Lindsay's Chimpanzee (standard:other, 3651 words)
Author: Megan Michelle	Added: Mar 04 2001	Views/Reads: 4065/2311	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Ever thought you'd own a Chimp? Read about one girls quest to do just that!

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story


Lindsay then hung up the phone with Katie. Then she laid down on her bed
and told herself that she would do research on chimps at the library 
tomorrow afternoon. After that, she fell asleep on her bed and skipped 
dinner. 

The next morning Lindsay woke up alert and refreshed. She ran downstairs
to join Colt, Edele, and her mom, and dad for breakfast in the kitchen. 


"Good morning sweetie," said Mrs. Johnson just as she was about to take
a sip of her coffee. 

"Hi honey," said Mr. Johnson just as he was about to turn to the sports
page of the paper.Edele and Colt sat quietly at the kitchen table just 
as Lindsay sat down. 

"Good morning everyone," declared Lindsay. 

"Did you have a good night's sleep?" asked Edele. "You fell asleep
before dinner you know." 

"Yeah I know, I had a fine sleep thank you. Now, I'm starving!" replied
Lindsay. 

"Here you go sweetie, here's your breakfast," stated Mrs. Johnson as she
put a plate of scrambled eggs, sausage and toast right in front of her 
daughter. Then Mrs. Johnson walked over to the sink and grabbed the 
glass of  orange juice that she poured for her daughter, and handed it 
to her. 

"Thanks," replied Lindsay. 

"So what are your plans for today, kids?" asked Mrs. Johnson. 

"Well, I'm going to do some research at the library today," said
Lindsay. 

"Well," began Mr. Johnson, "Colt and I are going to play a round of golf
at the club." 

Lindsay looked up when Colt kicked her under the table. She made a face
at him and said, "Think I care?" 

He retorted by saying, "Mom, when does Lindsay leave for Radaddison?"
Lindsay was quick by saying, "It's Radisson!" 

Mrs. Johnson peered up at them from her coffee. Mr. Johnson changed the
subject, "Liz, your geraniums are beautiful, not to mention your roses! 
They are just magnificent this year!" he said as he looked out the 
window into the flower-filled garden. 

Mrs. Johnson smiled. "Thanks, Steve." She turned to Edele, "One of us
has to walk to the Green Thumb Nursery. I need some bags of  potting 
soil and  peat moss." 

Edele took a nickel out of her pocket. "Heads, you go," she said,
"tails, I'll go." 

"No Edele!" her mother exclaimed, "Not at the table! It's not sanitary!"


"Fine, I'll do it after breakfast Mom," said Edele. Then Edele put the
nickel back in her pocket. 

The Johnsons soon finished breakfast. Mrs. Johnson cleared the table and
put the dishes in the sink with help from Lindsay. 

"Hey Mom! Now I'm going to toss the nickel, okay?" declared Edele. 

"Sure honey go right ahead," replied Mrs. Johnson. Edele took the nickel
out of her pocket and tossed it in the air. 

"Heads, sorry Mom looks like you're going," commented Edele. 

"Oh honey, please come with me to the nursery. I want to show you some
flowers that I'm thinking of buying. Plus, I need your help in carrying 
the bags of potting soil and peat moss home," suggested Mrs. Johnson. 
"Fine I'll go," said Edele. 

Colt, Edele and Lindsay all ran upstairs to get dressed and ready to do
their errands. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson soon followed the kids. Lindsay was 
the first one ready and left for the library. The rest of the Johnson 
family left to do what they had to do soon after. 

Lindsay walked three long blocks to the library. When she got to the
library, she asked the librarian if the library had a special section 
on animals. The librarian showed her the section. In a matter of 
minutes, Lindsay had a huge pile of books on a table that had 
information on chimps. Lindsay spent four hours at the library. 

Meanwhile Edele and her mother were working very hard lifting the heavy
bags of potting soil and peat moss at the nursery. Colt and his father 
were busy playing golf at the club. 

When Lindsay got home, it was time for the dog to eat. Since nobody was
home, she was going to follow her friend's advice. She fed the dog. 
Lindsay was just about to put the dog food bowl on the floor when her 
mother and sister got home. 

