Lonnie Lemur Explores Madagascar: Travel To Nowhere In Particular In A Roundabout Way

By James Howard Carr and Robert Anderson

Lonnie Lemur Explores Madagascar © is two enjoyable children's books combined within one colorful book cover - a fun fictional adventure and a revealing informational text. Together, these different writing styles introduce the curious reader to many of the creatures that live on the island that is so close to the continent of Africa, a

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alabama Hills Press
• Release date: Feb 12, 2024
• ISBN: 9798988639916

Book preview

The Adventure Begins

As darkness lifted, a cool morning breeze rustled tree leaves and pushed away the heavy overnight fog that had filled the rolling gaps within the small valley. Dry leaves broke free in the puffs and blasts of air, fluttering and scattering and scrapping across the undulating ground of the sparsely wooded lemur park, located on the outskirts of the largest city of Madagascar, the capital, Antananarivo.

Winter is the dry, cool season in Madagascar, being from May through October, because the island is below the equator, and it was drawing to an end. Winter is the season that brings most foreign visitors from around the world, so to learn about this fascinating nation’s isolated wonders, its amazing creatures, colorful and unusual plant life, remarkable geography, distinctive geology, variable climates, poignant history, and its astonishingly ingenious people. However, frequent rainstorms, higher temperatures and sweltering humidity would soon return to the island, meaning fewer visitors from November through April.

As sunrise peeked over the low-lying mountains, filtering through the many different types of trees, lemurs – Sifaka Lemurs to be exact – awakened from their night’s sleep high up in the canopy, visibly uncoiling their fur-ball bodies.

The drowsy lemurs would await another day of foreign visitors strolling the park pathways, humans who will ooh! and aah! while snapping countless photographs of their first-ever wild encounter with these uniquely big-eyed, never-blinking primates. Lemurs are native only to this wondrous island, and park tour guides lead the way and instruct the visitors on the lives of these remarkable creatures.

After a Sifaka Mother yawned widely, and stretched broadly, she then slung herself down through the branches to her sleeping son, who was all balled-up in the crook of a tree limb elbow. She nudged him gently several times.

Rise and shine, Lonnie, we must prepare for the light, enticed his Mother in a soft caring tone. The young lemur groaned and moaned, but did not budge. The Sifaka Mother nudged her boy again. Wake up!

Lonnie sniffed, sniffled, snuffled, then yawned. Aw, not now, mom. I’m too tired.

Now his Mother poked him repeatedly – harder. "Come, come, sleepy head. Humans will arrive soon. We do not want to disappoint them. Up, up, up!"

Yes, yes, yes. I know, I know. Okay, okay, Lonnie replied in a dull weary mutter.

"My, my, my. Why so cranky this morning?" asked his curious Mother.

The young Sifaka yawned loudly and stretched widely to clear the night slumber, then he answered his Mother: Well, ah, I don’t feel like jumping around in the trees. And I don’t want to stare down at humans. The young lemur yawned again, scratched his belly, then he added: I’m bored.

Bored?! replied his surprised Mother, somewhat confused.

Yes! Bored! Lonnie stated, adamantly, then he added, unhappily: "I am bored with doing the same thing over and over and over again! We sit up here in the trees and stare down at strange humans who hold snappy clicky things pointed at us. I am soooo bored with all of it!"

Suddenly another older lemur, his Father, swung down from his sleeping nook. My son, you must understand, all of what you described is why we live in this park, said his Father, then he added: We live here in safety so those strange humans who visit from wherever can see us up close and use their snappy clicky things. In return, the park humans, who we see when light returns, provide us with food, and take care of us. We have a very nice life here.

Yes! It is nice! But we always do the same things! exploded Lonnie.

Lonnie! Please! Lower your voice! ordered his Mother, shocked at his outburst.

I’m … I’m sorry, Mother, Lonnie apologized in a disgruntled tone, but then the young lemur made a surprising and unexpected appeal to his parents: I want to know what is outside of the park! Can you tell me what is out there beyond the park?

His lemur parents silently fixated on each other with knowing concern. They were not sure how to answer their son. But his Father tried – so very carefully.

"Hmm. What is out beyond the park, you ask," repeated his Father, hesitantly, while stroking his chin hair, then tapping his lip, all the while thinking about how to answer. "Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. You really want to know what is outside of our park?"

Yes! Yes! I do! Lonnie said, impatiently. "What is out there to see? How big is it out there? Where does it go? Where does it end? Or does it go on forever?! I want to know all of these things – and more! I want to know what is out there to explore!"

My, my, my! So many questions! replied his Father, quite astonished, for he knew some answers to these questions – but it was impossible to know all of the answers. And he was not sure how much to reveal of what he did know. Then he cleared his throat, and continued – cautiously: "What is there to explore. Hmm. … Well, ah-hum, life is much different away from here."

