The introduction to this next story is about an experience I had ten or so
years ago at the Portland Museum of Science and Industry. My
daughter was a volunteer at the museum at the time and, often, when I
visited she invited me along to help at the museum too, which, of course,
I did.
A popular exhibit at museums everywhere is one that displays models of
the large reptiles that roamed the Earth millions of years ago. During
one of my visits to my grandchildren in Portland, Oregon, the local
museum had such an exhibit. There were so many different reptiles in
the exhibit that, for my convenience in stories I hoped to write, I assigned
each a popular and easily pronounced-and remembered-name. The
names appear in this story: there was Albert the Apatosaurus, Pete the
Pentaceratops, Palmer the Parasaurolophus, Sally the Stegosaurus, and
Alice the Ankylosaurus. The exhibit also included a Petrushka the
Pterodactyl and a Tallyrand the Tyranosaurus.
The museum's Albert the Apatosaurus had a baby daughter, Alexandra,
and she slept in a doughnut-shaped nest after the museum closed for the
night. As you can imagine, a doughnut-shaped nest, for even a toddler
apatosaurus, is not the size of the bakery doughnuts with which you and
I are familiar. Alexandra's doughnut-shaped nest was about ten feet
across. The model had eighteen-inch diameter inflated tubes that
enclosed a soft brown plastic floor.
When children touring the museum saw Alexandra's nest they rushed to
climb the tube, jump down inside, and land hard on the soft plastic floor.
With hundreds of jumping children each day, four or five at a time, the
soft plastic soon scuffed and frequently needed repair. Alexandra didn't
care to see her nest abused like that, and I felt sympathy for her.
Fortunately, I was able to help; my job was to be the museum's official
Fixer of the Apatosaurus Nest's Floor. My tools and supplies were a
large roll of aluminum-colored adhesive tape, a tape measure and shears.
Twice each day I inspected and repaired Alexandra's nest.
'Stand back for one moment, please.' I would say as I approached and
identified myself to the jumpers. 'It is time to inspect the dinosaur's nest.'
The youngsters gathered round as I removed my shoes, stepped across
the inflated tube into the nest, lowered to my knees, bent, and carefully
inspected the nest's floor. With elaborate gestures I inspected all
surfaces and seams, measured the damaged areas with my ruler, cut the
proper length strip from my large roll of duct tape, and pressed it into
place.
Children and mothers and fathers and grandparents came from nearby
exhibits to observe the Apatosaurus Nest Floor Fixer at work. When the
repairs were done I rose, stepped back over the side and out of the nest
and waved to the jumpers, saying, 'OK, have at it!' And they did.
My grandchildren were proud to see grandpa at work repairing a baby
Apatosaurus's nest so that it would remain a safe and comfortable place
to sleep after the museum closed for the day.
Several times, as I made my way back from the nest to the shop in the
basement below the museum I happened to glance up at Alexandra's dad,
Albert. I think I saw him wink at me, as if to say, 'Thanks for fixing
Alexandra's nest.'
***
Dinosaurs? Having a Birthday Party?
Albert, the Apatosaurus, lives with his mother and father in a huge forest
at the edge of a swampy lake. Every morning, soon after the sun is up,
Albert awakens, crawls out of his nest, and shakes himself to get the
sleepy out of his eyes. Awake and stretched, Albert waddles down to the
lake to munch the sweet grasses that grow along its shore. He has
reached an age that he doesn't need to be constantly watched over by an
older Apatosaurus.
This morning, when Albert awakens, he looks around to see if his
friends, Pete, the Pentaceratops, Palmer, the Parasaurolophus, Sally, the
Stegosaurus and Alice, the Ankylosaurus are also awake. They are, so
Albert visits with them for a while. They chase each other around the
trees of the forest, and then head for the lake to seek their breakfast.
At the lake, they nibble at the tall grasses that grow along the shore, or in
the shallow water. Now and then, the leaves of a bush or a tree look
appetizing and become part of breakfast.
Finished, Albert waves good-bye to his friends and heads off deeper into
the forest. Albert likes to explore. He is also looking for another
Apatosaurus like himself. He wants very much to find one about his
age.
It's a cool and pleasant morning. Albert comes to a meadow, crosses to
the trees on the other side and continues on. Finally, he arrives at a lake
that is almost as long and as wide as the lake where he had breakfast.
The lake's shore is quiet and Albert looks about for a snack. He waddles
into the water and lowers his long neck. He yanks up a mouthful of
grasses and water plants and chews.
Suddenly, he hears a splashing sound behind him. Turning his head he
sees another, smaller Apatosaurus. Albert quickly finishes chewing,
swallows, and smiles.
'I'm Albert,' he says. 'What's your name?'
'Alexandra,' replies the smaller Apatosaurus. 'Where are you from,
Albert?'
'I live near the lake on the other side of the forest.' Albert waves his long
tail in the direction of his home. 'I was out exploring and came here to
see if any neighbors moved in recently. I haven't seen you before. Are
you new here?'
