Dindi D. Cheetah looked up toward the top of her favorite perch--the Tokyo SkyTree, which rises over 2,000 feet over the city. After a quick 3-mile run from the Zoo, Dindi loved the exercise of climbing the tower’s superstructure and ending up at the observation deck with its 360-degree views.
The SkyTree tower rises over 2,000 feet over the city
One afternoon, while she was halfway up the outside of the tower, a small cry for help stopped Dindi in her tracks. Looking through the tower’s metal frame, she spied a Japanese Wagtail bird caught on a wire inside.
…she spied a Japanese Wagtail bird caught on a wire…
“Well, hello there!” said Dindi. The bird said nothing, and instead was looking down and trembling. Dindi followed the bird’s gaze and saw right away what she was afraid of. Moving slowly but steadily up the inside of the tower’s frame, carefully eyeing the trapped bird was a large and hungry-looking house cat. “I get it,” said Dindi. “Hang on. I’ll get you out of there.” Dindi stretched her foreleg through the bars. She could almost reach the Wagtail, but not quite! “Oh-oh,” thought Dindi to herself. “This is going to be harder than I thought.”
Dindi was too big to squeeze through the bars and reach the bird. She also knew that even as fast as she could move, she couldn’t climb all the way up or down and get inside before the cat would reach the helpless bird. In desperation, Dindi tried to chew at the wire that the bird was stuck on, but even though she made a little progress, it wasn’t enough. In any minute, the cat would reach the Wagtail!
Dindi had to think fast. Suddenly, she had an idea! She got as close to the bird as she could, and pressed herself against the metal frame of the tower. As the house cat approached, the cheetah called upon her training. Dindi’s spots began to shimmer, changing from spots to the long lines of the tower’s cables. Dindi’s coat turned from orange-tan to the white-gray of the tower. In an instant, she was nearly invisible. Holding a paw to her mouth in a “don’t say anything” gesture aimed at the bird, Dindi held her breath and waited.
A few anxious seconds passed. Dindi watched in silence as the predator climbed into view and approached the wire with the bird still caught on it. As Dindi had hoped, the cat was so intent on its prey that it wasn’t looking very carefully around. Dindi waited until it was almost about to pounce, and at that instant Dindi twitched, restoring her spots and colors, while at the same time she let out a blood-chilling growl.
The effect was immediate. The cat, seeing a screaming cheetah just feet away, jumped in surprise, lost its footing, and fell several stories down. It landed, as cats often do, on its feet, but the fight had gone out of it as it scampered down the inside of the tower and out of sight. In a few minutes, Dindi had climbed to the top of the tower and made her way back down on the inside, riding on the top of an elevator car and jumping off next to the bird. In a few seconds, Dindi freed the bird, which was beside itself with gratitude. “Thank you thank you thank you!!” she trilled in a high-pitched voice.
Dindi just smiled. “That’s OK, I was glad to help. By the way, what’s your name?”
“I’m Wilma Wagtail,” she replied. “If there’s anything I can ever do to repay you, please let me know.”
“I’m Dindi D. Cheetah, and I certainly will!” With a last grateful wave, Wilma flew off. Dindi climbed back up to the top of the tower, found a secluded sunny spot on the roof of the observation deck, and promptly fell asleep.
Dindi was too big to squeeze through the bars and reach the bird. She also knew that even as fast as she could move, she couldn’t climb all the way up or down and get inside before the cat would reach the helpless bird. In desperation, Dindi tried to chew at the wire that the bird was stuck on, but even though she made a little progress, it wasn’t enough. In any minute, the cat would reach the Wagtail!
Dindi had to think fast. Suddenly, she had an idea! She got as close to the bird as she could, and pressed herself against the metal frame of the tower. As the house cat approached, the cheetah called upon her training. Dindi’s spots began to shimmer, changing from spots to the long lines of the tower’s cables. Dindi’s coat turned from orange-tan to the white-gray of the tower. In an instant, she was nearly invisible. Holding a paw to her mouth in a “don’t say anything” gesture aimed at the bird, Dindi held her breath and waited.
A few anxious seconds passed. Dindi watched in silence as the predator climbed into view and approached the wire with the bird still caught on it. As Dindi had hoped, the cat was so intent on its prey that it wasn’t looking very carefully around. Dindi waited until it was almost about to pounce, and at that instant Dindi twitched, restoring her spots and colors, while at the same time she let out a blood-chilling growl.
The effect was immediate. The cat, seeing a screaming cheetah just feet away, jumped in surprise, lost its footing, and fell several stories down. It landed, as cats often do, on its feet, but the fight had gone out of it as it scampered down the inside of the tower and out of sight. In a few minutes, Dindi had climbed to the top of the tower and made her way back down on the inside, riding on the top of an elevator car and jumping off next to the bird. In a few seconds, Dindi freed the bird, which was beside itself with gratitude. “Thank you thank you thank you!!” she trilled in a high-pitched voice.