No! Not just different – but difficult! interjected his anxious Mother. "Life is very difficult for everyone who lives outside of our park! It is a very hard life out there!"

"Really?!" Lonnie replied, unconvinced, and then he asked in an unbelieving tone: How is life hard outside of the park? How is it difficult?

Listen to your Mother! stated his Father, nodding vigorously in support of his life mate, hoping to calm her antsy mood, then he continued answering their son: "All animals living outside of our park – including lemurs – are not taken care of by humans like we are. And, more importantly, they must find their own food."

Yes! Yes! Your Father is quite correct! said his fretful Mother. "Finding food is every animals most important daily task outside of our park. And it is a very difficult task! For lemurs outside of the park, it all depends on how much fruit certain trees grow, and how many animals who live in the same area eat that same fruit – including humans!"

Lonnie, not wanting to believe his parents, smirked, shook his head, then challenged them: "How can that be?! There are trees everywhere! I see them. You see them. And it must be larger out there, so, there must be more trees out there! It cannot be that difficult to find food outside of the park!"

His Mother and Father frowned at each other in knowing silence, then responded to their son in unison with a steadfast nod and a singular: IT IS!!!

Tell me, son, began his Father, solemnly, but coyly. which trees in our park grow fruit?

Lonnie silently thought on the question, scratched his head, looked in all directions as far as he could see in the park, then said: "Geez! Ah, I’m not sure."

Not every tree in this park is a fruit tree! said his Mother, pointedly.

And that is the way it is outside of our park too, added his Father.

And – your favorite – there are very few of those fruit trees here! stated his Mother.

Oh, I do so like tamarind pods, Lonnie replied, happily, then he licked his lips. Those pods are so juicy!

We enjoy the pods too, said his Father. "That is another reason why we stay here. Tamarind trees are very difficult to find outside of the park. And our park humans know that, so, they feed us what we like – and care for us in other ways too. So, we will stay here … in our park."

Then Lonnie stated, naively, yet firmly: "Yeah, well, okay. … But – our humans feed us other kinds of fruit too! So, there must be other kinds of fruit trees outside of the park that I can eat from! It is just a matter of looking for them. And I will find them! But – that also means, there is much more to see out there!"

Oh, there is much more to see out there, my son, and there are different kinds of fruit trees out there too, responded his Father. Your Mother and I know, for we lived outside of the park before being brought here.

YOU DID?!?!?! Lonnie reacted in astonishment, and with great curiosity. Both of you lived outside of the park?! And both of you were brought here to live?!

Oh, no! whispered his Mother to his Father, in a forlorn tone. Should you have told him that?

I think it best, whispered his Father to his Mother. Sooner or later he would learn so.

Oh, well. You are probably right. Then his Mother replied to her son in a thankful tone: "Yes! Yes we did live outside of the park. Yes! Yes we were brought here to live."

"It is a big place out there, a very big place, added his Father. And our place in here, well, it is very small compared to out there – but in here – it is the right size for us. And it is safe. This park is just a very small part of our country."

Our country?! Lonnie stated, quizzically, then he asked: What is a country?

A country is a very large place, answered his Father. We live in a country that humans call Madagascar. And, Madagascar is a large island.

Mada- , Mada-gas-car? Lonnie repeated, then he asked: What is an island?

"That is something for you to find out – if – you venture forth," said his Father.

NOOO!!! exclaimed his fretting Mother, rapidly shaking her head at her mate.

Lonnie silently contemplated, then he asked: So, even though you lived outside of the park, how do you know all of these things about where we live, and it being a country, an island?

Your Mother and I know these things from what we hear our humans say, as they lead strange humans around the park, answered his Father, then he asked his son: Have you ever listened to what our humans say?

Ah, … no. Not really, Lonnie replied, seemingly uncertain if he should be embarrassed or not, while scratching his head. "They are so boring to listen to."

His Mother frowned, shook her head, then she said: "Tisk! Tisk! Tisk! Just like a young one. So very curious, but not curious enough."

Lonnie scrunched up his face, then he asked: "What does that mean, mom?"

We all learn from experience, began his Mother. "But – we also learn from listening."

So true, acknowledged his Father of the belief he shared with his mate, then he interjected: "Listen well to others, my son, and you will learn much. … But – you also need to know this: This park is big enough for us – Mother and I – and we are oh so very grateful to be living here."

Grateful?!

Yes! Grateful! Indeed! So very happy to be living here! replied his Mother, emphatically. And, as your Father said, by our living here, we are cared for, and yet we are free to roam the park as we wish.

"But … can you leave the park if you want to?" asked Lonnie.

Of course we can leave, whenever we like, answered his Father. But why? Here we have a nice life. A good life. A safe life.

Well, I am tired of this nice good safe life! Lonnie stated, resolutely. "I want to see this country! This island! I want to see – what did you call it … Mada-what?"

Madagascar, answered his Father, solemnly.

