Seven Tails of Christmas by Rob Edwards

Author:Rob Edwards
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rayn Media
Published: 2019-10-17T21:31:54+00:00

12

The GPS said the Shanti Yoga Barn was a seventeen-minute drive from the zoo. Ellis knew the area. It was just outside of town, not too far from the expressway.

The drive was quiet. Kazi’s gaze was fixed out his side of the window at the fast food signs, and Christmas decorations that flew by. Ellis thought how everything must appear so foreign to him, coming from an African country. But then realized he really knew nothing about Africa and considered the fact that McDonald’s and Taco Bell had probably invaded his continent by now too. “How long have you been here?” He asked.

Kazi looked over. “I have been in your country about four months. I have been in my room at the zoo about two and a half months.”

Ellis nodded. He wanted to know more about this man’s story but didn’t know how to ask, knowing that he already knew more than he should about a complete stranger. And, quite frankly, it was probably more than Kazi wanted to share. “So…what brought you to Iowa?”

“I rode in a truck from New Jersey.”

“No, no.” Ellis shook his head. “I mean why did you pick Iowa to come to stay?”

“Oh, yes.” Kazi nodded. “I had a friend of the family that works in your Customs office. She helped me. She knew Ms. Rikter. Knew I could handle zoo animals. Ms. Rikter has been very nice to me. And I like the zoo very much.”

“So is that where you live?” Ellis asked. “In that room with the monkey?”

“Yes. It is very comfortable.” Kazi said. He looked back out the window. “And I like the monkey very much.”

“It’s good to have friends.” Ellis nodded. The conversation lapsed. But Ellis didn’t like the quiet. Now that he had another individual within conversation distance, he didn’t want there to be awkward silence. “So, what’s the monkey’s name?”“Ricky.” Kazi still looked out the window.

Ellis didn’t understand. He thought that was the same monkey he had been earlier in the evening. But Kazi called him something different. Perhaps that was why Strawberry and Rhubarb were confused. “Ricky, huh? Nice name, I guess.”

Kazi scowled and shook his head.

“Oh, you don’t like that name?”

“No.” Kazi said. “Not at all.”

“Do you call it something different?”

Kazi looked back over. “I call him ‘Tumbili.’”

“Tumbili,” Ellis said. “That’s a nice name too. I’m assuming it means something in your language.”

“It does.” Kazi looked back out the window. “It means, ‘monkey.’”

Ellis shrugged. “Makes sense.” The remaining twelve minutes passed in silence.

The GPS told them what driveway to pull into. The Shanti Yoga Barn was an actual barn. Though it was night, the structure was lit with a combination of bright outdoor safety lighting, and twinkly white Christmas lights around each of the doors. It had obviously been refurbished, and the entire exterior of the building was painted a bright pastel green, with the word “Shanti” painted in a dark forest green along the side facing the road.

“I wonder what her favorite color is?” Ellis chuckled.

“One would think…green.

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