Dindi just smiled. “That’s OK, I was glad to help. By the way, what’s your name?”
“I’m Wilma Wagtail,” she replied. “If there’s anything I can ever do to repay you, please let me know.”
“I’m Dindi D. Cheetah, and I certainly will!” With a last grateful wave, Wilma flew off. Dindi climbed back up to the top of the tower, found a secluded sunny spot on the roof of the observation deck, and promptly fell asleep.
* * * * * * * * * *
Dindi was awakened from his well-deserved midday nap by the sound of his cell phone ringtone. “Umm, Dindi D. Cheetah Private Inv…” he started to say.
“Never mind that. Just come over to the security station right away.” Dindi recognized the voice. It belonged to Sam Silverback, the Zoo’s Chief of Security. A mountain gorilla, Silverback was a no-nonsense fellow with a famously bad temper. Sam and Dindi had had more than their share of run-ins—that was the life of a detective. So Dindi was a little surprised, but grateful, that the Chief was asking for his help.
“I’ll be right down, Boss!” said Dindi cheerfully.
“I’M NOT YOUR BO..” shouted the gorilla into the phone, but Dindi had already hung up.
A short while later, Dindi walked into the Ueno Zoo Security Station. Or rather, slid into it, for the condition of the building was just terrible. Vines were growing up through the floor, the windows were covered with moss, and rain from a recent shower was dripping through the ceiling, right onto Sam Silverback’s desk.
“Never mind that. Just come over to the security station right away.” Dindi recognized the voice. It belonged to Sam Silverback, the Zoo’s Chief of Security. A mountain gorilla, Silverback was a no-nonsense fellow with a famously bad temper. Sam and Dindi had had more than their share of run-ins—that was the life of a detective. So Dindi was a little surprised, but grateful, that the Chief was asking for his help.
“I’ll be right down, Boss!” said Dindi cheerfully.
“I’M NOT YOUR BO..” shouted the gorilla into the phone, but Dindi had already hung up.
A short while later, Dindi walked into the Ueno Zoo Security Station. Or rather, slid into it, for the condition of the building was just terrible. Vines were growing up through the floor, the windows were covered with moss, and rain from a recent shower was dripping through the ceiling, right onto Sam Silverback’s desk.
“I’M NOT YOUR BO…” shouted the gorilla.
“DINDI!” Silverback roared. “What took you so long?” Dindi ignored the Chief, who was famous for being the most impatient man in the rainforest. Instead, the Cheetah detective walked over to the interrogation room. Inside, he saw Frannie Frog, famous leader of the Poison Dart gang, calmly flicking flies with her tongue as she drummed her fingers on a table.
Dindi looked back at Sam. “Whaddya have on ol’ Frannie, Sam-O?” Dindi knew that the Chief hated to be called “Sam-O,” but he just couldn’t help taking advantage of the situation. After all, the silverback had called Dindi to the station, hadn’t he?
“I’ll tell you what’s going on!” called a tear-filled voice from the ceiling. Looking up, Dindi saw Terence Toucan resting atop a bookshelf. “She’s stolen them! She and her gang, that is! She’s stolen them all!”
“Slow down, Terry. What has she taken? I don’t see anything missing…”
“Look outside, Dindi! Down by the primate paddock. What do you see?” Dindi peered out a window in the direction that the toucan was pointing.
“I don’t’ see anything, T-Bone!”
“That’s the point!” replied the toucan sadly. “There used to be a whole trainload down there. We stored the Musa there! Now they’re gone!”
Dindi looked back at Sam. “Whaddya have on ol’ Frannie, Sam-O?” Dindi knew that the Chief hated to be called “Sam-O,” but he just couldn’t help taking advantage of the situation. After all, the silverback had called Dindi to the station, hadn’t he?
“I’ll tell you what’s going on!” called a tear-filled voice from the ceiling. Looking up, Dindi saw Terence Toucan resting atop a bookshelf. “She’s stolen them! She and her gang, that is! She’s stolen them all!”
“Slow down, Terry. What has she taken? I don’t see anything missing…”
“Look outside, Dindi! Down by the primate paddock. What do you see?” Dindi peered out a window in the direction that the toucan was pointing.
“I don’t’ see anything, T-Bone!”
“That’s the point!” replied the toucan sadly. “There used to be a whole trainload down there. We stored the Musa there! Now they’re gone!”
“There used to be a whole trainload down there. Now they’re gone!”
“Musa? What’s musa?” asked Dindi.
“Why, it’s the scientific name for the fourth most widely eaten cultivated plant,” said Terence.
“Oh! You mean bananas?”
“OF COURSE HE MEANS BANANAS!” Sam Silverback thundered. “The Zoo has just had its shipment of bananas swiped from right under our noses! With the Chimpanzee Charity Chew-Off Challenge starting in just 24 hours, we’ve got to get those bananas back! I’ve had every officer looking since dawn, but…”
“But you haven’t had any luck, huh, Sam-O? And that’s why you need me.”
