“This is gorgeous,” Rico cheered.
“I love it,” Darnell agreed.
“Perfect,” Zee praised, snapping several photos with both animals on the set. Duke gave him plenty to work with, shifting from a broad smile one moment, a piercing look of bravery the next, and that intimidating smolder that, when turned on her, made Viv’s heart skip three hard beats.
“Are we ready to switch out for the howler monkey?” the trainer asked Zee.
“Why switch out?” Duke said. “Let’s see if we can do them all. Bring on the monkey. And while you’re at it, send in the clowns too.”
More laughter spread over the crowd, Viv’s among them. Duke was good under pressure. He liked the confirmation from his peers. Seemed to up his game when he was getting a good response.
Was this the box he was referring to? The label of who and how he was? If so, it seemed fitting enough.
Perhaps it was hard for him to break free of his playful persona long enough to be taken seriously. At least, by some.
Zee gave the trainer a nod, and she was off again, back to her hidden place in the brush before coming back with a very small, very cute monkey. Viv couldn’t help but be charmed by it at first sight.
“Oh, it’s just a baby,” Darnell cried.
Duke’s grin grew impossibly wider. “It looks like it.” He looked to the specialist as she brought it close. “Is it? Is it just a baby?”
“Yes,” the specialist said. Suddenly, the macaw flapped its wings and squawked, causing the specialist to back away. “Maybe I should remove the bird first,” she said, looking from Zee to Duke.
Duke shook his head. “I think it’s okay. Just…let me see if I can distract her. I want to get the shot if we can.” Duke turned slightly toward the bird and rubbed his face over its body. “It’s okay, girl. It’s okay.”
He was brave, Viv would give him that. And determined. “Couldn’t that bird bite him?” she asked the specialist.
The girl gave Viv a reluctant nod. “She could, but so far she’s not exhibiting any warning signs. When she’s agitated her feathers will puff, her eyes will dilate, and she’ll open her beak a little.”
“Good to know,” Duke said. “Thanks for asking, Vivi. Now if I see her doing one of those things I can just flick her off, right?”
“No,” the specialist said with a laugh. “I’ll take her off your shoulder if that happens. Now hold still while I try coming in with the monkey. His name’s Jack.”
“Hey, Jack,” Duke said, propping the sloth higher up on his hip. Once the sloth was settled, Duke reached for the monkey. The macaw squawked again.
“How about I extend my arm, and Jack can sit on it like a branch. Or maybe he can hang from it, like with his tail. I see the monkeys here doing that all the time.”
“He might do that,” the trainer said, but she looked apprehensive even still.
“Listen,” Duke said. “If your macaw flies away or bites me in the face or something, I’ll take responsibility for it, okay? Everyone here can vouch for me.”
She nodded and took a step closer. “Yeah, okay. Let’s try again.”
The specialist moved to place the monkey on Duke’s arms as he requested.
Viv’s heart picked up its pace. Her breaths came shorter too. She leaned over her lap, anxious to catch the response of each animal as the monkey neared.
The sloth paid no mind, but the bird’s feathers rose along the back of its neck.
The trainer took a step back. “She’s not happy right now,” she warned.
Viv tried not to imagine how badly things could go if the bird aimed for Duke’s face, as close to it as she was. “Maybe you should give the bird back,” the mother in her piped.
Duke glanced at her from across the clearing and flashed his heart-winning smile. “I think we’re good,” he said, voice soothing. He turned his face toward the bird again and clicked his tongue. “Come on, Polly, it’s okay. You’re still my girl.”
The bird’s feathers perked up once more, then settled slowly, softly into place.
Duke motioned for the trainer to come forward with the wave of his hand. “See if he’ll hang on my arm like a bar,” he said, moving it into flex mode as if to show off his muscle. There was, in fact an impressive knot bulging along his bicep.
