The Enchanted Zoo

Phoebe's Mom and Dad decided to take their Princess to a very special zoo one day? Why was it so special? You could find every animal under the sun their...You could even find Animals that were thought to be extinct like Dinosaurs or Animals only thought to be make-believe like Dragons or Unicorns!

Phoebe had an absolutely great time! Watching the Seals and Sea Lions balance balls on their noses, watching the Kangaroos hop and the Zebras run, she really liked seeing the Rainbow Unicorns and even liked to see the Dragons breathing fire!

It started getting late Phoebe's Mom said "Oh it's getting dark...We should go home."

"But Mom!" Protested Phoebe "We haven't even seen the King of the Zoo! Lionel the Lion!"

"I know Phoebe." Said Her Dad "But we need to get home because you have school tomorrow."

"I wish I was an Animal." Phoebe sighed "Animals don't have to go the school, or do homework, they get to whatever they wish!"

Phoebe was hungry so before they left they stopped at the Zoo's Cafe.

Phoebe decided B.C.W.Y.W.F. Burger and Fries with a Sweet Dreams Soda to wash it down

"What does 'B.C.W.Y.W.F. stand for?" Phoebe's Dad asked as he paid for the meal

"Be Careful What You Wish For." Said the Clerk who with his chubby cheeks and upturned nose sort of resembled a Pig.

As the family sat down to eat. One of the Zookeepers getting her supper sat down next to them.

"It's hard to leave the zoo isn't it?" The Zookeeper asked "You know before I worked here when I was a kid, I wish I could be an animal an live here in the zoo as well."

"This zoo is the best zoo I ever saw!" Said Phoebe as she took a bite of her burger

"Don't I know it!" Chuckled the Zookeeper stirred her Primordial Vegetable Soup to cool it, the Zookeeper took a sip "What's your favorite animal?" She asked Phoebe

"I really liked the Dragons and Unicorns." Said Phoebe as she took a sip of her soda "But I really wanted to see the Lions! I wanted to see Lionel the Lion!"

"That Lion is quite a Character isn't he?" Said the Zookeeper as she took another sip of her soup "I personally always liked seeing the Sea Lions and the Australian Animals ...One day I even turned into an Animal!"

"You did?" Gasped Phoebe "What Animal did you turn into?"

"I turned into a Rattlesnake of all things!" Said the Zookeeper, she noticed the look on Phoebe's face "Yes I was shocked to but Snakes are my Chinese Zodiac Animal so I guess it makes sense...First everything started to turn sparkly..."

And as the Zookeeper spoke everything started to turn sparkly

"...And the wind began to blow..." Said the Zookeeper

A Gust of wind blew into the Cafe

"...Then..." Said the Zookeeper "...A blue tornado came and surrounded me!"

Phoebe found herself surrounded by a blue tornado

"I started shrinking!" Said The Zookeeper

"I was getting smaller and smaller!" Said the Zookeeper "Until finally..."

"Mew!" A tiny meow escaped Phoebe

The Blue Tornado vanished and Phoebe found herself looking up at the Zookeeper

"It seems you've turned into a Kitten!" She said picking up Phoebe and holding her up to the mirror, Phoebe gasped seeing she turned into a snow white kitten with blue eyes!

"Housepets aren't usually found in zoos." Said the Zookeeper "But we have room for every Animal here in the Enchanted Zoo! Do you want to meet Lionel the Lion?"

"Oh yes!" Exclaimed Phoebe "I do! I do!"

The Zookeeper took Phoebe out of the Cafe past the Petting Zoo, and beyond the Reptile House to where the African Mammals were located.

"Lionel!" Yelled the Zookeeper "I brought a new friend for you!"

There came an enormous ROAR And for a moment Phoebe trembled fearing that as a Kitten Lionel would eat her in one gulp

The Lion walked out of his Den, he was twice as big as any Lion she ever saw, with a beautiful golden mane and his whiskers seemed like a bushy mustache

The Lion leaped over the fence surrounding his habitat, he sniffed Phoebe and then...Gave her a big lick!

"I love Kittens!" Said Lionel "They remind me of my own cubs!"

"You can talk?" Asked Phoebe

"All Animals can talk." Said Lionel "We just don't talk nearly as much as Humans."

Lionel's Lioness and Cubs walked out of their Den and greeted Phoebe and the Zookeeper

"Now if we're all ready..." Said the Zookeeper as she put Phoebe down to let some other animals out of their Cages "Let the Jungle Jam begin!"

A Chimpanzee began to play a steel drum, and an Anteater played the flute as the Animals all made their way to the Center of the Zoo all led by Lionel.

Lionel started to sing "Well my friends the time has come...Raise the roof and have some fun..."

Phoebe watched with wonder as Lionel led all the other Animals in a big song and dance "...Everybody sing! Everybody dance!" Sang the Lion as he passed by two Lovebirds "Lose yourself in wild romance!"

The Animals all started singing in unison

"We're going to party
Karamu, fiesta, forever
Come on and sing along!
We're going to party
Karamu, fiesta, forever
Come on and sing along!"

Phoebe found herself dancing along with all the other Animals, and she turned and saw the Zookeeper swaying to the Music like a Snake, and as she did so she started turning into a Snake! And Phoebe was not in the least bit frightened of the Snake, as the Rattlesnake used her rattle as a musical instrument to join in the fun.

The Jungle Jam went on for hours! Finally Phoebe started to get sleepy

"I'm tired." She said

"Well..." Said Lionel "...You can sleep in our Den with us until we've got your habitat built."

"But I want to sleep in my own bed!" Said Phoebe "With my own toys and my own books!"

"We thought you wanted to be a Zoo Animal." Said The Lioness "Don't you like never having to go school, or do homework?"

"But Human Kids can do stuff like ride bicycles, and go to the movies." Said Phoebe "And go Trick-Or-Treating and play Checkers and all kinds of cool things!"

"But we'll miss you!" Protested the Lion Cubs

"I'll come back! I promise!" Said Phoebe she saw the sad looks on the Lion Cubs faces and she said "I really, REALLY promise!"

It was then she heard her Mom saying "Phoebe...Phoebe wake up!"

Phoebe opened her eyes she was back in the zoo cafe with her Mom, her Dad and the Zookeeper

"Oh my gosh!" Phoebe said "Mom! Dad! I turned into a Kitten!"

"You were dreaming Phoebe..." Her Dad said

"And the Zookeeper took me to see Lionel the Lion! And the Zookeeper turned into a Rattlesnake and...I was dreaming wasn't I?"

"It's been a long day." Said her Mom "You probobly need a good long sleep."

"Can we ever come back to this zoo?" Asked Phoebe

"We will some time." Said her Dad as he carried her out of the Cafe

"I'm sure Lionel and the Cubs will be glad to see you!" Said the Zookeeper as she saw them to the exit

"Thanks." Said Phoebe's Mom "We never caught you name."

"Amanda Franken." Said the Zookeeper

"Bye Amanda!" Said Phoebe

When her Mom and Dad weren't looking, Amanda winked, and out stuck out a snake's tongue faster then you could blink, and that's when Phoebe knew...It wasn't a dream after all!