Friday Photo. So, This Happened…

I watched the angry woman yelling at the zookeeper. Red faced. Sputtering.

Children shouldn’t have to see this.

Eavesdropping shamelessly, I recalled the first time I helped Mama clean chickens. Standing on a wooden chair to reach the sink, sobbing as I plucked pinfeathers.

Mama talked about the circle of life. Cats eating mice and coyotes that try get the chickens. Our meat didn’t arrive on Styrofoam trays with Saran wrap, much less McBoxes with fries and a toy.

As her voice escalated (eyes flashing, finger wagging) her child peeked out behind her, eyes wide. Captivated by the bird of prey.

I brought her here to learn about nature, and…

“This is nature,” the zookeeper replied softly, unwavering.

The angry woman grabbed her child by the hand and stomped away, pulling the child in a wide arc to avoid the black people walking along the path.

I’m on a 66 day challenge to post every day until 2017. Join me?