whole wing of the building that we’re not using yet. I’d love to set up exhibits and show kids more about habitat loss and the endangered and threatened species of Florida. Someday.” She sighs. “When we solve the money problem.”
    Her words are hopeful, but she’s not smiling anymore. I get the feeling that the center needs a lot more than nickels and dimes.
    Dr. Mac and Gretchen lead the way back to the exhibit area. “I remember your plans when you were in vet school,” says Dr. Mac. “You were going to specialize in marine mammals and move down here to the beach. You had visions of taking care of dolphins and spending lots of time waterskiing.”
    Gretchen chuckles as she holds the door open for us. “I haven’t had a day at the beach in what, two years? If I don’t get a call about an injury, or something with a bacterial infection, then I arrive in the morning to find a cranky alligator has been left on our doorstep. Or—and I swear this happened—I go out on a dinner data and end up chasing a seagull with a broken wing.”
    “Did you save it?” asks Zoe.
    “The data?”
    “No,” Zoe giggles. “The seagull.”
    “Yes, as a matter of fact, I did,” Gretchen says. “That’s the part of this job I really love—the rescue, the hands-on work, the helping. I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
    “Hang on,” I say. “I’m confused. How can it be hard to get money for the center? It’s so important to save and protect these animals.”
    “Some people get it,” Gretchen says. “Floridians raise thousands of dollars every year from the sale of special S AVE the M ANATEES license plates, and we get donations from schools, scout groups, and families. But when you are trying to save a species on the edge of disaster, you aretalking about big sums of money. Sometimes it feels like a race that we’re losing.”
    “We can help,” I say. “Tell us what you need done, and we’ll do it.”
    Gretchen smiles. “I’d like to bottle that attitude. What I really need is about a hundred thousand dollars. I have a meeting with the bank tomorrow about a loan. I don’t mind dealing with ornery alligators, but bankers scare the daylights out of me.”
    “It’s not that bad, is it?” Dr. Mac asks.
    Gretchen’s smile vanishes. “Yes, it is, J.J. If I don’t get this loan, we may have to close—even with a good turnout at the fund-raiser.”
    Close the center?
    “I didn’t realize it was so serious,” Dr. Mac says. “Let me help. Why don’t we go over your plans for the bank meeting?”
    “That would be great,” Gretchen says with relief. “Can you girls stay busy for half an hour?”
    “I’m going to help wash out the boats,” Maggie says.
    “I’d like to keep an eye on Violet,” I say.
    “This is going to sound weird, you guys, but I’d love to take another look at that snake,” Zoe says.
    They all scatter, and Violet and I are left alone. I fiddle with my camera. I’ve got to get a shot of her swimming in the tank. But if I take a picture facing the glass, the flash will reflect back and ruin the picture. I slide to the side. Maybe if I take it from an angle …
    Violet floats by. How could anyone hurt a beautiful creature like this? Manatees don’t bother anybody. They just swim and eat and play.
Click!
    I read the sign posted next to the tank:
    M ANATEES ARE CLOSE TO EXTINCTION. A S MUCH AS TEN PERCENT OF THE POPULATION DIES EACH YEAR. L EADING CAUSES INCLUDE BOAT STRIKES, GETTING CAUGHT IN DAMS, HYPOTHERMIA, AND BACTERIAL