Part of me was like, Go for it, dude.

And the other part of me was thinking, It’s a jungle out there.

a situation

Officer Williams climbs onto a picnic table. Someone hands her a megaphone so she can be heard over the din.

“Folks,” she yells, “listen up. We’ve got a handful of animal control workers coming over, but several roads are already flooded out, and the weather guys are saying Gus is gonna take his sweet time. Meantime, park supervisors, call in more help, but only if your workers can get here safely.”

The unmistakable roar of a big cat rolls over us like slow thunder.

“Any more tranq guns?” Officer Williams asks the park director, who’s just arrived.

“Three in reserve,” she answers.

“Nets?”

“We have a dozen.”

“Okay, then.” Officer Williams’s radio crackles. I can hear more shouting, more barking dogs. “Shelter’s flooding,” she says.

“Yeah, that’s happened there before,” the director says. “Usually just a foot or two of water.”

“Okay, public safety is where we start.” Officer Williams wipes rain from her forehead. “We need to get the word out that these animals are on the loose.”

“Of course,” says the director. “We have protocols in place. But we need to be careful how we word this. People might overreact, might—”

“Ma’am,” a firefighter interrupts, “I see a python in my backyard, I’m sure as heck gonna overreact.”

“First things first,” says Officer Williams. “Triage in the main office. Check wreckage for any survivors, human or animal. Fan out with tranq guns, get an inventory on how many animals are loose.”

I wonder how it’s possible that Officer Williams can seem so composed. The air reeks with fear, from animals, birds, people.

From me.

And yet she doesn’t seem worried about herself. Just other people. Weird, the way some humans stick their necks out for others. Doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, does it?

Again, the crackle, the hiss, the barking. My ears perk up for a minute. Was that a familiar voice? Maybe someone I know is in the slammer?

“I’m going to the shelter at the elementary school,” Sara says. Her hands are trembling, but her voice is firm. “To look for George and Julia. Just in case.”

She strokes my head and I’m happy to let her. I wonder if I should tag along with her, see if I can help out. Now that I know Ivan and Ruby are safe.

Hiss. Crackle. Meow. Bark.

I hear it again. My ears go on alert. My body goes rigid.

No. It’s impossible.

never

Some barks you never forget.

one place

I know what I have to do.

Despite the turmoil all around me, the noises, the smells, the fear, the confused humans, the frantic animals. Despite my worry about Julia and George.

I know there’s one place I need to be.

a split second