Two years earlier

“April, are you there?” Jeremiah asked as he crept around the couch. He loved the hide-and-seek games that April made up. She was very creative and enjoyed making fun games she and her grandfather could play.

“Play the monkey, Father,” April said. Sometimes April called Jeremiah “Father” instead of Grandfather, and he never corrected her. I wish I had this relationship with Mel, Jeremiah thought. Melissa was never interested in playing with her father; she was a little too preoccupied with her boyfriends. That would be her undoing later in life.

“Oh-oh, ahh-ahh,” Jeremiah said as he pranced around, pretending to scratch himself under the arm. “I spot ya,” he would say, and then he’d try to chase April. She would always get away, laughing all the while.

Later, when the beta thalassemia major took hold, the blood transfusion treatments took their toll on April. Her appetite was not as good as it once was. By her fifth birthday, he had seen his granddaughter turn from a ball of energy—full of life, and wanting to explore the world—to a bedridden, tired girl. She eventually stopped creating—or even playing—games, even ones on cell phones. She would stare out of the window, waiting for something interesting to happen. Jeremiah would always ask her if she wanted to go outside to see the animals she often saw from her window, even in winter. Her favorite was the deer.

“Do you want to go for a stroll outside, April? It looks like a nice day,” Jeremiah said one day.

“No, Grandfather, my tummy hurts too much,” April replied.

“What about the telly? Want to watch something? I can put on those animal shows you like.”

“I’ve watched everything. There is nothing on the telly I haven’t seen,” April said.

A few months later, flowers were blooming and the spring weather patterns were taking hold.

“I have a surprise for you, my dear,” Jeremiah said. April didn’t change her expression.

Jeremiah took a pamphlet out and handed it to her. There was a picture of a furry monkey on the front cover.

“I’m taking you here—this weekend, in fact!” Jeremiah said excitedly. He hoped this would cheer her up.

She looked at him, wide-eyed. “Yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you, Grandfather!” Jeremiah looked into his granddaughter’s eyes. They were moist.

Jeremiah smiled.

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The following Saturday, Jeremiah took his daughter to London Zoo, the world’s oldest scientific zoo. He wanted his granddaughter to experience it firsthand. She’d slept during the short flight from Edinburgh. She was able to get the rest because Jeremiah owned a private jet. He only wanted the best for April. A few hours later, they were at the zoo.

It was a fun afternoon. The two of them looked at countless animals—the monkeys twice, as she always wanted to revisit the monkeys. As they were preparing to leave, April insisted on going back to see the spider monkeys. She had given each of them names. The bigger, furrier one she’d named Bob. Frank was the stubborn old monkey, and Stephen was a crazy monkey that wouldn’t slow down.

“I want to say goodbye to my friends,” April said.

Jeremiah couldn’t refuse, knowing how much this day was going to take from her. About halfway through the day, he’d rented a wheelchair. April was exhausted, but she still wanted to see the animals. The monkeys were in cages. Jeremiah noticed that they didn’t climb very high.

“Push me closer, Grandfather,” April said excitedly.

The monkeys seemed to gravitate toward her, and she reached out to pet one of them. The monkey hissed, then batted a claw at her, a tiny scratch becoming visible on her right hand. A tiny drop of blood dropped from between her index and middle fingers. Jeremiah took her hand, and then used a tissue to dab it on the wound. The monkeys screamed and jumped around the cage. The monkey named Stephen jumped on the wire mesh of the cage, shaking it violently. Other zoo patrons stared at April.

What’s the matter with these beasts? Jeremiah thought. He pulled the wheelchair back. The other two monkeys, Bob and Frank, pulled on the mesh, shrieking. The monkey known as Stephen gave Jeremiah a cold stare. It was almost as if the monkey were plotting, planning to do something terrible. Jeremiah began to move the wheelchair backwards. Stephen watched his every move as Jeremiah slowly backed away.

I need to get her out of this place, Jeremiah thought.

After they were a safe distance away, Jeremiah heard screams from behind them. Stephen had scaled the fence and was now on the pathway, mouth exposed—showing teeth! The crazed monkey ran to the nearest patrons, baring his teeth and hissing. Bob wasn’t far behind, making similar moves, looking around and pacing, as if searching for something. Frank was slower, but eventually he got loose as well. How did they get out? Jeremiah couldn’t believe his eyes. The monkeys were acting ruthlessly. Bob appeared to be directing the other monkeys. To Jeremiah, it looked like they were forming a search party. At that instant, Bob spotted Jeremiah, let out a screech, and then bolted directly toward him. Frank and Stephen were just behind. They surrounded the wheelchair, hissing and poking April gingerly. When Jeremiah attempted to protest or get in the way, all three monkeys showed their fangs and then tried to scratch or bite him. Bob tried to bite a finger off.

April did something that Jeremiah wasn’t expecting: she reached out a bare hand.

“No!” Jeremiah said, grabbing it away.

Stephen nodded his head at the other monkeys, who leaped on Jeremiah, scratching and biting.

“No, Stephen, make them stop!” April said, tears forming in her eyes.

Stephen screeched loudly, and the other monkeys backed off. Stephen came closer to April, and she reached out. Stephen rested his small head on April’s hand. The other two monkeys lost interest in Jeremiah. They extended their small arms around April. People were slowly coming to get a better look of the surreal scene. April didn’t appear to be frightened, and the monkeys calmed down. Patrons and zookeepers stared in disbelief.

“Mr. Mason! Are you okay?” one of the guards asked.

Jeremiah snapped out of it.

“Yes, I’m just tired. Been a long day.”