The story so far: Rafiki the gorilla, Bomani the meerkat, Uhura the giraffe and Malaika the elephant have become human for a day. Rafiki and Bomani have been looking for their new friend, Micah.

Rafiki and Bomani, walking down the sidewalk, saw Micah the same moment he spotted them. Then Rafiki and Bomani saw who was with him — Malaika, Uhura and another woman.

“What are you doing here?” Rafiki asked them.

“We were in the church,” Malaika said. “And then we came out and found this boy. What are YOU doing here?”

“Looking for the boy you just found,” Rafiki said.

He put a massive hand on Micah’s shoulder.

“Are you OK?” he asked.

“Yes,” Micah said, nodding. “I’m sorry I created a fuss. I was just upset. I wanted to find you, prove to my aunt what you really are. Is she worried?”

“You could say that,” Bomani said.

Jean looked on. “So you all know each other?” she asked.

•••

Introductions were made. They were made again when they all brought Micah home.

Jean watched as the young boy hugged his aunt. And she thought again of that inner light.

“So I hear you sort of inherited the job of a single mom,” she observed to Nancy.

“Yeah, for now, I guess, ” Nancy said. “And I’m happy to do it. Micah’s a great kid. But I don’t know how good of a job I’m doing.”

“If you need help, let me know,” Jean told Nancy.

She turned to Micah.

“Just as I hope I can rely on Micah’s help,” she said. “I know he likes animals. And I could sure use him to take my dog for some walks and make sure my cat gets all the attention she demands.”

Nancy invited them to stay for hot chocolate, but Bomani was fidgeting.

“We REALLY need to get back,” he whispered to Rafiki.

Rafiki nodded. They should already be back at the zoo. But there was one thing left to do.

“We got you a present,” he told Micah.

With his aunt’s permission, Micah tore open the package. It was a lantern, and Micah looked at it in puzzlement.

“It’s a light to put in your window,” Bomani explained. “To help your parents find your way back to them.”

Micah hugged Rafiki and Bomani.

 And that’s when Rafiki turned back into a gorilla.

It was only for a moment, and then Rafiki regained his human form.

Still, it was kind of hard to miss.

“See,” Micah shouted. “I told you!”

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