"Is anybody home?" asked Edele. 

"Yeah! I'm in the kitchen, Edele," said Lindsay. 

"Oh Hi honey!" said Mrs. Johnson. Edele and her mother walked into the
kitchen just as Lindsay stood up straight from giving Scout her food. 

"Sweetie, since when do you take care of the dog?" asked Lindsay's
mother. 

"You never take care of the dog," commented Edele. 

"Well, maybe I want to now," replied Lindsay. 

"Okay well that's great. One less thing I have to do," declared Edele. 

"Would you guys just leave me alone. God, you're acting like I did
something wrong. I just feel that I should start to take care of 
Scout," said Lindsay. 

Lindsay then walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs to her bedroom.
She sat at her "L" shaped desk in front of her computer. Next to her 
computer was a huge pile of books that she had checked out of the 
library. 

"This book seems interesting," said Lindsay as she gazed at a bookcover
from her pile. 

She turned on her computer and waited until it warmed up. "Wow! This is
cool!" whispered Lindsay to herself as she read the first page of the 
book. After her computer warmed up, she started to type information on 
chimps to show her mom. 

Back in the kitchen, Edele and her mother were sitting around the wooden
circular table drinking ice cold glasses of lemonade. "Edele, do you 
think Lindsay is acting a little strange?" commented Mrs. Johnson. 

"Yeah, I do," replied Edele as she lifted the glass to her lips. 

"Do you know what it is all about?" asked Mrs. Johnson. 

"No, I don't know really. It might have something to do with the fight
you and Lindsay got into though." 

"Yeah, maybe you're right darling," said Mrs. Johnson. 

Over at the Twin Hills Country Club, Colt made a hole in one on the
eighteenth hole. 

"Oh yeah Dad, hole-in-one in your face! Ha! ha! ha!" exclaimed Colt as
he ran around his father going nuts. 

"Way to go son! That's my boy!" exclaimed Mr. Johnson as he patted his
son on his back. Other golfers gathered around Colt after hearing him 
and his father celebrating. 

Lindsay was in her room for over an hour typing away on her computer.
Mr. Johnson and Colt got home half an hour later. Edele helped her 
mother make dinner in the meantime. 

"Edele, will you peel some potatoes?" asked Mrs. Johnson. 

"Sure Mom," replied Edele. Edele took a handful of potatoes out of the
fridge. Mrs. Johnson started to boil the water for the potatoes. 

Mr. Johnson and Colt walked in the door from their golf outing. They
were both cheering with Colt jumping up and down just as Mrs. Johnson 
pulled chicken legs out of the freezer. 

"What is going on?" asked Mrs. Johnson. 

"Oh, nothing dear, just your little golfer hit a hole-in-one right
before we left the club," said Mr. Johnson as he walked over to the 
sink to kiss his wife on the cheek. 

"Huh... what Colt hit a hole-in-one; you're kidding right?" said Mrs.
Johnson. 

"No, Mom it's true I hit a hole-in-one at the eighteenth hole!" said
Colt as he was jumping up and down. "I beat Dad's butt!" 

Lindsay heard this racket from upstairs and decided to see what was
going on. She flew down the stairs into the kitchen. "Mom, what's all 
this racket?" asked Lindsay as she walked into the kitchen, seeing her 
Dad standing in the middle of the kitchen floor and her brother jumping 
up and down around Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. 

"Oh, hi Lynn!" said Mr. Johnson greeting his daughter. 

"Your father was just telling me how your brother hit a hole-in-one at
the club," explained Mrs. Johnson. 

"Who won?" asked Lindsay "I'm just guessing Colt did." 

"Yes, Colt won. It was amazing. At the eighteenth hole Colt got up to
the tee, swung and made a hole-in-one." 

"Way to go squirt!" exclaimed Lindsay. 

"What's for dinner?" asked Mr. Johnson. "I'm starving!" added Colt. 

"Me too," commented Lindsay. 

"Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and salad." replied Mrs.
Johnson. 

