Merely: A Tiny Meerkat’s Long Journey Home

By Cate Davis

Born in the Kalahari Desert in Africa, Merely the Meerkat is the only pup of her mother, Mernie, who teaches her to keep an open heart, to be kind, and to look for the best in others.

But Merely is cruelly taken from her home and family, along with many other animals, and transported across the ocean to an American zoo where her young life changes forever. This exciting journey of a unique creature with a kind and open heart brings Merely together with a group of memorable characters who become her friends including a polar bear named Sam, a mouse named Fred, a tabby cat called Ruby, and Fanny the singing piglet. She also meets a mysterious villain known only as the Stranger.

Merely tries to find happiness by keeping an open heart, just as her mother had taught her. But will she ever see her family again, or will she spend the rest of her life in the Manhattan Zoo?

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Mar 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781491788295

Cate Davis

Cate Davis is a professional actress and educator from Escanaba, Michigan. She holds a BA from Case Western Reserve University and in a career spanning three decades, has appeared in major roles in regional theaters throughout the United States. This is her first book. She resides with with her husband, Ken, in the Pacific Northwest.

Book preview

Part 1

CHAPTER 1

Swoosh

Swoosh.

The icy waves of the North Atlantic were gathering power as they relentlessly hammered the bones of the old ship.

Swoosh, swoosh.

Flickers of a friendlier morning sky still hung in the air, but dark, ominous clouds had muscled their way onto the horizon. The sky was becoming an inky blue inching closer and closer to black. Thunder boomed in the distance, and bits of lightning could be seen stabbing the darkening clouds.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.

A lone figure dressed in black made his way onto the deck and toward the bow, stumbling to the rhythm of the sea, daring the cracks of thunder, daring the bolts of electricity that lit up the night sky—daring them to ruin his enjoyment of the impending storm. A ratty, mangy mutt accompanied him, darting between his legs, seeking some small safety from the fearful sights and sounds of the sky.

The Stranger grunted as he picked up his tiny companion, a black-and-white-spotted mutt named, not surprisingly, Spot. He stroked it kindly behind its ears. He grinned as he considered casually flinging the pooch into the freezing sea, watching it fight for its life and disappear beneath the waves. Instead, he patted his canine friend once more, smiled, gently put it back on the deck, and booted it to one side as it yelped and limped away to hide behind an old barrel.

Taking a cigarette from his jacket pocket, the Stranger cupped it inside his hand, lit it, drew the smoke into his lungs, and exhaled a serpent of venomous vapor with satisfaction as he leaned against the railing of the vessel.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh; kabang, kabang, kabang!

It was going to be a rough night for this old ship, this ship called the Miracle.

CHAPTER 2

Mernie

M ernie the Meerkat was giving birth. It was her first babe, and it was not an easy task. For some reason her babe seemed reluctant to enter the world, reluctant to leave the warmth and safety of her mother’s tummy. Mernie was grateful to be surrounded by the mob, as groups of meerkats are called. They had stayed close by watching, waiting, offering support.

At last, nature took its course, and there she was, Mernie’s baby girl, with a scrunched-up face that broke into a huge smile, cooing, Hello. Are you my mother?

Yes, little one, I am your mother.

Gosh, said the babe, her eyes as big as saucers, you have such a nice face. The little meerkat snuggled into Mernie’s caring embrace, but her curious eyes scanned her surroundings, and she squinted as if searching for something. Where is my father?

Mernie paused for a moment, surprised by her newborn’s curiosity. There was a murmur of sadness from the mob. Mernie raised her paw to silence them and said, Your father isn’t here, little one. Your father is one of the ‘lost.’

Lost? said the babe. Oh. Will he ever come back? Will he ever be unlost so he can meet me?

Perhaps, sweetheart, perhaps, said Mernie very carefully, but she was quite certain her husband would never return. None of the lost ever did. He had been captured, taken in the night by the Shadows and never seen again. But, Mernie added quickly, wherever he is, no matter how far away, he loves you with all his heart.