“Just find those bananas, will ‘ya?” barked the gorilla.
“I’ll do what I can, boss,” replied Dindi, and he walked into the interrogation room, closing the door behind him.
* * * * *
“Hiya, Dindi,” croaked Frannie. “Care for a fruit-fly?”
“I never touch ‘em this time of year,” said Dindi. They won’t be ripe for months.”
“Suit yourself!” said the frog as she swallowed the insect whole.
“Why, it’s the scientific name for the fourth most widely eaten cultivated plant,” said Terence.
“Oh! You mean bananas?”
“OF COURSE HE MEANS BANANAS!” Sam Silverback thundered. “The Zoo has just had its shipment of bananas swiped from right under our noses! With the Chimpanzee Charity Chew-Off Challenge starting in just 24 hours, we’ve got to get those bananas back! I’ve had every officer looking since dawn, but…”
“But you haven’t had any luck, huh, Sam-O? And that’s why you need me.”
“Just find those bananas, will ‘ya?” barked the gorilla.
“I’ll do what I can, boss,” replied Dindi, and he walked into the interrogation room, closing the door behind him.
* * * * *
“Hiya, Dindi,” croaked Frannie. “Care for a fruit-fly?”
“I never touch ‘em this time of year,” said Dindi. They won’t be ripe for months.”
“Suit yourself!” said the frog as she swallowed the insect whole.
“Hiya, Dindi,” croaked Frannie. “Care for a fruit-fly?”
“So, Frannie, what can you tell me about the missing bananas?”
“Nuthin, Dindi. You know how it is! Anything goes haywire around here, they round up the usual suspects, and that means yours truly. I’m innocent, I tell you, innocent!”
“Of course you are. The Poison Dart Gang is just a bunch of misunderstood do-gooders. Like the time you guys tried to sell tickets to drink water from the fountain in the Visitor’s Center?”
“That was to protect our supplies in case there was a drought! We was doin’ a public service!” protested the frog.
“Frannie, we live in a Zoo. There isn’t going to be a drought.”
“See, our idea worked!” laughed Frannie.
“Whatever. Say, happy-legs, tell me this. You’re usually a difficult froggie to catch. How’d old Silverback bring you in so fast?”
Dindi noticed a flicker of worry cross Frannie’s face. “Err, he was just lucky. I was hoppin’ across the Raging River, you know, down by the Zebra enclosure, and I just slipped.”
“You slipped, huh? I wonder.” Dindi walked out of the interrogation room, and slapped Sam Silverback on his silver back.
“Sam-o, call your men. Frannie just gave me the clue we’ve been looking for. Let’s go find those bananas!”
FINISH THE STORY, AND SOLVE THE CASE!
* * * * * * *
Can you help Dindi find the missing musa and solve this case? Can you imagine what clue Dindi might have in mind?
Try to remember the Rule of Three: Dindi’s first two ideas might not work out, but if Dindi keeps trying, good things can happen. It’s as important to write about what goes wrong as what goes right!
Also, try to think about a beginning, middle, and end to your story:
-- the beginning could have Dindi looking for the musa,
-- the middle could have Dindi finding the musa, and
-- the end could be getting them back from Frannie’s gang.
Chapter One is due on Monday, October 1
“Nuthin, Dindi. You know how it is! Anything goes haywire around here, they round up the usual suspects, and that means yours truly. I’m innocent, I tell you, innocent!”
“Of course you are. The Poison Dart Gang is just a bunch of misunderstood do-gooders. Like the time you guys tried to sell tickets to drink water from the fountain in the Visitor’s Center?”
“That was to protect our supplies in case there was a drought! We was doin’ a public service!” protested the frog.
“Frannie, we live in a Zoo. There isn’t going to be a drought.”
“See, our idea worked!” laughed Frannie.
“Whatever. Say, happy-legs, tell me this. You’re usually a difficult froggie to catch. How’d old Silverback bring you in so fast?”
Dindi noticed a flicker of worry cross Frannie’s face. “Err, he was just lucky. I was hoppin’ across the Raging River, you know, down by the Zebra enclosure, and I just slipped.”
“You slipped, huh? I wonder.” Dindi walked out of the interrogation room, and slapped Sam Silverback on his silver back.
“Sam-o, call your men. Frannie just gave me the clue we’ve been looking for. Let’s go find those bananas!”
FINISH THE STORY, AND SOLVE THE CASE!
* * * * * * *
Can you help Dindi find the missing musa and solve this case? Can you imagine what clue Dindi might have in mind?
Try to remember the Rule of Three: Dindi’s first two ideas might not work out, but if Dindi keeps trying, good things can happen. It’s as important to write about what goes wrong as what goes right!
Also, try to think about a beginning, middle, and end to your story:
-- the beginning could have Dindi looking for the musa,
-- the middle could have Dindi finding the musa, and
-- the end could be getting them back from Frannie’s gang.
Chapter One is due on Monday, October 1