The Flamingos

Chapter 2
Public and Private Attractions

I've been working here part-time at the zoo for about 3 months. I think I've gotten the gist of things here, but then again, I'm just the janitor.

Now don't get any ideas here—being a janitor is an extremely important job! Who do YOU think cleans and replaces the toilet paper in those public restrooms? Yuck!

I bet you can't do that even if you tried.

I also clean the "Big Birds" area of the zoo. There usually isn't much to clean there, because nobody really goes to that part of the zoo. Everybody herds over to the other sections of the zoo, like the "Exotic Tigers" and "Mermaids" exhibit (the latter being an exhibition for kids).

(Not that I mind though—I do less work than the other janitors AND I get paid. Now THAT sounds like a good deal, don't you think?)

I like cleaning this section of the zoo because of the flamingos. I've sort of been fascinated with them since I was younger, until one almost bit my finger off. Since then, I only watch flamingos from a distance. I still like them though—the whole traumatizing childhood event thing was mostly my fault in the first place.

There's also this one girl who always sits with the flamingos.

N-not that I like her or anything. Don't get any ideas. I just happen to notice that she's there all the time. Sitting on that bench near the birds. Talking with the birds. I think she's the only one in the whole zoo who knows all of their names (beside the owner and myself).

She talks to Zach a lot. Zach is the flamingo playboy of our zoo. She makes these funny cawing sounds and scrunches up her face when she talks with him. After they make eye contact, she smiles in this weird way where her nose wrinkles. Sometimes she even bursts out laughing.

It's as if they were actually having a real conversation.

I wouldn't mind having a conversation with her. We could talk about flamingos and stuff, and then I can ask her about her other favorite things. Then after that, maybe we can hang out and do some other things, like go out on a movie together. I wouldn't even mind watching a chick flick with her! Then maybe while we're watching the movie I can slowly grab her hand while she's distracted or brush my hand against hers while we're eating from the same popcorn bag or maybe I can-

Never mind, now I'm thinking stupid thoughts. I'm one of those people who have tendencies to plan out their future with people they've barely met. You know, like when you meet that one girl that seems really nice but you've only had one conversation with. That's what I'm talking about.

But we've never had a conversation before.

Heck, she probably doesn't even think about me! I doubt that she's even seen my face before!

…She only talks to that stupid flamingo, Zach.

Zach doesn't even deserve her, with him flirting with all those other lady flamingos! He's such a player!

…I wonder if she's the type to go for players.

I hope not.

She doesn't SEEM like the kind of girl who would go for that kind of person. Aren't they usually mean?

...

She is sort of cute though.