This is dreary, says Roo-kai.
It's still raining. There are not many visitors today at the Billabong Zoo.
Come ON! says Terence.
Where to? asks Roo-kai.
The black handed spider monkey, says Terence.
Why particularly? asks Roo-kai.
To give it a present, says Terence.
That won't be allowed, says Roo-kai.
I can show it the present, says Terence.
Okay, says Roo-kai. Where is it?
Here, says Terence, taking the square of bubble wrap out of his shorts pocket.
Terrible present, says Roo-kai. What did you think the monkey would do?
Pops, says Terence.
They walk past a cheetah.
And a red panda.
They might like it, says Roo-kai.
They might eat it, says Terence.
So might the monkey, says Roo-kai.
Monkeys like to play, says Terence.
At last they arrive at a cage containing a black handed spider monkey.
It has black hands. That's how you tell.
Hello, says Terence. Do you only talk monkey?
Si, says the monkey. Only monkey.
It won't understand me, says Terence.
Plooey, says the monkey.
That might be French, says Roo-kai.
For what? asks Terence.
Raining, says Roo-kai. Raining, monkey?
Si, plooey, says the monkey.
Unprecedented, says Roo-kai. Can you believe it?
Si, says the monkey. Climate chango.
Multo chango, says Roo-kai.
How come you speak monkey? asks Terence.
It's intuitive, says Roo-kai.
Ask him if he wants to watch me pop this, says Terence.
This may seem like a foolish question... begins Roo-kai.
Not-no, says the monkey. I always like to see people pop bubble wrap. I can't do it.
Why not? asks Roo-kai.
Vestigial thumb, says the black handed spider monkey. But I do have strong hook-like fingers.
He holds them up, so that Roo-kai and Terence can see his vestigial thumb.
It would be very hard to pop bubble wrap with it.
Watch me, says Terence.
Pop pop pop.
Ha ha, laughs the monkey. Have you ever thought of sitting on it?
I sat on it in the camper, says Terence.
I'm surprised you have any pops left, says the monkey.
This is the first time Terence has realised that the number of pops has a limit.
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