Madagascar! And I want to see it all!

See it all, says you?! chuckled his Father, shaking his head knowingly. "Well, I do not know if seeing all of Madagascar is possible. For from what I have overheard our park humans say, even though we live on an island, it is far larger than you can imagine. But, you could certainly see some of it."

Do not encourage him! whispered his Mother to his Father. But it was too late.

Then that is what I will do! Lonnie stated with naïve bravado. I will leave the park to see as much of what surrounds us as I possibly can!

But it will be dangerous out there for you! implored his now worried Mother.

Dangerous?! Lonnie said with surprise. What does dangerous mean?

His Mother and Father glanced sadly at each other, each shaking their head at such naiveté.

Son, began his Father, "living in the park is safe, it shelters us from many dangers. That is why you do not know what dangerous means. Finding food outside of the park, well, that is a difficult task. But an even more vital task in living out there is knowing how to stay safe – and how to protect yourself!"

Protect myself?

"Of course! You must be aware of your surroundings – always!" said his Father. "All animals living outside of the park encounter danger – and danger is always unforeseen! And when danger confronts animals, they must protect themselves by either defending against it – or – running away from it. … The only choices are – fight or flee! So, be aware – very aware – of what surrounds our park if you venture out of it – for there are many dangers – and many predators.

"Predators?! What are those?" asked the unworldly young lemur.

Oh, my! Tisk! Tisk! Tisk! began his fretful Mother. "Because you have lived your entire life in the comfort of our park, you have no idea what dangers lurk outside of it. Predators are not the friends of lemurs. Predators are kept out of the park by our humans. And, most importantly, predators live anywhere and everywhere you will go outside of the park. So – predators are impossible to avoid!"

"Oh. … Ahhh. Okay, Lonnie said, then he replied: I guess, I guess I will just have to be, you know, more careful, cautious, and not take chances."

PISH POSH!! blurted out his Mother, in an angry fearful voice – loudly.

Pish posh?! Lonnie repeated, flummoxed. You keep saying odd things I do not understand. What does that mean, mother?

NONSENSE!!!

What your Mother means is, began his Father, "you will be taking – great risks – everywhere you go outside of our park! Every step you take, every move you make, predators will be watching for you. For life is perilous!"

"Geez! … Well, ah, I guess … I guess, like I said, I am just going to have to try to be careful, Lonnie stated, in a full-fledged commitment of naïve bravado towards the unknown. Because I want to know what is out there!"

His Mother looked disheartened – distraught – shaking her head, wearing a pleading facial expression, as she turned to his Father, who tried to comfort her.

Very well, stated his Father, dispiritedly, for his son still did not seem to comprehend the dangers that awaited him, and he had no idea how to place a positive outlook on this decision for his mate. However, he reluctantly encouraged Lonnie: If that is your choice, my son, so be it. Everyone who wishes to dare should have an adventure roaming about their world. Your Mother and I had our adventure by being born outside of the park. So, I suppose now is when you should explore that same world.

Thanks, dad, Lonnie said with appreciation for the parental support, then he looked at his Mother with a brave smile of innocence. "And, Mother – please – do not worry about me. I will be alright."

Don’t worry?! Don’t tell me not to worry! I will worry! said his Mother, loudly, in fearful frustration, but then she took a deep breath trying to calm herself. "Well, since you have decided to leave the safety of our home here, let us have a meal together before you depart – are you leaving us in the light?"

Lonnie silently hesitated and flinched, somewhat stunned by the question, for he had not thought that far ahead; but now, decisively, he boldly answered: "Ahhh … yes I am! … I will leave on my adventure!"

Alright. Very well. If you insist. I will gather food for our last meal together. His whimpering Mother climbed up into the foliage of the tamarind tree they lived in, plucked several bunches of fruit pods, and brought them down to Lonnie and his Father. Your favorite. Enjoy.

As a reminder, my son, there is one thing to seriously consider, said his Father, while nibbling a tamarind pod.

What is that? Lonnie slurred, while happily chomping a mouthful of tamarind pods.

Tamarind trees do not grow everywhere in Madagascar, said his Father. It may be difficult to find pods. So, you probably will need to eat other things. Things you are not familiar with eating. And I do not mean unfamiliar fruit.

Yes! Yes! That is true! anxiously chimed in his Mother, and hoping her next comment would finally discourage her son from leaving the park: "Remember! You are a very picky eater!"

Oh, I will be alright! Lonnie slobbered, foolishly waving off his parents with ignorant self-assurance, not knowing what unknowns awaited him outside of the park. If I have to eat other things, I will just eat other things.

His Father snickered at this comment, then he said: "But those other things may not be pleasant, and may not be tasty like tamarind pods."

Oh, not to worry. I am sure I will be okay with whatever I find to eat, Lonnie gurgled, confidently, with his mouth jammed full of tamarind fruit.