Hmm, said the little meerkat as she pondered this news. Where do the lost ones go?

Well, said Mernie as gently as she could, we don’t really know. All we know is that the lost ones are never, ever forgotten. They live in a wonderful place called memory.

Mernie’s little babe looked up at her with wondering eyes. What is memory?

Oh, memories are beautiful places, like home, said Mernie. Memories are also born, just as you have been born, and they are kept warm and safe cradled inside the home in your heart, just like I am cradling you now. As you grow up, I will tell you all about your father, and he will become part of your home, just as I am part of your home, and you will keep him in the home of your heart just as I do. Your father is my home. You are my home. And we are your home. Do you understand?

I think so. Home is me and you and Father.

That’s exactly right, but enough of that for now. You have something more important to do today.

What’s that? asked the tiny, squirming squiggle of an infant.

You need to learn your name.

I have a name? said the babe.

Oh, yes. I thought about your name for a long time. I thought about it the whole time you were in my tummy.

What is it, Mother? What’s my name?

Your name is Merely, said a delighted Mernie. I am Mernie the Meerkat, and you will forever be known as Merely the Meerkat.

Merely the Meerkat, said Merely, beaming a big smile as she heard her name quickly whispered throughout the mob, from one meerkat to another, like an exciting secret eager to be told: Merely, Merely, Merely, Merely the Meerkat.

CHAPTER 3

The Miracle

S he was, indeed, a miracle, this old ship. Fragile as she seemed, she had miraculously survived her battle with the icy storm of the North Sea. Her crew, including the mysterious smoking Stranger and his ratty dog, was exhausted but had worked overtime to repair the damage and make sure that her cargo, a growing collection of splendid animals, was all safe and sound.

After the Miracle had been returned to her shipshape condition, the captain set a course south through warmer seas toward the midsection of Africa, her next port of call, where she would drop anchor on the western coast and continue her mission in the Kalahari Desert searching for unique creatures destined for new homes in a variety of zoos all over the world.

The captain had orders to provide sleek tigers and leopards, prides of regal lions, the blackest of panthers, and the fleetest of cheetahs for these zoos. They sought hyenas that would laugh at anything, even the saddest of riddles, and groan at the worst of puns. Gigantic black rhinos would share their cages belowdecks with slow-moving tortoises, elands with wildebeests and water buffalo, and giraffes with zebras. And, lest we forget, because they certainly never would, there would be elephants both large and small.

As night fell, the Stranger once again appeared alone on deck; well, not really alone. Spot, his mangy, ratty pup, followed close behind as his thoughts turned to the Kalahari and what might be found there. He had no interest in lions and tigers. Gazelles and wildebeests bored him. And elephants? They’d only stink up the ship. What interested him was a more exotic animal, a rare creature that might be worth a ton of money. Spot pawed at his master’s leg. The Stranger looked down, bent over, and growled, Get away from me, you ugly mutt, cuffing it aside. When is that stupid dog gonna learn? he thought.

A few months later, the Miracle would approach the African shore.

CHAPTER 4

The Mob

T he mob of meerkats had welcomed their newest member with great joy. Merely was pure meerkat with large cocoa-brown eyes surrounded by deep brown circles and a shiny silvery back. She was, like all meerkats, swift and agile, smart and curious. So curious was this breed that the mobs had devised a special meerkat security system with wondrous winding underground mazes of tunnels and caves where they all slept at night, safe and hidden from the outside dangers of the Kalahari.

Merely loved her home and her life on the desert. She loved romping about with the other pups, as the young ones are called, eagerly joining in games of hide-and-seek in the twisting tunnels. Merely knew these tunnels like the back of her paw, so she almost always won the games. Sometimes the pups would sing silly songs and dance wildly, spinning and leaping with meerkat joy. Anyone who might be lucky enough to witness this meerkat ballet could not help but be amazed.

