Hunting with wolves. Racing with lions. Hanging out with sloths. Swimming with dolphins.
These are the things my dreams included, and more. I had always wondered what it would be like to be a creature of the wild.
Nobody wanted to experience the wild with all the passion in their heart, like I did.
What I didn't realize was that becoming wild and giving into my baser instincts didn't necessarily mean becoming an animal... until recently.
Working at a zoo is very time consuming. Many people seem to think it'd be easy and a lot of fun. It can be fun, but it's also hard and, at times, dangerous. This has been proven by many a zoo keeper who's gotten mauled or injured by the bigger animals. Sometimes even small ones, such as snakes or other things in the bug and reptile houses. I've never been hurt in my line of work, and I don't plan to be. I'm very cautious, but I love all the animals very much. They're a part of my family.
One day, as I was feeding the birds in the aviary - one of my favorite places to hang out - the head zoo keeper walked in with a man very close to my age, maybe a bit older. He was dressed in the uniform of a zoo keeper, but I had never seen him before.
"Oh, there you are, Raegan!" Melinda, the head zoo keeper sighed with relief upon seeing me. "This is Mark. Can you help him out for today? He's just been hired. Mark had a lot of awesome recommendations from the St. Louis zoo, but obviously he doesn't know the Nashville one, as he just moved here! I've given him a list of what his duties would be... If you could show him around, that would be such a huge help, we've got a big school field trip arriving in a bit, and I need to organize some things for them."
Melinda had always been a talker, as long as I'd known her. Finally, she finished her explanation, looking at me expectantly. I just nodded and smiled shyly at Mark. As our boss hurried off, muttering under her breath, I studied my new co-worker.
Mark was roughly two inches taller than my 5'5. He had curly brown hair flopping about on his head, and the outline of some five o' clock shadow on his chin. His bright blue eyes studied the aviary - he hadn't even looked at me yet! - and the corners of his mouth were turned up just slightly. He looked as if he smiled easily. And, oh, the muscles on his forearms... I would've bet a LOT that he was sculpted like a model underneath that zoo keeper's uniform.
I cleared my throat and finally he looked at me. His eyes widened, and I wondered if I had bird droppings in my hair or something.
"Hi, Mark. I'm Raegan. Would you like to get started?" I asked.
His eyes widened a bit further, and he coughed slightly and said, slightly hoarse, "Sure."
Shrugging off his weird reactions, I wondered vaguely if he was a smoker. I took the list Melinda had given him and studied it.
"Looks as if we're working in a lot of the same areas." I said, smiling up at him. "Why don't we head over to the farm animals first? We can feed them, and hose down the paths before people start arriving. I had just finished in here when you guys walked in."
Mark smiled, almost tentatively, and said, "Sure."
As we walked out of the aviary, I asked, "Is 'sure' all you can say?"
He glanced at me, the corners of his mouth pulling up again, and shook his head, a small laugh escaping him. "No. Sorry, I was just distracted by the beauty."
Oblivious to the fact that he was trying to use a pick up line, I grinned and said, "Yea, the aviary is one of my favorite places! I love the birds." Mike gave me a confused look, but by then we had gotten to the farm animals.
We started in on our work, and I found Mark very easy to talk to.
As we moved from area to area of the zoo, and then repeated the cycle, I found myself wondering what it would be like to kiss him whenever I saw him smile, or what his big hands would feel like rubbing my back.
Then I would chastise myself. "He's your co-worker, Raegan! It'd be big trouble if you were to fall for him!"
But I couldn't help myself. Mark was just one the most of awesome guys I'd ever met! He was funny, kind, and loved animals! He was basically what my dream guy would've been, if I'd ever thought deeply about what kind of guy I wanted.
After the day ended, I politely wished Mark a good evening, and excused myself to the women employee's locker room. After changing hurriedly and applying a fresh coat of deodorant, I walked quickly out the door, feeling exhausted from the day's work, and wanting to do my final walk-through of the aviary before leaving for home.
I bumped into Mark on my way out, though - literally. His big hands reached out to steady me, and I almost swooned when he touched me. But inside I slapped myself and shouted, "Raegan! He's a CO-WORKER."
I quickly caught my balance, with this handsome new zoo keeper's help, and took a step backwards. "Hey! I wasn't expecting you to still be here." He had changed from his uniform into street clothing. He was looking good in his dark wash jeans and a plaid button up shirt, with the top button undone and a bit of chest hair poking out.
"Yea... well, I was wondering... if you don't have any plans sometime, could you show me around the city? I'd really appreciate it!" When I was silent for a moment, he talked on, saying, "I've just moved here, and you seem really nice and fun, and I'd like to... get to know you, too."
After he paused again, I smiled, saying, "Yes. I know some great places! Obviously we won't be able to do them all tonight..."
"That's okay. I'm here in Nashville for good!" Mark then winked at me. I smiled back shyly, and we headed out to my car, as I had offered to drive.
First I took him to Bread and Company for a good dinner. He agreed it was delicious, and then I drove to 12th and Porter. 12th and Porter was a great music venue, with a nice bar and standing room only where their main stage was, so there was always a lot of dancing.
"My friend Sandy's band is playing tonight. She said I could get in free, but I told her I was working earlier today and wouldn't make it. She said she'd put me on the list anyway... I'm glad you asked me to show you around, because now I have an excuse to come here!"