His parents silently frowned at him, and shook their heads knowing otherwise.

As the Sifakas chewed and sucked on the large juicy pea-shaped pods, enjoying the sweet yet tart flavored fleshy pulp of the tamarind fruit, his sad Mother reminded him again about their home.

Lonnie, my son, began his Mother, while handing several tamarind pods to her mate, never forget where you come from. You are always welcome to return home to our park – if your adventure becomes too difficult for you.

"Oh! And be careful you do not fall off the island," teased his smirking Father, trying to ease the tension his mate had just created with her final comment.

Fall off the island?! Lonnie mumbled in confusion, as his mouth, packed full of pods, fell open and bits of fruit dropped out. That can happen?!

His Father chuckled, and his Mother expelled a deep gloomy sigh, as both parents shook their heads at such naiveté about leaving their safe home, and embarking on an unknown potentially dangerous adventure.

Chapter 2

Madagascar

Madagascar, officially named the Republic of Madagascar, and previously called the Malagasy Republic, is considered the oldest island on our planet Earth. It is also the fourth largest island on Earth, only surpassed in size by Greenland and Papua New Guinea and Borneo, in that respective order. (Australia and Antarctica are not considered islands, both being labeled continents.)

The island nation is approximately 241,094 square miles (624,430 square kilometers), and is in the southwestern area of the Indian Ocean, with the continent of Africa being the closest large body of land. Madagascar is not physically part of Africa; however, because of its geographical proximity to the Dark Continent, and specific ancestral and historical relationships with it, the island nation is a member of several African athletic and political organizations.

Although appearing very small on maps and globes in comparison to Africa, the island nation of Madagascar is far larger than it seems. It is closest to the African country of Mozambique, separated by the Mozambique Channel by a distance of 260 miles (419 kilometers).

The island nation was part of a huge land mass that broke away from the continent of Africa some 115 million years ago. Over the following 27 million years, the subcontinent of India, along with the island of Sri Lanka (previously named Ceylon), broke away from the position which Madagascar now holds in the Indian Ocean, and they slowly moved to their current Asian continent locations. This has been determined through scientific research of geographical features and supposed geological movements caused by the rubbing and pushing of the tectonic plates surrounding Africa and Madagascar and India.

Madagascar is in the Eastern Hemisphere with Africa and Europe and Asia. It is also in the Southern Hemisphere, positioned below the Equator. The Tropic of Capricorn, also called the Southern Tropic, crosses horizontally through the southern tip of the island, leaving approximately one-sixth of its land mass below this demarcation. The Tropic of Capricorn is a latitudinal line horizontally circumnavigating the Earth parallel to the Equator. This demarcation marks the southern most point at which the sun can be seen directly overhead.

The island’s seasons are the opposite of the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere above the Equator. Its driest and coolest season is Winter from May to October, which is the best time of any calendar year to visit and explore the island country. Its wettest and hottest season is Summer from November to April.

Madagascan topography has a large central mountain plateau vertically traversing the middle and length of the island, and is surrounded by coastal lowlands that meet the Indian Ocean to the east and Mozambique Channel to the west. The island possesses all varieties of earthly climatic terrain, except for the two most severe: hot barren deserts and frigid snowy mountains. Each of the nation’s largest cities have a variable climate within their environments.

Supposed archaeological findings estimate that humans may have first visited Madagascar approximately 10,000 years ago. However, humans traveling in hollowed-out tree log canoes, or some form of man-made outrigger boat which resembles a catamaran, possibly colonized the island between 200 BC and 550 AD. These humans are thought to have come from any of a variety of oceanic islands between northern Australia and southeastern Asia, and also further east into the Pacific Ocean, because of similarities in genetics and appearance and language. Humans from Africa are thought to have arrived on the island later.

Chapter 3

A New Friend

Leaping and bounding carefree from tree-to-tree through the rustling canopy, Lonnie excitedly moved further and further away from the park he had known all of his life, beginning his adventure into the unknown of Madagascar. None of the rolling terrain, which was scattered with boulders and scrub brush and trees, looked any different than what he had left behind, so, the young lemur was unaffected and quite confident – except he did not see any tamarind trees.

Suddenly Lonnie stopped himself abruptly with a firm grasp on a tree limb and a hard jerk, swinging widely in a rapid circular motion several times around the limb, like a lopsided whirling dervish, which prevented him from flying haphazardly through the air. The trees had ended at the edge of an elongated cliff that plummeted into a large expansive valley. If the young lemur had not stopped himself, he would have tumbled and flailed about wildly airborne, eventually hitting the ground far below hard and bouncing along it, like a skipping stone over choppy water.

The grayish brown cliff face plunged into a multi-colored panoramic landscape of assorted rice paddies and vegetable fields and small orchards terracing away from it like a long curving staircase. The paddies and fields and orchards mingled in irregular shapes throughout the valley, creating an odd collection of various colored patterns owned by different Malagasy families.