The day Merely celebrated her first birthday, she was still very tiny, even by tiny meerkat standards, and although she was only one year old, it was time to begin her formal education.

Her mother, Mernie, possessed great knowledge and wisdom, and it was her responsibility to teach her young pup everything she needed to know about helping to keep the meerkat home clean and tidy, and the delicate art of making beds for midday slumbering and napping. She gave her tips on meerkat sitting to assure that the new babies were well cared for while their mothers and fathers were off working for the good of the mob.

Mernie also schooled Merely in how to hunt for scorpions and grubs for the pups to eat at mealtimes. The older meerkats ate small rodents and lizards, but the pups were best nourished on a dish of smooshed-up scorpions and grubs. This yummy goop, this squishy glop, was called, quite simply, mush.

One day Merely proudly returned from her hunt with lots and lots of grubs but not one single scorpion. Mernie cocked her head and asked, Merely, where are the scorpions?

Merely seemed confused, But, Mother, I have all these grubs. Why do I need scorpions? Mernie took Merely by her little paws and carefully explained, Grubs are for texture. They make the mush stick to your ribs. But scorpions are for taste. Scorpions make the mush taste delicious.

Ohhh, said Merely, suddenly understanding the importance of the scorpions. Don’t move. I’ll be right back, and off she scurried, soon to return with a bounty of scorpions to add to her bounty of grubs.

But, as much as our girl loved the hunt for the ingredients of the mush, the crunchy, salty scorpions and those stick-to-your-ribs grubs had an interesting effect on her. No sooner had she gobbled down a meal of the tasty morsels than she began to sneeze and sneeze, and then she would sneeze some more.

Oh, dear, Mernie explained with motherly concern, you, my sweet, are allergic to mush—allergic to the only food you can eat. Merely looked at her mother, her eyes watering and her nose dripping like a leaky faucet. There’s nothing we can do, sweetheart, Mernie said gently. You need to eat, so you’ll just have to bear this burden. Merely wiped her teary eyes and nodded in sad agreement.

CHAPTER 5

Africa

A rriving at their destination, the captain of the Miracle led his fleet of small boats toward the African shore. Each boat carried a crew of several men, and as they secured their skiffs on the rocky beach, he gave them specific instructions about which animals they were responsible for finding and capturing.

The captain saved the Stranger’s crew for last, confiding to the Stranger that he wanted them to find a meerkat, an unusual creature native to the area. It was rare and valuable and would fetch a good price from any zoo. The Stranger perked up and silently nodded his understanding. He turned to leave, but the captain grabbed his arm. No babies. Adults only. Babies are off-limits.

The Stranger looked at the captain strangely. The captain repeated his orders. You hear me, adults only. I don’t want to be the guy who took a baby away from his family. No babies. Got it?

I hear you. I got it. No babies, mumbled the Stranger. Satisfied? and off he went leading his crew into the wilds of the Kalahari. Spot trundled after, avoiding his master’s feet.

CHAPTER 6

Elder Max

E very morning one of the elder meerkats was selected to act as a sentry, a watch-meerkat, a lookout for the day. This job was vital and was an honor given only to the most trusted and keen-eyed members, for the sentry alerted the mob of danger. The watch-kat kept the mob safe—guarding, defending, and protecting all the meerkat families in the mob from harm. The sentry made sure there would be no more lost ones.

Her mother told her that when Merely’s father had been lost it was not the fault of the sentry. The howls and growls had alerted the mob of danger, but her father had bravely remained outside the safety of the tunnels in case there were any stragglers. His sacrifice cost him dearly, but his courage was the stuff of meerkat legend.

Each sound the sentry made meant a different kind of danger was approaching. A chirp meant one thing, a trill another. There were growls and howls to be learned; there were chirrups and tweets, and also different sounds to let everyone know that all was quiet and secure. Sounds that said, Go to sleep. All is well.

One of the great traditions of the meerkat world was the nightly meeting of the elders. They were the oldest, wisest, and most respected of the meerkat mob. The greatest elder