The Biggest Grin Ever

Nisha was a baby gorilla and like all baby gorillas she was short, black, furry and clung to her mother all the time. But Nisha was not like all other wild gorillas. She was born in a zoo. Her mother was brought to the Krishnapur zoo a few years ago from the forest. Nisha had only heard of the forest from her mother and from what she had heard she often wondered dreamt of going back.1

But when the zoo opened for visitors and little children came to visit her cage, Nisha forgot all about her dream. Of all the animals in the zoo, the children loved Nisha the most. Maybe because she was born there and most children has seen her since the moment she was born. Children watching Nisha were always restless, some tried to climb the railing to touch the cage, some threw bananas for her, some children fought to get a close look and some cried seeing her black figure. Nisha loved all the attention. She gave them her widest grin. This was one time she didn’t cling to her mother.2

One day Nisha thought it would be interesting to look different. That day when all the visitors had gone for the day, Nisha found a yellow jacket lying near the cage. She slowly put out her hand and grasped it. She tried it on one hand through the sleeve like she’s seen little children wear. Then she walked about showing it off. Won’t the children be amused, she thought.3

As she walked about she stepped on something strange. She had a look. It was a pair of goggles. Ooo, she had seen many people wearing them at the zoo. She tried it on too. It felt strange with the goggles hanging from the bridge of her nose. Neither could she see too well through them. 4

She couldn’t wait until the next day. She was excited about what the children would say. She decided she would try some tricks like the monkeys did. Children seem to laugh when they did the tricks. She somersaulted. Owww! She bumped her head the first time. And a second time. And a third, until she felt tired. It wasn’t easy being a monkey.5

Maybe she’ll try roaring like the tigers. Children loved to hear them roar. She opened her mouth wide and “Grrrr…..” she went. But it didn’t quite sound like a tiger. In fact it wasn’t loud at all. Poor Nisha tried again. She tried all evening and late into the night but she never quite got it right. It only left her feeling sore in the throat. 6

It was nearly time to sleep. Nisha wanted desperately to do something for the children the next day. Aah! The Kangaroo. That will be easy, she thought. All she had to do was stand on two feet hold her hands in front of her and jump. 7

Jump! She did. Once again, she loved it at first. It was fun. But after a little while it got tiring. Once she even lost her balance and came down with a crash. Never mind she thought. She couldn’t imagine what a surprise it would be for the children who came the next day. She began planning out her act. But before she knew it, she fell asleep. 8

When she woke up the next day, she wasn’t really feeling good. “You didn’t really have to do all that last evening,” said her mother. She was right, all that somersaulting, roaring and jumping didn’t make her feel too good.9

It was time for visitors to arrive. Nisha could barely get up. She just clung to her mother. Children came. They called out to her. They threw her bananas. They clapped to get her attention. But Nishe didn’t even want to look. Slowly the children began to leave disappointed. She never felt so sad. 10

By lunchtime there was just one child near Nisha’s cage. Her mother was trying to take a photograph. “Smile, Pooja,” she said. The child looked at Nisha. “Smile, Nisha,” she said. 11

“Go on,” said Nisha’s mother. “Do that for the little girl.”12

Nisha looked up from her mother’s lap and smiled her biggest and widest grin. “That’s wonderful,” said Pooja and her mother clicked the picture. The little girl skipped away towards the entrance, her mother following. 13

Trying to be another animal to please others wasn’t a good idea, thought Nisha. She'd rather do what she always did best. Grin her widest grin.14