A narrow waterfall dribbled steadily over the craggy cliff, and the water coated its rugged face, glistening and sparkling in the sunlight. The cascading water smacked and splattered in the rock-lined pool nestled below the cliff. Although it was the end of the dry Madagascan Winter months, the humans did not need to wait for the downpours of the rainy season to begin growing rice. Shallow man-dug channels were scooped out of the soil allowing babbling water to flow away from the pool in several directions flooding many rice paddies in sequence; however, the male humans also controlled and limited the amount of water allowed to flow into other crop fields and fruit orchards.

For weeks prior, male Malagasy humans had performed the backbreaking work of preparing the hard-packed paddies to receive water by loosening the dry soil and removing crop stubble from the previous growing season. And now, with water filling each adjacent paddy, female Malagasy humans, bent over at the waist, slogged through calf-deep brown mucky water performing the drudgery of hand planting individual rice seedlings equidistance apart in numerous rows, as they moved from one flooded paddy to the next flooded paddy.

Some female humans were collecting water from the pool in large colorful plastic containers for family cooking and washing and home uses. Other female humans were weeding recently moistened vegetable plots and grooming fruit tree orchards. And small humans were tending to chickens and pigs and goats.

Lonnie had never seen land so colorful and diverse in appearance before, and he was not sure how to travel through the area. The few trees were very far apart, preventing him from leaping one to another so that he could swing across the valley. Hopping across the landscape would be difficult because the ground was so bumpy and clumpy and grassy, and most of all, wet. Such features obscured the irregular terrain, being nothing like the gradual rise and fall of the scenery in his home park. Then he saw a large animal below him, a creature he was unfamiliar with, as it stood at the edge of a flooded rice paddy close to the cliff.

The animal was shiny blackish in color, had four long legs, but no hands and fingers like himself that he could see, for its legs were partially under water. Its body was long, but not narrow, for it had a huge bulge in its middle. And atop its long-faced head were these two elongated slightly curved things sharply pointing skyward. Whatever this creature was, it seemed like it would be friendly enough, for it was nonchalantly chewing on the lush grasses growing along the edge of the paddy, as its tail briskly flicked about randomly in the air at buzzing flies. Lonnie decided to meet this animal, so, he jumped out of the tree and clambered downward through scrub brush growing out of the rugged cliff face.

"Ah, … hel-lo!" Lonnie called out, while hanging upside down from a bush just above the creature’s head, a safe distance away in case he must escape quickly.

"Huh?" The large animal slowly looked about while leisurely chewing cud, then it noticed Lonnie dangling upside down above it. Oh, hello. Ah, who are you, and, ah, what are you doing hanging like that, ya know, upside down?

Lonnie pulled himself upright, now sitting in the bouncing bush. His large unblinking eyes stared intently at the big creature. I hang around in trees like that a lot. My name is Lonnie. I am a lemur. A Sifaka Lemur.

A Si-whatta?

"A Sifaka Lemur, Lonnie repeated, proudly, then he added: We Sifakas are known for our size and our fur color, which is very different from other lemurs."

Uh-huh, said the animal, sounding indifferent, while chewing cud, as its tail continually swatted at flies buzzing around it. "So, ah, you’re a … le-le-mur? Huh. Never heard of such a thing. Never seen such a thing either. You’re new here."

Oh, yes! I am new here! Lonnie said, enthusiastically. I come from someplace else far away. I live mostly high up in trees, like those up above, and beyond it. That may be why you’ve never seen a lemur before, because you live down here with no trees, and we live up there with trees. Do you live around here?

Yuup! replied the creature, indifferently, as its ears twitched away flies, while gazing intently up at the lemur. Then it ripped off more fresh grasses, and chewed and chomped it into cud. It spoke matter-of-factly while churning and rotating this large mouthful. That’s why I’m here. I live here.

Nervous because of the large animal’s unwavering stare and unflinching low-key mood, and not sure what to make of either, Lonnie decided to encourage it to chat more with him: Ah, I see you walk on very long legs.

Yuup! replied the creature, chewing cud. I do.

Yes, well, ah, I can walk on my hands and feet, Lonnie continued, a bit skittish. But mostly I hop on my feet along the ground, just bouncing along. And I can leap from tree to tree.

Uh-huh, said the blasé creature, chewing cud.

My hands are like human hands. And, oddly enough, my feet are also like human hands. I use my hands for grabbing and holding onto things, like humans do, Lonnie said, wiggling his many digits to show the creature, then he asked it: Do you have hands like me?

Nope, replied the seemingly uninterested creature, rhythmically chewing.

Uncertain of how to react to the deadpan manner of the creature, it being either disinterested at best or unfriendly at worst, Lonnie asked it something personal.

So, ah, now that I have told you something about myself, began Lonnie, tell me something about yourself. I have never seen an animal like you before. I have never seen an animal so big.