'Yes, I am,' Alexandra replies. 'My Mommy and Daddy and I just moved
here and we think we'll stay. It's quiet in this forest, and the lake's
shoreline has plenty of the food we like. I hope that we'll remain here
for a long time.'
Albert tells Alexandra about Peter, Palmer, Alice and Sally.
'Oh, I want very much to meet them.' Alexandra is excited at the thought
of making new friends.
'I'm sure they want to meet you, too.' Albert wiggles his tail as he speaks.
'Do Apatosaurus children play coconut ball where you came from?'
'Sure do,' Alexandra says.
Albert stretches his long neck and plucks a large coconut from the top of
a nearby palm tree. He flips the coconut over his shoulder and as is falls
he bats it toward Alexandra with his tail.
Alexandra, who has studied ballet, is well balanced. She catches the ball
easily in her mouth. Tossing it high with a graceful twist of her body
she bats it with her tail in a high arc back to Albert. He dashes toward
the coconut and, with a tail flip, returns it for another round.
Albert and Alexandra play with the coconut ball for a while. They stop
for lunch along the shore, and then rest and chat.
When the day moves into afternoon, Albert says good-bye to Alexandra
and promises to return soon. They are friends.
'My birthday is coming soon and my mother and father are giving me a
party,' Alexandra says as Albert turns to leave. 'Will you come to my
party and will you bring along Pete, Palmer, Alice and Sally?'
'Of course I'll come,' Albert says as he waves at her over his shoulder,
'and I'll tell my friends about you. I'm sure they'll want to come to your
party.'
Albert heads for his home near the lake on the other side of the forest.
Alexandra rushes home. She tells her parents about Albert, and they're
pleased that Alexandra has found a friend.
Alexandra has her supper and plays with her toys. Then, feeling tired,
she climbs into the nest her father had just lined with fresh twigs and
leaves, and is soon asleep.
When Albert arrives home he tells his friends about Alexandra. They
are excited to hear that another dinosaur family has moved into their
neighborhood, and that a birthday party was coming soon.
Of course they accept Alexandra's invitation.
On the day of the party Albert, Pete, Palmer, Sally and Alice race each
other to Alexandra's home on the far side of the forest.
Colored streamers, bunting, balloons and 'Happy Birthday' signs stretch
between trees. Cookies and candies for Alexandra's friends are in dishes
on tables and gifts are stacked everywhere.
Children from different reptile families play games among the trees, sing
songs, and swing on an enormous rubber tire hanging from a tree
branch. Near the tables, other reptile children laugh and eat cookies,
candies and ice cream, and drink sodas or milk.
Albert invites Alexandra to meet his friends. Alexandra's father snaps
their picture with his camera. The camera is the kind that makes instant
pictures, so he passes them to the guests as soon as they are dry.
'These are very interesting pictures,' says Albert. 'Please take some more
and let us have them to show to our parents?'
'Of course,' says Alexandra's Daddy. He takes many snapshots of
Albert and the others and gives a few to each to take home.
After the children have played for a while Alexandra's mother slaps her
long tail on the ground to get their attention.
'Let's all gather around at the table,' she calls to the children.
As everyone moves toward the table Alexandra's father carries out a
huge, three-layered chocolate cake with whipped cream all over the top
and sides. The cake has four candles on it for Alexandra's fourth
birthday.
When the cake is on the table Alexandra stretches her neck forward
slightly, takes a deep breath, and with a single whoosh blows out all four
candles.
Everyone shouts 'Happy Birthday, Alexandra!' and they waddle-dance
around the table. Alexandra is very happy. Her daddy plays on his
fiddle.
It's time for Alexandra to open the many gifts that her friends and
parents piled on the table.
Alexandra unwraps a special Apatosaurus doll that goes 'beep' when she
squeezes it, a dinosaur doll's nest lined with tiny leaves and twigs, and a
blackboard on a tripod with different colored chalk sticks. There are
many other gifts, too. Alexandra holds her gifts up so that everyone can
see them. Then, with a big smile, she hugs her mother and father and
thanks her guests for their gifts and for coming to her party.
All too soon, the party is over. Time to start for home. The children
wave good-bye to Alexandra as they leave. Sally and Alice hug
Alexandra.
'We must see each other again,' says Alexandra.
'Yes, real soon,' says Sally.
Sally and Alice nod.
Albert is sorry the party is over. He waits until the very end, when all the
others have left.
'Thank you for inviting us,' he says to Alexandra. 'I'll come again soon
and we'll play coconut ball. Would you like that?'
'Oh, yes,' she replies. 'I'd like that very much.'
With a wave of his tail Albert turns toward home. He catches up to Pete
and Palmer, who are waiting for him. They all run ahead and, with Sally
and Alice, reach their side of the forest by late afternoon. They wave
good-bye to each other as they separate to go to their family nests.
When Albert reaches his nest he tells his mother and father about the
good time he had at Alexandra's Birthday Party. He shows them the
pictures Alexandra's Daddy gave him.
Then Albert moves to his part of the nest, curls his tail around to cover
his toes, and falls asleep.
The sun sinks behind a low hill and night settles on the forest.