Caged by Amber Lynn Natusch

I queried.
    “Aside from the one you just asked, yes.”
    “So you have this sweet ride that’s got a crazy sound system, wicked sunroof, and an engine that goes balls to the wall in like two seconds, and you choose to drive it like a ninety-year-old woman on her way to church on Sunday?”
    Without a single word he hammered the gas and started driving like his ass end was on fire. We got up to 120 miles per hour easily, and he showed no signs of slowing. He wove through traffic like a stunt driver in a big budget action movie. He then rolled all the windows down, sunroof included, and cranked the stereo so loud that I felt the bass reverberating through my chest. It took a minute or two to remember how to breathe again. When I finally did, I looked down at my fingers as they attempted to carve out a place in the armrests, amazed they weren’t bleeding from their efforts. I turned to see what had gotten into Sean and was met with a mischievous grin.
    “Is this more to your liking?” he asked, looking way too much at me, and not nearly enough at the road.
    “Yup. Super. Wanna keep your peepers on the road and potential victims ahead of you, please? And possibly ease off the gas a bit?”
    With that he began to slow the car to a much more amenable speed of eighty miles per hour. His point was well made - no backseat driving in his car.
    The atmosphere eventually lightened in the car and my chest, and we enjoyed some witty banter on our way to Boston. I was so excited to finally see the animals that I was unable to for so many years. However, it seemed selfish to want them caged up just so they could be on display for me. My love/hate relationship was why I had put off going for so long, but I pushed my hang-ups to the back of my mind when we arrived and prepared for an excellent day of exploring and learning.
    The day was perfect for being outside. It was seventy-five degrees with no humidity and only a few clouds. Being somewhat pigmentally challenged, I didn’t enjoy the sun as much as others seemed to. I doubted very much that the blazing orb in the sky was a problem for my companion, Captain Mediterranean, and his light olive complexion.
    Some people really do have all the luck.
    When we walked through the main entrance area I was instantly overwhelmed. The zoo was enormous and I had no idea where I wanted to start. As if sensing my dilemma, Sean sighed and grabbed my hand, heading off to some exhibit on our left. Not sure exactly where we were headed, my anticipation built with every step. When we came upon the gorilla enclosure I almost leapt out of my skin. They were my favorite. From the first moment I saw them on National Geographic channel, I fell in love with them. There was something so strong and majestic about them with an intelligence that was clearly visible; their eyes held wisdom in a way that was unbelievably human.
    Because the enclosure was a large glass semicircle, there was room to go right up to it. I managed to find my own little spot away from all the other onlookers, to sit and marvel at what I was seeing. I focused on their behavior and dynamics, and could easily tell the hierarchy amongst them. The young ones played as their mothers watched, all the while being supervised by one massive silverback hiding along the back wall. He must have sensed me observing him because he turned and looked directly at me. It was glorious. We shared a moment of eye contact that felt like an eternity, and then it happened. He ambled over towards the glass directly in front of me. We were so close that I could see every detail on his face. He slowly put his right hand up to the glass and looked at me - really looked at me. I returned the gesture by placing my left to the glass, directly over his. He then placed his other on the glass and I again followed his lead. To my continued amazement, he placed his forehead against the glass and lightly grunted at me to do the same. I obliged. We stayed like that for at