"You’ve never seen an animal as big as me?! … Huh," said the creature, chewing cud. "There are a lot of us around here. I’m a zebu. I’m Zeke."

Nice to meet you, Lonnie said, graciously, and now hoping the zebu would be more talkative, he asked him another question: Tell me, Zeke, what is a zebu?

What’s a zebu?! Zeke chuckled with surprise. "I just told ya. Me! I’m a zebu. I’m an animal, just like you, only different. I have long legs. And I walk on hooves. I’ll show ya. Zeke lifted a dripping wet hoof out of the tall grasses, then he shook it around a bit for Lonnie to see. I don’t have those little things you keep wiggling around in the air. But most important – I’m bigger and stronger than you!"

Oh, my! Yes! Yes you are! Lonnie said, nervously, with respect. I can see you are bigger and stronger than me! I am certainly sorry if I offended you.

Off-end? Zeke said, shaking his head, then he asked: What’s that … off-what?

Offend. Ah, well, it means, Lonnie hesitated, thinking about how to explain it, I upset you. I made you … feel bad … because of something I said to you.

"Oh. … Feel bad?. … Huh. … Nay! You didn’t make me feel bad."

Oh, good, I am so glad. … Ah, may I ask you another question?

Another question? … Ah, okay, I guess, Zeke replied, twitching his ears and flicking his tail simultaneously to scatter the flies pestering him while chewing cud.

Well, ah, what I would like to know is … what are those really long pointy things on your head?

"Pointy things?!" Zeke stopped chewing, silently mulled the question, then he tried to look up at the top of his head – which was impossible for him to do – but with a Eureka! moment he said: "Oh! Them! I know what you mean! My horns!"

"Horns? What are horns? What do they do?"

What do my horns do? Zeke was baffled, paused, still not chewing his cud, and he contemplated the question. His tail continued flicking and his ears continued twitching at buzzing pests. Never really thought about my horns. They don’t do anything that I know of. They’re just, ya know, up there, part of me, growing out of my head. But my humans act like my horns are special because they’re so long. Zeke began chewing his cud again while studying the lemur. You have a tail like me. What does it do for you? Mine swats bugs away. Bugs never stop bothering me. They just won’t leave me alone!

Yes, I see that your tail does that, and the bugs do not stop, said Lonnie, while watching the zebu tail flip about haphazardly. My tail does not swat at bugs. I use it for balance.

"Bal-bal-ance? What’s a bal-ance?"

Well, I guess you could say, it is what keeps me from falling over, Lonnie began to explain. My tail is longer than my body. It swings about in all directions to help me stay upright when I jump from tree to tree, and branch to branch, and when I hop along the ground.

Uh-huh, Zeke said, chewing cud, and his tail flicking away flies. Hopalong?

Ah, yes. I hop along the ground on my feet, Lonnie replied. I hop sideways.

"Side-ways? What’s that?"

What is sideways? … Ah, well, I guess, I hop side to side along the ground.

Side to side? … Don’t think I’ve ever seen that.

Well, ah, I cannot show you now, Lonnie said, apologetically, while sitting in the bush growing out of the cliff face. Because I am up here.

Uh-huh.

A pause filled the air, as the zebu chewed cud and flicked flies away with his tail. But Lonnie did not want the conversation to end: So, ah, Zeke, I have never seen a place like this before. It is so big, so wide, so open, with so few trees, and it is so colorful too, with so much happening. What is all of this here where you live?

What is this here? repeated the slightly confused zebu, taking a look around at all of the usual day-to-day human activities on the different farming plots and in the many paddies, not really sure what the lemur meant. Well, I guess, it’s here.

No! No! No! What I mean is, what is here called?"

"What is here called? … Huh. … Don’t know it’s called anything. It’s just … here. Here is where I live, here is where my humans live, here is where my humans grow lots of things to eat."

Eat?! Oh! Do humans grow fruit?! Lonnie asked, excitedly. I eat fruit!

"Do ya. Huh," said Zeke, casually chewing cud. Yeah, they grow fruit. And they grow rice and vegetables too.

What are rice and vegetables?

What are rice and vegetables?! Zeke said with surprise. "They’re food! My humans grow them to eat! Like they grow fruit! Dumbfounded by this lack of what he considered simple plant knowledge, Zeke, wearing a serious inquisitive squint and stare, asked Lonnie: Say, ah, where do you come from?"

Lonnie, not sure that he wanted to reveal anymore about himself, especially where he came from – not just yet anyway – he redirect the conversation.

Ah, well, ah, like I said. I come from way over there, Lonnie began, pointing up high and motioning beyond the top of the cliff. You cannot see it from down here. Then he added, humbly. But, please, excuse me if I ask too many questions. I am just unfamiliar with this place you live in. I have never seen anything like it before. So, I am very curious about it. I want to know more about it. But, I am sorry if I am bothering you.

