Terror at the Zoo Read Online Free PDF

burned?
    She pushed the negative thoughts out of her mind. Her mother always said there was no point worrying because 99 percent of the things we worry about never happen.
    “What if Mom and Dad came and they couldn’t get in so they went home?” Corey said.
    “If they did, they found our note and know where we are and they’ll make arrangements to get in. They’re probably calling someone from the zoo right now.”
    “Mrs. Caruthers isn’t home,” Corey said. “Too bad.”
    He didn’t sound like he thought it was too bad. He sounded like he was glad his parents might have a hard time getting into the zoo.
    Ellen frowned at him. He was probably concocting all sorts of wild stories about what happened during the zoo night camp-out. When his friends found out that his parents weren’t here, they would believe anything Corey made up.
    As if to confirm Ellen’s suspicions, Corey added, “Mom and Dad would make us go to sleep. This way we can stay up all night and have lots of adventures.”
    “Aren’t you even worried about Mom and Dad?” Ellen said crossly.
    Corey shrugged. “We can’t do anything about it, so why waste time worrying?”
    She couldn’t argue with his logic.
    “The security guard must have a telephone,” Ellen said. “I wonder where his office is.”
    “I don’t know. Let’s go eat; I’m starving.”
    Ellen agreed. There must be other telephones; maybe they would find one on their way to the tent. If not, it would be best to stay there and watch for the security guard. They would tell him what had happened. He knew someone was camping in the meadow so he might even come before midnight.
    Ellen’s stomach growled. Since she and Corey were apparently going to spend at least part of the night alone in the zoo, they might as well go ahead and enjoy the picnic.
    It was dark now. Even with her flashlight on, Ellen could see only a few feet ahead of her. The giant trees that were so magnificent in the sunlight now seemed twisted and sinister.
    Ellen shivered. She wished she hadn’t left her sweater in the tent. She wished she could find a telephone. Most of all, she wished she had stayed home.
    “Let’s take the path the other way,” Corey said. “We’ll still come to the tent and we might see mountain goats tap-dancing. We can stand on the big rocks and the flashlight can be our spotlight, like we’re in a theater.”
    Ellen wondered how Corey could be so unconcerned about their plight. How could he think about dancing goats when they were locked in the zoo all alone?
    “It’s much longer to walk that way,” she said. “We’re going straight back to the tent.”
    “After they tap-dance, they’ll do ballet.”
    “Sure they will. The ducks are probably doing
Swan Lake
right now.”
    Corey missed her sarcastic tone. “Maybe the mountain goats will fly, too.” He grinned at her. “What if ALL the animals sprout wings at night and nobody knows it?” He put his hand in his armpits and, moving his elbows up and down like wings, he galloped down the path.
    I might as well talk to the moon, Ellen thought, as she shook her head and started after him. Dancing zebras. Flying goats. What would he think of next?
    Moments later, Corey rushed back to her. “Somebody’s up there,” he whispered, pointing at the path ahead. “And he’s trying to break into the little store.”
    “It’s the security person that Mrs. Caruthers told us about. Good. He’s probably making sure everything is locked properly.” She was glad they had found the security guard. He would take them to a telephone. Maybe he even carried a portable phone with him.
    Corey grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop walking. “He isn’t checking the locks,” he insisted. “He has a tool in his hand and he’s trying to pry open a window.”
    Ellen scowled. “If this is one of your stories and you’re trying to scare me, you’d better quit right now,” she said.
    “No! It’s true, I swear it.”
    Something in