Rowley’s petting zoo

118.Rowley Jefferson was an innocuous eleven-year-old boy, known in his neighbourhood as the youngster who was more daydreamer than doer. While most boys his age immersed themselves in video games, sports, or collecting stickers, Rowley harboured a peculiar dream - running his own petting zoo or consuming mass amounts of poo.

One day, a peculiar idea sprouted in Rowley's mind. What if he could turn his dream into reality? Seeking validation for his idea, he confided in his eccentric friend, Trevor. To his delight, Trevor agreed to lend him some of his pets in exchange for a princely sum of two pennies. But there was a catch—the animals were anything but ordinary.

So, that very night, despite being a novice in carpentry, Rowley ventured into constructing a shelter suitable enough to house his soon-to-be residents. With a surreal sense of determination, the boy who was often dismissed as a scatterbrain, managed to build a habitat that was picture perfect.

With the onset of a new morning came an unexpected dilemma. Rowley's father, in the midst of his usual morning routine of doing a poo, was startled by an unexpected knock on the bathroom window. To his bewilderment, there stood a small family of three enquiring about a cricket sanctuary. A quick glance in the direction pointed by the cogent parents led him to a sign: 'Rowley's Petting Zoo.’

Curious yet inconvenienced, Mr. Jefferson went in search for his wife. His surprise turned into shock when she casually mentioned their son's entrepreneurial venture. The news hit him like a slap in the face. His first encounter with Rowley's project was a petting zoo brimming with deadly creatures, making him question his parenting or perhaps, his son's sanity.

Hard as it was to believe, one of Rowley's trusted friends, Darwin, was daringly cleaning a shark tank for the adventure-seeking visitors. Disaster struck when a boy patted a venomous caterpillar, cascading into an overwhelming chaos in the zoo. Hysteria echoed as a terrified mother fell into a tarantula enclosure, triggering a wave of panic as the arachnid made its way up the bottom-dwelling guests.

Just as Mr. Jefferson was about to confront his panicking son, a horrifying sight awaited him. A ferocious tiger, part of Rowley's eccentric collection of animals, cornered and devoured him in one swift move. Pandemonium broke out as horrified guests scampered around; the tiger belched in indifference, reflecting the eeriness of the situation.

Authorities swiftly swooped in to contain the situation. The petting zoo was closed overnight, and all the animals were relocated to their appropriate sanctuaries. Except for one: the man-eating tiger.

Rowley, despite his crushing disappointment, was surprisingly allowed to keep the tiger, who, after all the chaos, had turned from a predator into a rather docile creature. This tiger, “Mr. Shitface”, had a peculiar fascination with acknowledgment receipts and TV remotes, much to the amusement of Rowley and his mother. She often commented how the tiger seemed to embody the missing characteristic of her husband—he slouched on the sofa, he belched at the dinner table, and he had a sense of humour that was uncanny.

As days passed, Rowley forged a unique bond with Mr. Shitface. The tiger interacted gently with the family, played with Rowley's dogs, Doggy Scoff Chops and Fido, with utmost care. Despite the horrifying experience, Rowley found his companion in the most unexpected package—a loveable, wild tiger. Amidst the chaos, his failed venture led to a place of joy and discovery, where no dream was too big or small to explore.

Meanwhile, Darwin ended in a fish tank at a local aquarium. Always the adventurer, he was seen tirelessly looking for an escape, the same eagerness that made him a part of Rowley’s one-day wonder - The Rowley’s Petting Zoo. The greatest tragedy unfolded as an awe-striking comedy, with creativity spiralling in all directions.