"Bothering me? Nay! No bother," Zeke said, unaffected, chewing cud. It’s just that, I’ve never been asked so many questions, especially by such a fuzzy furry animal. In fact, you’re the first lemur I’ve ever met.

And you are the first zebu I have ever met! reciprocated a smiling Lonnie. So, please, if you do not mind, why do humans grow those different foods?

Like I said, to eat, began Zeke. Rice and vegetables are good for my humans. Just like grass is good for me. You say you eat fruit. So, fruit must be good for you. We all eat what we need to live.

I never thought about it that way before, Lonnie said, while scratching his chin thoughtfully. So, I guess I eat fruit because it is good for me, not just because it tastes good. I like tamarind fruit. It is so juicy and chewy. Tamarind trees grow where I come from. But I have not seen any around here.

Uh-huh, Zeke replied, chewing cud, then he shrugged his shoulders. Don’t know what kinds of fruit grow around here. They all look different hanging from trees. And my humans eat all of them.

Tell me, Lonnie said to the zebu. Do you eat rice and vegetables and fruit?

Oh, every now and then, Zeke answered. "My humans do throw away some fruit and vegetables for us animals to eat. But never rice! My humans try not to waste any kind of food. Food can be hard to come by for my humans. When animals find fruit and vegetables laying on the ground, they eat it. But look around us, so many kinds of good things for me to eat. So many different lush long green grasses. I’m living here in a big chewy feast!"

Yes, I see that, Lonnie said, viewing the surroundings a bit differently, and more seriously now. Do you live here because of so many grasses?

"Live here because of the grasses? … Hmm. … Maybe, Zeke began. I know I live here because this is where I come from. I’m part of this place. And I help my humans do their work."

"Work? What is work?"

What’s work?! Zeke repeated again with surprise, as he flicked his tail and twitched his ears trying to scatter pesky flies. Why, … work is what my humans do from when the light comes out until the light goes away. They don’t work when it is dark.

Oh. … So, work is what humans do in these colorful places around here.

"Colorful places? … Oh! You mean the fields! Yeah. They work in the fields."

Fields. … Okay. … Why, why do humans need your help to do work?

Why do humans need my help?! Zeke stated, astounded, then he confidently, proudly, puffed up his large broad chest. LOOK AT ME!!! I’M HUGE!!!

Yes, yes, you are huge, Lonnie replied, nervously. Very large indeed.

Again the zebu gazed oddly at the lemur, surprised at his seeming lack of common knowledge. "Say, ah, do you know anything about work?"

Ah, no, not really, Lonnie admitted, slightly embarrassed.

Work is what my humans do to live their lives, said Zeke.

"Uh-huh. … So, ah, are there different kinds of work?"

Different kinds?! Yeah! Lots of different kinds of work! Zeke began. "Why, there are so many different kinds of work, I can’t tell you them all! But I do them all!"

Really?!

"Oh, yeah! Work is different for growing rice, or vegetables, or fruit. And then there are other kinds of work my humans do to make things they use to do other kinds of work. Lots of work! You see those big things standing up over there?"

The lemur saw humans walk in-and-out of several different-sized structures. These structures were roughly built from different types of materials – old wood planking, or corrugated sheet metal, or mud bricks – and they stood near the edges of crop fields and orchards, but far away from the flooded paddies. But – there were some other odd-looking structures.

I know some of those big things, Lonnie said. Humans where I come from use them, and they look different. But what are those flat things with tall legs?

My humans made those big things, said Zeke. They go inside of them to get out of the wind and rain, and to get out of the cold dark to sleep, and also to get out of the hot light. They also made those flat things, but their tall legs don’t move. The flat things cover that place and make it dark. My humans put small things used for work under the flat things. I go underneath a flat thing every now and then to get out of the hot light, or the pouring rain. But not often. My humans made all of those things with my help.

"Really?! You helped humans make those flat things with the tall legs?"

I sure did! Zeke replied, proudly. And I helped make the big things my humans go inside of too!

Wow! Lonnie said in awe. I never saw humans make the big things where I come from. As for me, I live high up in trees, in the light and in the dark, hot or cold, wind or rain.

Uh-huh, Zeke responded, chewing cud.

Zeke, why do you need to help the humans do their work?

"Why?! You’ve seen humans! Now look at me! I’m bigger and I’m stronger than they are! I do things humans can’t do! Can’t you see that?"

"Ah – oh! – yes, yes I see that. But … how do you help the humans?"

"How?! Well, ah, … I drag big heavy things to different places, Zeke said, like trees my humans cut down, which they cut up to make other things that they use and need. Or, I drag this small flat thing behind me that a human stands on in these places full of water, just before other humans wad in the muddy water pushing little green grasses into the muck – it’s a wet place where they grow rice. But mostly, I pull a cart carrying my humans and loaded with things. We go back and forth from this place where lots of humans walk around looking at things, and they carry things away."

