There was this young giraffe that ended up lost. How he could get lost on the savanna, I don’t know. You can see for miles. Anyway, he was alone. He stood around crying. A bird questioned him. “Why, long neck, are you so sad? We birds sing and you cry.”

“I’m all alone,” he sobbed.

“We can point you towards other long necks…”

“Really?”

“Yes, we use the bird grapevine. I will send out a message and let you know what is going on with long necks.”

“Thank you. (sob)”

“Can you believe it? He is lonely for other long necks. See if you can locate some other long necks, Fast Flyer.”

“Got it.”

Flyer loved to go up high in the air and swoop down at high speed. But when he was high, he couldn’t see clearly on the ground. He took a big chance. He landed near an eagle nest. She had several baby birds. “What are you doing here?” she screeched.

“No harm, no harm, said Fast Flyer. ” I was sent to find long necks” he chirped.

“I should feed you to my babies!”

“Just tell me, wonderful eagle, if your keen sight has shown you any long necks” he said politely.

“Yes, towards the mountain, now get away!” She beat her wings in a threatening way. Fast Flyer left quick.

Fast Flyer brought back his report. There was only one big mountain around. The sad little giraffe set off for it. “At least, we won’t have to listen to all his blubbering, ” said one bird.

The giraffe could see the mountain in the distance. It slowly grew bigger as the day went on. When night came, he had to stop. It was a whole day more of travel and he still wasn’t there. He came to some trees. “Have you seen others like me,” he asked some birds.

“Who do you think ate our leaves,” one bird said. Birds think trees and leaves are theirs. He looked for footprints and found a few. “Did they go this way?”

“Who cares, they’re gone.”

The giraffe set off in the direction of the footprints. One bird followed him, “Try by the river,” was all he said. River, he thought, that makes sense. He went on and smelled a smell that might be the river. He approached slowly. He saw two flat creatures sunning themselves on the bank. They were crocodiles. “Have you seen giraffe?” he shouted. One croc opened one eye.

“Did you hear something?” it said.

“Why bother?” said the bigger one, “We are full now.” The giraffe moved on. Some mud-covered hippos were soaking. “Seen any giraffe?” he shouted.

“Yes, you,” quipped a smallish one, “Do you know where we keep our money?” “No,” said the giraffe. “In the river bank!” It submerged giggling. The giraffe moved on.

Some strange birds were standing among plants in shallow water. “Seen any like me?” He questioned.

“No time, no time, ” said one and grabbed a fish with his long beak.

“Look out for crocs,” voiced another and stabbed at a fish. They were too nervous to be of any help.

He went a long and found some monkeys in a tree. “Seen any giraffe?”

“We did, we did,” they all chattered.

“Where?”

“Over there,” they all talked at once, “Crossed over,” they said, and all pointed down the river aways. The giraffe went along and saw footprints in the mud. He looked left and right and plunged in. The water never got past his long neck. He clambered up the other side. Snap! A croc tried to bite his leg. “No good,” he squeaked. The giraffe footprints went on a bit and grew fainter.

He saw many trees in the distance. He arrived at the trees at sundown. He tried some leaves. They tasted delicious. I’m sure they were here, he thought. He passed the grove and peered into the distance. Was that them? He caught up with them. But none of them knew him. “Can I please join you? he pleaded. An old giraffe stepped towards him. “We must decide if you are worthy.”

“How?” the young giraffe asked.

“A test,” it said simply.

“Test away,” he croaked.

“Questions first,” said the old one. “How did you lose your herd?”

“I don’t know,” he whined, “I just found myself alone.”

“That is not a good answer,” he said, “We will assume a lion chased them away. Very common.” “The next question: where is your mother?”

“I, I, I, she was… EATEN!” he said, finally remembering. “It was horrible!” he said slowly, “I ran and ran. I remember…”

“A sad answer but say no more,” the old one said, ” Wait here.”

He gathered some other giraffe. ” Let’s see you run,” they said. The giraffe went aways off and ran past the little group. “Very fast,” they agreed. “Last thing: do you seek a mate?” They all looked at him in silence.

“I haven’t thought about that, ” he said.

“A fine answer,” said the old one beamed. “Some giraffe only come looking for a mate. They want to fight us.”

“No fighting from me,” he said.

He settled in with the herd. One young female said to him, “Did you have any adventures searching?” “A croc tried to bite my leg by the river,” he ventured, “I talked to birds, monkeys, a hippo and two lazy crocs, always asking about other giraffe.” “I followed you from the river crossing. I thought you were my herd.”

“We are now,” she said, ” were you many days alone?”

“Too many, ” he said slowly, ” I feel like I’m home now.”

“I think you are a good addition to us. I’m glad they let you in.”

” Me, too,” he said, “me, too.”