A Story for Andrew - by Patti, October 2016

Some afternoons Andrew could be found sitting in the weaver birds' favorite tree, making notes about the birds' behaviors, sketching his favorite birds, but often just daydreaming.

He was in daydream mode when he felt a spider's feet creep under his collar and onto his neck. Reacting as most of us would, he jumped from the tree branch, but also knocked a weaver bird off her nest, angered all the nesting weaver birds, and sent the whole flock screaming, which alerted, a not so far away, daydreaming lion, who started strolling towards the now distracted flailing Andrew.

This particular afternoon, Michael was also in the tree and now wondering what was causing all the mayhem. He distractedly started unwrapping his termite and honey sandwich, happily gazing into the distance, where elephants played in the Chobe river.

Meanwhile, down on the ground, Andrew was frantically pulling off his shirt, slapping at his neck. In the middle of all this jumping about, the lion nudged him from behind. He slowly turned to look into large amber eyes. His face immediately turned a lighter shade of pale. He looked from the lion's eyes, up at his brother and felt relief that at least, Michael was safe in the tree. Andrew was a good brother, a good person. He was also resourceful and was running through his rather limited options. He considered whether it was too late to scream.

As sometimes happens, this particular lion, Leon, now gazing with focused interest at Andrew, was considering his very good fortune. Andrew was just the sort of boy Leon preferred, brave and curious, and one that would perhaps provide a very tasty snack.

Meanwhile, up in the tree, Michael heard a slight groan from the bravely and stiffly standing Andrew, and he turned to look. Summing up the sitution and thinking to distract the lion, he tossed down his sandwich. Leon gratefully swallowed the sandwich and then looked expectedly at Andrew. Andrew, with hope in his heart, slowly took another termite and honey sandwich from his pack and offered it to Leon. Leon, after eating this sandwich, put his big paws on Andrew's shoulders and ran his giant tongue across Andrew's face, and then he stretched out under the tree.

As luck would have it, Leon had, as a cub, lived in an animal rescue camp. He still had a great fondness for all humans. He saw them not as food, but as friends who might be carrying his favorite snack, a termite and honey sandwich (termites taste just like peanut butter). So, he was delighted just to be near these generous brave boys and from that day forward would often wander over to sit beneath their tree, hoping for a termite and honey sandwich.

Oh, and the spider, he was still attached to a strand of silk, swinging, a bit startled, no longer under Andrew's collar, and thinking that this boy must be very special to have made a friend of a lion.