As Great-Uncle Horace and Ethan talked about how they could raise the money to fly Shadow’s pack over to the zoo, Zoe felt a little nudge against her leg and looked down. Shadow had overheard what Great-Uncle Horace had said, and wanted to know what was going on!
Zoe bent down and, checking that Great-Uncle Horace and Ethan were too busy chatting to overhear, whispered to Shadow, “Your pack has been found, and they’re all OK!”
Shadow’s big dark eyes suddenly widened! He let out a happy, excited bark and bounded around in circles, wagging his tail so fast it was a blur. Then he raced back over to Zoe and yapped hopefully.
“Well, Great-Uncle Horace and everybody else really want them to come and live here with you,” replied Zoe quietly, deciding she should be honest with Shadow about the tricky situation. “But there is a little bit of a problem at the moment. They’re very far away, you see—”
Meep suddenly squeaked a warning as Great-Uncle Horace and Ethan turned back round, so Zoe couldn’t finish explaining to Shadow. The little wolf pup was suddenly looking very worried, yapping more and more questions, and then he began to howl again. But in front of Great-Uncle Horace and Ethan, Zoe knew she couldn’t keep talking to him and risk giving her secret away.
Very soon, it was time for her to head home for tea, and there was no other opportunity for her to speak to Shadow alone. As she and Meep walked back to the cottage, they heard even more howls coming from his enclosure, and this time Zoe could tell the wolf was feeling very anxious – and she was too.
Despite worrying about Shadow, Zoe felt a little better when Lucy helped her put the finishing touches to her wolf costume later that evening.
“There! Just another couple of stitches to keep this furry ear on nice and tight, and I think we’re almost finished,” said Lucy. “What do you think, sweetheart? Sweetheart?”
Zoe looked up, realising she’d been thinking about Shadow and his pack. “Oh, sorry, Mum. I love it,” said Zoe, reaching over to hold the costume up in front of her. “It’s going to look brilliant.”
Zoe’s mum looked at her carefully. “You seemed a little bit down while we were having tea. Is everything all right? Are you worrying about how we’re going to find the money to bring Shadow’s family over to the zoo?”
“Yes,” admitted Zoe. “I wish I could think of a good way to raise lots of money. I just don’t know what to do!”
Lucy nodded. “I know, Zoe. I wish I could think of something too.”
“I’ve got my birthday money in my piggy bank,” offered Zoe. “But it’s not very much.”
Lucy smiled at her. “That’s very generous of you, Zoe. And every penny helps, when you add them up! I bet there would be lots of people who’d give a little bit of money to help bring the rest of Shadow’s pack over – if they only knew about their situation and the help they need.” She sighed thoughtfully as she sewed the last few stitches into Zoe’s costume. “What we really need is to gather lots of people together in one place, all at once, so that we can tell them the story of Shadow and his family.”
Zoe looked at her mum. “Wait! I think I’ve got an idea. The concert at the Spooktacular! What if we make it a charity performance? We could explain about Shadow before we sing our song. Then, if people like our singing, and want to help Shadow and his pack, they could put some money in a bucket, and we can put it all towards paying for Shadow’s family to join him here at the zoo, where we can look after them all properly!”
Lucy beamed at Zoe. “That is a brilliant idea,” she said. “I think Great-Uncle Horace will love it.”
Zoe nodded. “Now I just need to ask one more person,” she said. “Miss Hawkins!”
Chapter Seven
The Spooktacular Begins!
“Mum, Mum!” cried Zoe as she ran out into the school playground to meet Lucy. “Miss Hawkins said yes!”
“That’s fantastic news, Zoe,” Lucy replied, smiling. “Well done!”
As soon as Zoe had arrived at school that morning, she’d gone straight up to Miss Hawkins and explained her idea. She’d even brought in a photo of Shadow that Lucy had taken on her phone and printed out for Zoe.
Miss Hawkins had agreed immediately. “I think that’s a wonderful suggestion,” she told Zoe. “Let’s tell the rest of the class after I’ve taken the register.” She’d even asked Zoe if she could keep the picture of Shadow! “I’ll pin it up on the class noticeboard, so everyone can see the little fellow we’re trying to help,” she’d explained.