Read Online How to Outfox Your Friends When You Don't Have a Clue by Jess Keating - Free Book Online Page B

“dabbling ducks.” To eat, they tip upside down in the water with their rumps in the air.
    â€”Animal Wisdom
    I always thought ducks were cute, but now I realize they spend half their time mooning us when they eat.
    When we pulled into the veterinary center at the zoo, I shivered at how dark and empty everything looked. The sporadic swish of flashlights lit up the misty darkness as we parked the car.
    â€œIs it going to be really bad?” I asked as I hopped out of the car. It was sort of surreal to think that the world stayed so busy when I was tucked away asleep in bed. Was every night so exciting?
    Mom threw her keys in her pocket and wrapped an arm around me. “I’m not sure, hun. Cars can do a lot of damage.”
    My mouth went dry. “But why you guys? I mean, aren’t there people who do this that don’t work at the zoo? Wildlife re…re- somethings ?” My eyes stung under the fluorescent lights of the clinic as we stepped inside.
    â€œRehabbers, yes,” Mom said, shutting the door tight behind us.
    Instantly, I spotted a steel table with something furry and red on it. Most of it was covered by a thick, blue blanket, but I could easily make out two black, furry paws sticking out the back. A fluffy white-tipped tail hung limply off the side of the table.
    Chills tingled up my spine.
    He was bigger than I’d expected.
    â€œI’m good friends with the wildlife caretaker at the rehab center we’re connected with, and she asked if I would help out tonight since she can’t be here for an hour. We’ll transfer the fox there once he’s stabilized,” she explained. “I haven’t worked with local animals in ages,” she said. “But I have to do something …” She trailed off.
    A swell of pride surged through me as the group inside the clinic lit up to see Mom walk into the room. It can be easy to forget that Mom was more than the person who made horrible Kraft mac and cheese and washed our socks, but at times like this, when she was stepping up and being awesome and saving wild animals and stuff, it made my heart feel extra big and proud of her.
    â€œJane.” A man with a thick beard and a red flannel shirt reached out to shake her hand. “Thanks for coming so quickly.”
    Mom smiled. “No problem, Eli,” she said. “This is my daughter, Ana. She’s going to stay out of the way and watch,” she said, for my ears only. I nodded solemnly. I had a feeling this wasn’t exactly the time or place to whip out a camera to film everything for my documentary, but holy hedgehogs, I was dying to capture this.
    His hand was warm compared to mine. “Nice to meet you, Ana,” he said. “You’re the spitting image of your mom. Let’s get to it?” He approached the table.
    â€œYou bet,” Mom said.
    And instantly, she transformed.
    Instead of being my mother, she turned into a machine. But I don’t mean a robot machine. I mean a “let’s save this animal” machine. She tossed her jacket onto the hanger on the wall with one arm as she turned on the faucet to scrub her hands with the other. Making sure I was several feet away, she lifted the blanket from the fox’s face. Instead of her usual lighthearted, goofbally look, her eyes were fierce and focused.
    A breath of awe escaped me as I watched the fox’s side rise and fall. I’d seen plenty of animals up close, especially living at the zoo. But usually I was separated from them by thick glass and lots of fences, especially if they had fangs. But this? This was something else entirely. Even though it looked completely unconscious, with heavy pants coming from its open mouth, it still felt so wild . The thick fur on its back was rusty orange-red, with a white blaze peeking out in between its front legs.
    â€œFoxes are incredibly adaptable.” Eli kept me company at the side of the room. “Lots of animals