For about a week Lindsay continued to act very strange. ( At least
that's what Mrs. Johnson and Edele thought.) Lindsay also continued to 
show responsibility towards the dog, Scout. Radisson College sent 
another letter to Lindsay. 

"Lindsay, come down here," called Mrs. Johnson wearing her nice new blue
apron. 

"What is it Mom?" asked Lindsay. 

"I got another letter in the mail from Radisson for you," replied
Lindsay's mother. 

Lindsay ran down the stairs as fast as possible. She snatched the letter
out of her mother's hand. 

"Thanks Mom!" yelled Lindsay as she was almost at the top of the stairs.
Lindsay sat at her desk to read the letter. July9,1996                  
                                                Dear Miss  Johnson , 
Our records show you have not responded to our last letter. We are 
informing you now that if you don't respond within the next week, you 
will not be able to be in the classes that you requested. Other 
students would love  your position if you can't follow through. Please, 
in your letter include what class or classes (no more than two) you 
would like to be in. I'm looking forward to seeing you in class.    
Sincerely, Professor Jane Noel 

"Okay,okay I'll return the stupid letter," said Lindsay quietly to
herself as tears flooded her blue eyes and rolled down her cheeks. She 
walked over to her bed and plopped down on it. Lindsay laid down on her 
stomach and muttered into her pillow, "What have I done not to deserve 
a chimp? Looks like now I won't be studying chimps anymore. Edele heard 
Lindsay crying from her room. 

"Knock, knock anybody there?" asked Edele. 

"Come in," muttered Lindsay. 

Edele opened the door and saw her older sister crying on her bed. 

"Lindsay, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" asked Edele. 

Lindsay sat up on her bed and Edele walked over to her sister, and sat
on her bed to comfort her. 

"Well," Lindsay began sniffling and wiping her eyes in her shirt, "you
know the fight Mom and I got into?" 

"Yeah..." stated Edele. 

"We got into a fight because the college I'm going to this fall requires
that the student must own a chimpanzee in order to take the classes." 

"Um...hm I'm listening," replied Edele in a quiet voice. 

"Mom won't let me get the chimp for school." 

"Oh... I see. Why not?" asked Edele 

"She thinks it's too much money and that she and Dad can't afford it,"
said Lindsay. 

"Do you want me to talk to Mom and Dad before dinner tonight?"
questioned Edele. 

"I don't think it will work, but you can try if you want to," commented
Lindsay. Edele then left Lindsay's room and returned to her own room. 
Lindsay was so exhausted from crying that she took a nap before dinner. 
A half an hour before dinner, Edele went downstairs into the kitchen 
when her dad got home from work, and sat her mom and dad down at the 
kitchen table. 

"Mom, Dad, Lindsay is really upset that she can't get the chimp for
school," said Edele "Why did you say no, Mom?" 

"I said no Hon, because chimps are too expensive and we can't afford
one. Plus, your sister wouldn't be able to take care of it," replied 
Mrs. Johnson. 

"Hold on, hold on," interrupted Mr. Johnson. "What is this about a
chimp?  Is this why Lindsay's been acting so strange lately?" 

"Yeah... I think so, I think she wants to show responsibility so that
you'll give in and buy her the chimp," replied Edele. 

"Let me understand this, Radisson College mailed Lindsay a letter. It
said that she needed to get a chimp. Am I right so far?" asked Mr. 
Johnson. 

"Yeah... go on Steve," said Mrs. Johnson. 

"She came to you to ask you if it was okay. You said no. She showed
responsibility. The college sent another letter, and now she's upset 
because she can't participate in the class?" asked Mr. Johnson. 

"Yeah...you got it," said Mrs. Johnson and Edele. 

"Why didn't I know this sooner?" asked Mr. Johnson. 

"I don't know dear. I just didn't feel you needed to know Steve," said
Liz. 

"Okay Hon, you can go get your brother and sister. Tell them to come
down here and help make dinner," explained puzzled Mr. Johnson. Edele 
left her parents in the kitchen while she called for Lindsay and Colt 
to come and help with dinner. 

"Lindsay, Colt, Mom and Dad want you to help make dinner," yelled Edele
up the stairs. 