"Huh. … You keep saying my humans? What does my mean?"

"My? … Well, I live with and work with the humans here, so, they are my humans. But, mostly, I just stand around eating grasses – like these grasses here."

Zeke bit a clump of tall lush grass blades, ripped it off, and began chewing cud in a circular mouth motion.

Okay.

Then the zebu asked the lemur: So, ah, what did you do where you came from? Did you help your humans work?

Me? Help humans? Work? Lonnie repeated, reducing the question to its three most important parts, while jumping down onto the grassy ground near the cud-chewing zebu. The ground was soggy from the flooded rice paddy, so, Lonnie shook the water off his furry feet while answering the question – but his feet got sopping wet again when he set them down: "Well, ah, I’ve, ah, – it’s really wet here! – I’ve never done any work like you do," chuckled the nervous lemur. I mean, look at me! I am not big. And I am definitely not strong. I, ah, I just live in trees.

That’s all you do? Live in trees?

Mostly, Lonnie answered, feeling a bit odd about where he came from without naming it – and he did not want to name it – so, the lemur tried to think of something to say. Well, ah, I do come down out of the trees, and I hop around on the ground, and I walk on my hands and feet.

You said that already, Zeke stated, matter-of-factly, chewing cud.

Yes, yes I did, Lonnie replied, nervously, then he blurted out: The ground where I come from is not soggy like it is here.

So, you’re saying, Zeke began, calmly chewing cud, you don’t help your humans do anything, in any way, like I help mine here?

"Me? Help my humans? Like you help your humans? … Ah, … no. No I don’t."

Uh-huh, Zeke replied, still chewing cud. Tell me. What are you doing here?

Me? Doing? Here?

Stop repeating what I say! said the annoyed zebu. What are you doing here?

Oh, sorry about that, began the apologetic lemur, who then decided to reveal just a little bit of why he was where he was at that moment. "Well, ah, I, ah, I was bored – very bored – with where I live."

"Bored?! … What’s bored?"

"What is bored, you ask, Lonnie said, and he contemplated the question, then he answered: Well, ah, bored is, I guess … I was – unhappy – with my life where I was living. I was bored with everything about it! … So I, ah, I wanted a change!"

"Change? What’s a change?"

Change! I wanted something different! Lonnie continued. "And I wanted to meet different animals. Like you! So, I left home. And here I am – meeting you! I am on a journey of discovery! Or, better yet! A journey of adventure!"

Adventure?!

"Yes! I want to learn about this big place where we live, Lonnie added. To see as much of it as possible. And you are the first animal I have met in a new place!"

"Where we live? … Huh," Zeke said, chewing cud. The zebu mulled the lemur answer, then he repeated himself: "Me, I live here, and I always do the same things. Eat grass. Pull a cart. Eat more grass. Drag something large and heavy. Eat even more grass. And on and on and on. Ehhh. I’m okay with it."

But, but, Lonnie began a bit excited, "don’t you ever get bored doing all of those same things over and over again?"

Ahhh, don’t know, Zeke said, quizzically, in a slightly thoughtful tone, pausing his cud chew. Don’t think so. I mean, maybe. I guess. Don’t ever think about it. Then the zebu asked the lemur: What else is there for me to do?

Did you know that this big place we live on is an island?

"Ahhh, … no. … What’s an island?"

"Good question! … Ah, I’m not sure myself. I learned about it before I left home on my adventure. And it is something I want to find out. Did you know this island has a name?"

"Ahhh … no. How could I know? I don’t know what an island is yet. Do you mean this thing you’re calling a big place – here – has a name?"

"Yes! Everywhere around us has a name! Everywhere is called … Madagascar!"

"Uh-huh … Mada- … Mada-wha?"

Madagascar!

"Uh-huh. … So?"

SO!!! Aren’t you curious to learn about where we live?!

"What do ya mean? Curious? I live here. What else do I need to know."

"But, but – here – where you live now, it is only a small part of Madagascar!"

"Uh-huh. A small part. … So?"

"Again with the so! Aren’t you interested in learning about our island?"

"Our island? Ahhh, … don’t know."

"Well, would you like to see more of where we live? … Think about it!"

Okay. … I’m … thinking … about … it.

And?

And what?

What are you thinking about it?! Do you want to see more of Madagascar? Do you want to learn more about it? Lonnie asked, hotly, now agitated with the zebu.

"Ehhh, not sure. Why should I? Like I said. I live here. I’m not going anywhere!"

But you could! You could go somewhere! Come with me! Lonnie beckoned, his voice lit-up with excitement.

Wha?! Zeke’s mouth fell open wide, and his cud fell out plopping in the muddy paddy water splashing Lonnie. Go with you? Go where?

To see Madagascar! Lonnie encouraged. "To explore this island where we live! I have