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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Conversation (face to face) (10/07/10)
“Don’t just sit there, Cody, talk to me,” Lindsay pouted.

“Humph.”

“Don’t you think you are being just a wee bit selfish? I mean, this place has a lot of potential. It has everything you need. Look at it.” Lindsay paused. “Your old place is gone, Cody. This is your new home.”

Cody looked around. Her arms remained folded; her head held aloft. She puckered her lips and blew raspberries at no one in particular.

“You’re not being polite. A lot of thought went into your new environment.”

“Humph.”

“Please, Cody. Look at me. Talk to me, I’m supposed to be your best friend. What kind of conversation can we have if you won’t even look at me?”

Cody turned to face Lindsay and tap on his watch with her long fingers.

“It’s almost noon. Are you hungry?”

The reply was instant and loud.

“With all the dozens of words you understand,” Lindsay laughed, “you must know every one relating to food.” He stood. “Why don’t we see what’s to eat?”

They walked hand-in-hand to where Cody’s siblings sat sniffing and feeling fruit.

“See, Cody,” Lindsay pointed out. “That’s the way I’ve been showing you how to choose the best fruit. Only, I don’t kiss mangos before I eat them,” he teased.

Lindsay approached Oliver and Tracy, but Cody pulled back.

“Hi, you two,” Lindsay said with a smile. He patted the top of Cody’s head. “It’s okay. I promise.”

The pair didn’t look up from their meal.

With a flick of her free hand, Cody turned and marched away pulling on Lindsay’s arm to follow. Head down and palms faced up, she wiped her eyes and nose on Lindsay’s trousers. Lindsay crouched down. “Cody,” he began quietly, “I know this is all new to you, and you haven’t seen your family for a while, but you will settle in. Things can only improve but this conversation has got to stop being one way. Look at me and tell me what makes you so sad.”

In one huge lunge Cody wrapped her arms around Lindsay and kissed his face then danced around on the spot. She stopped suddenly and grabbed Lindsay’s shirt and tugged a little more than gentle.

Taking the tiny wrists in his hands, Lindsay began to whisper. “I wish you could talk, Cody girl. This is no sign I’ve ever taught you. What is it?”

Cody fell limp in Lindsay’s arms.

“Oh, I get it. You don’t want me to leave.”

The reply was the slowest of nods with a bottom lip that would trip up a python.

“Cody girl, you have been the best chimpanzee I have ever had the pleasure to work with.” He gently lifted his little friend’s chin with two fingers. He looked into her misty eyes. “But,” he continued, “it’s time to be just that—a chimpanzee. You’re the best. You deserve the best. No more bananas for a trick. No more peeled grapes for signing a new word. You’re free.” Lindsay paused. “Well, as free as the government will let you.” He smiled and kissed his girl.

With that, Cody strode in her cute swaying way to the table. She grabbed a banana and took it back to Lindsay, planted a kiss on his cheek and headed back to her family.

Oliver and Tracy looked up at Cody with puckered lips and shaking heads. They squealed in unison. Cody blew raspberries at her siblings and kissed a mango.
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This article has been read 873 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
10/21/10
I was confused at first. I usually think of Cody as a boy's name and Lyndsay as a girl's. Once I got past my confusion and settled in I enjoyed the story. I was pretty sure Cody wasn't human but being a chimp surprised me. But you did a great job with pulling the topic in
Terry Lee
10/21/10
I was also confused with the names, but I liked that the conversation was with a chimpanzee, a unique twist to the topic.
DK Landers
10/21/10
This is an entertaining story. I have to agree that I was confused about which was male and which was female. I reread the story after the identities became clear and enjoyed it.
Lollie Hofer 
10/21/10
This was thinking outside the box. Quite entertaining.
Amanda Brogan
10/23/10
How cute! At first I thought that Cody was a special-needs person. (I also was a little confused at first with "Cody" being a girl and "Lindsay" being a guy.) The ending really surprised me, but had me smiling.

A very creative approach to the topic.
Amy Michelle Wiley 
10/24/10
Cute story. I liked it. I figured out it was a chimp! :-)
Colin Swann
10/24/10
I enjoyed the conversation and the grunts. I expected a twist coming but hadn't guessed it being a chimp. Very good dialogue!
Connie Dixon
10/24/10
This story really put a new perspective on the word - conversation. Would so love to know what our animals are really thinking. Way to write out of the box!
Laury Hubrich 
10/24/10
Nice job with this story:) It was a bit confusing with the names. I confused boy and girl names for an India story I did once. Is easy to do. With all that grunting, you could have been writing about a man engrossed in his football game on television:)
Catrina Bradley
10/24/10
I've always been fascinated by chimps learning sign language - great job with the story, and the relationship between these two friends.
Dee Yoder
10/24/10
LOL! I got my first hint that MAYBE Cody wasn't a human when her siblings were sniffing fruit, but when she wiped her nose on Lindsay's pants, I was thinking "This had better be an animal or Lindsay needs to find new friends!"

Unique way to illustrate conversation! Enjoyed this story. (:
Henry Clemmons
10/24/10
I love out of the box. Very creative and touched my heart. The names were fine to me. Loved the story.
Tammie Smith
10/24/10
This was a sweet exchange with friends. I enjoyed this story.
Cheryl Harrison
10/25/10
I was also wondering about the whole "wiping the nose on the trousers" thing. Trying to figure it out kept me reading to the end! Good job.
Gregory Kane
10/25/10
Maybe it's because I'm British, but I didn't have any problem with the names. Lindsay works well as a male and Cody is one of those new forms that can remain as neutral. I also clued in early on that Cody was some form of simian. So well done for a good story. This reader for one got it.
Jan Ackerson
10/26/10
Very original and creative!
Brenda Rice
10/26/10
I enjoyed your very creative story. There were several tips that Lindsey's friends weren't exactly human.
Edmond Ng
10/27/10
I kind of suspect Cody ain't human after reading the first few sentences, but didn't know where the story was leading to till the end. Very original and an interesting read.
Lyn Churchyard
10/28/10
This was great! You have the mannerisms of a chimp down beautifully. I could see folded arms, the shaking of the head and the raspberries being blown. I don't kiss mangoes, but I do sniff them :-)