"I'm coming!" yelled Colt. Colt ran down the stairs. "Where's Lindsay?"
Edele asked. 

"I think she's asleep in her room," responded Colt. 

"Okay, you go help Mom and Dad in the kitchen. I'll go wake Lindsay up,"
explained Edele. Edele walked up the stairs to Lindsay's room and 
knocked. 

"Lindsay, you have to come down to help with dinner. Mom and Dad want
you to," said Edele from outside her sister's bedroom door. Edele 
opened her sister's bedroom door to find her sister asleep on her bed. 
She walked over to her and shook her. "Lindsay time to get up; you have 
to help with dinner," whispered Edele into Lindsay's ear. 

Lindsay slowly sat up and crawled out of bed . "Are you sick or
something?" asked Edele. 

"No, I'm just very tired. I haven't gotten a lot of sleep in the past
week," replied Lindsay as she put her long light brown hair in a 
ponytail. 

Lindsay and Edele walked down the stairs to help with dinner. The
Johnsons were going to have meatloaf and rice that night. 

Mrs. Johnson began the meatloaf, Lindsay and Edele set the table, and
Colt and his dad poured the milk into glasses and started the rice. 
After dinner Lindsay and Edele washed the dishes and got ready for bed. 
Colt got ready for bed too. Soon afterwards they went to sleep. 

The next morning, Lindsay got up before Colt or Edele. She went
downstairs to have breakfast and her mom and dad greeted her in the 
kitchen. 

In quiet voices Mr. and Mrs. Johnson told Lindsay to follow them into
the  garage. 

"Lindsay, quietly get on your shoes and come to the garage with us,"
said Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson grabbed the garage keys off the key rack 
which was by the back door. 

Three of the Johnsons quietly walked out the back door to the garage. ,
that had a blue cover on it. When the Johnsons got outside they all 
could hear the birds in the trees. Mr. Johnson walked up to the garage 
door and unlocked it. Mrs. Johnson was the first person to enter, then 
Lindsay and finally,  Mr. Johnson. When Lindsay got inside she could 
see her mother standing by a big large cube, that had a blue cover on 
it. 

"What's this all about?" questioned Lindsay. 

"You'll just have to wait and see," said Mr. Johnson 

Mrs. Johnson unveiled the cube. It was a wire cage with a little
chimpanzee inside. 

"Oh my God! It's adorable!" exclaimed Lindsay as tears flooded her eyes
and rolled down her cheeks. She was so happy and overwhelmed she 
couldn't control herself. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson hugged their daughter. 

"Where did you get it?" asked Lindsay as she knelt by its cage to say
hi. How did you know I wanted..." Lindsay couldn't even finish her 
sentence. 

"Well you told me, remember?" asked Mrs. Johnson. "Then Edele told us
that you were really bent out of shape because you couldn't get the 
chimp. She talked to us and that's when your father found out about you 
wanting the chimp." 

"Oh yeah I forgot about that," replied Lindsay. "But still how did you
get the chimp?" 

"Your mother and I called the zoo early this morning. We asked them if
they had a baby chimp. They said yes. We offered them money after we 
told them why we needed it. Then we picked it up this morning from the 
zoo when you were still asleep. The zoo was very kind and gave us the 
cage for it. That's how we got your chimp," explained Mr. Johnson. 

"Thank you so so so much Mom and Dad," said Lindsay as she recomposed
herself. 

"What are you going to name it?" asked Mrs. Johnson. 

"I'll name it Mookie," replied Lindsay. 

Mookie bonded very fast with Lindsay. After about two days, the Johnsons
got a crib for the chimp, and set it up in Lindsay's room. In the 
meantime, Mookie slept in Lindsay's bed. They started to dress Mookie 
in diapers. Edele and Colt fell in love with the chimp as well. After 
Lindsay left for Radisson, she continued to send pictures of Mookie, 
and Lindsay and Mookie visited her family often. Lindsay graduated from 
Raddison College in 1999. And yes, Mookie was at the graduation. 
Lindsay and Mookie are now in grad school. Lindsay is doing research on 
language and chimpanzees. Mookie is being taught to sign and express 
her feelings. 


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