Gorilla Express Delivery

Barnaby the gorilla had never planned on being a hero before breakfast. He was halfway through peeling a ripe banana when he heard a tiny, muffled squeak coming from the Old Ravine.

Poking his head over the edge, Barnaby saw a flash of bright orange. Deep down in a muddy pit sat a little tiger cub named Stripies, looking thoroughly unimpressed with his sticky situation.

"Hold on to your whiskers!" Barnaby grunted.

Reaching his long, furry arm down into the ditch—stretching so far his joints gave a loud pop—Barnaby scooped up the cub by the scruff of his neck and hauled him up to safety.

Stripies didn't even shake off the mud. He just settled into Barnaby’s arms with a cool, smug grin as if falling into deep holes was entirely part of his morning routine.

"Alright, cool cat," Barnaby huffed, tucking the cub snugly under his arm like a fuzzy loaf of bread. "Let's get you home before your mom decides to turn the jungle upside down looking for you."

They set off through the tall grass, making a hilarious pair: a gigantic, scribbly-looking gorilla taking huge, nervous strides, and a tiny orange tiger hanging out in his grip, completely unfazed.

Every few steps, Stripies would let out a tiny mew, to which Barnaby nervously replied, "Shh! Don't roar at me, kid, I'm the rescue team!"

When they finally reached the sunny clearing at the edge of the bamboo forest, Mama Tiger was pacing back and forth, flicking her massive tail. Barnaby froze, suddenly realizing that holding a tiger's baby—even to return him—might look a bit suspicious.

"Express delivery!" Barnaby squeaked, gently setting Stripies on the grass and taking three quick steps backward.

Stripies trotted over to his mother, gave her leg a happy rub, and looked back at Barnaby with that same sleepy smile. Mama Tiger let out a low, warm purr, nudging her cub close before giving Barnaby a grateful nod.

Barnaby wiped a bit of mud off his brow, let out a huge sigh of relief, and headed back to his spot under the banana tree—ready to finally finish his breakfast.