You probably already heard from Raini about Nana coming and taking care of us. But what you didn’t hear is that when the humans left, for the mountains that share my name, I called a bumblebee and sent her to take care of them! They also met several other animals there, whom I called to share their experiences.
Bumblebee: I followed the humans, hovering in front of Isabella’s window so she would see me. Then they went to a restaurant, so I followed them, peeking through the window. After that, I hovered in front of the sign with their cabin number, so they knew where to go. And then, on their last day there, I came to see them again to say goodbye before they left for Kentucky.
Tiger Swallowtail: I was playing around in the mud outside Smoky Mountain National Park with some other butterflies, when Isabella came up with a camera. She took my picture, then stroked my back with her finger. Before we go on, NO, she did NOT rub the “feathers” off my wings! It doesn’t work that way! I don’t even HAVE feathers! They are SCALES! Scales, do you hear me? Oh…sorry. I get worked up sometimes over butterfly myths. Happens to us all, right? Right…? Ahem…anyway, then she put her finger down and I climbed up it. I stayed there for a bit, then flew off.
Snake: I was sitting on the grassy bank as comfortable as a cloud, looking out at the stream of beauty. The humans didn’t see me at first, but when they did, Isabella took my picture. I was happy that nobody had panicked at the sight of a snake, and being the sensitive, dramatic squamate that I am, I was happier still that I was considered good enough to photograph.
Bear: I had seen Isabella ride through Cades Cove, and I wanted to follow her. Of course, that wouldn’t be safe! Humans are unpredictable. But the day she left, I went up to her hotel room and sat under her balcony. I was glad I got to say goodbye!
Moon the Miniature Horse: I saw Isabella enter the ranch, and I banged on the fence to get her attention. She came over and pet my head, and kissed my nose, and, later, fed me the special animal feed.
Emus: Emu 1: I saw Isabella enter the ranch and start petting Moon, so I joined her. Emu 2: I saw her first! Emu 1: No, you didn’t! I was the first to go over! Emu 2: Yes, I did! I saw her first, pointed her out, and you went over to say hi! Emu 1: Yeah, okay, maybe. But when she fed us, I got more food! Emu 2: How do you know? You didn’t see how much food I got! Anyway, she fed Moon, and the llama, and the chicken, too, so who knows who got the most! Emu 1: Oh, forget it. This interview is over! Emu 2: Sorry, he’s a little touchy. Emu 1: I said OVER!
Goat: When Isabella was done feeding the emus, llama, mini horses, and chicken, she came over to the goat pen. My roommate wasn’t hungry, but I wanted attention! I started smacking my lips, and she gave me some food, which I licked out of her hand. She gave me the rest of the food, and when she ran out, she started petting me and rubbing my back. But I left before any other humans could touch me–I’m very particular about who gets to do that!
Hala the African penguin: I don’t like humans. At all. Unless they have known me for years. But Isabella was likeable enough that I didn’t want to bite her. Which is a big deal for me. I didn’t even mind my feet being used for a penguin painting.
Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo: I saw Isabella enter Parrot Mountain. I said, “I love you!” and held out my foot for her to grab. She didn’t take it, because my perch said I bit, but she gave me an “air handshake.”
Little Scarlet Macaw: The cockatoo had passed down the news that we had guests. I waited with the rest of the “feed crew,” the parrots that get fed. Isabella lifted me up on her arm and fed me. She didn’t even mind that I got overexcited and climbed across both her arms and her shoulders! I guess she knew that I was “still just a baby,” as the sign on my perch put it.
Major Mitchell Cockatoo: I heard from the feed crew that a nice human was coming. When she arrived, I talked to her, even if half of it wasn’t even words, and gave her my best cat impression. I think she enjoyed it!
So there you have it! The Interviews from the Smokies! Sorry it took so long. I made it in May, but it got lost in the database until now.
Raini's Tails 