Charlie Lupton and the Ultimate Challenge

Charlie Lupton was scared. Maybe it would be wiser not to go in. It is better to be safe than sorry. But the gate was unlocked. Why not go in? He craned his neck and looked up. The fence was many times higher than he was. If the way back to the gate was blocked there was no way he could climb the fence.

     He bit his lip and told himself there was nothing to worry about. Surely it would be safe? But that’s not what the big sign said. He read it one more time.

     Danger – Lions Can Kill.

     He took a deep breath and walked in.

     If the others in his class were nervous, they didn’t show it.

     ‘This is randomly epic,’ said Mickey Dewhurst, as he took a photo of the enclosure on his phone. ‘I don’t usually like Mondays at school, but this is exciting.’

     ‘You don’t like any days at school,’ said Geraldine Primrose.

     ‘That’s true,’ said Mickey. ‘For once you and I agree on something. We both agree I don’t like school on any day.’

     ‘Come on, quickly everybody,’ said Mrs Drake, as the rest of the class walked in. ‘We mustn’t take up too much of Mr Ely’s time.’

     ‘There’s no rush,’ said Mr Ely as he held up his hands. ‘Now, folks, gather round and I’ll tell you all about this enclosure.’

     Then Penny Elliot put up her hand.

     ‘Yes, young lady,’ said Mr Ely.

     ‘Are … are there really no lions in here?’

     This made Charlie feel better. He wasn’t the only one feeling nervous after all.

     ‘No, I can assure you there are no lions in here,’ said Mr Ely, laughing. ‘The lions will be arriving later this week. As the newly appointed head lion keeper at the park I am really looking forward to giving them a nice new home. As you can see, it’s a very large enclosure. And it’s very secure. The big gate you all walked through will be permanently locked before the lions arrive. The fence is made of steel and is fourteen feet high. And there is a three-and-a-half-foot overhang at the top.’

     Charlie looked at the top of the fence and saw the way the fence was bent inwards. He knew about overhangs. Some rock-climbing routes have overhangs.

     ‘Even if the lions could climb that high,’ said Mr Ely, ‘they would never get over the overhang.’

     ‘Could you climb that?’ somebody whispered to Charlie.

     He turned round. It was Emma Appleyard.

     ‘I’m not sure,’ said Charlie. ‘I’ve never tried to climb an overhang. They’re tricky.’

     Other children started to chatter too.

     ‘Quiet everybody,’ said Mrs Drake.

     ‘Let me tell you a little about the enclosure,’ said Mr Ely. ‘That small gate over there leads into the yard. Beyond that, gated tunnels lead to the rooms where the lions can sleep. When they arrive we will put them straight in there and only let them out for the first time once they’ve settled.’

     Geraldine put her hand up.

     ‘Yes, young lady,’ said Mr Ely.

     ‘Those rooms and the yard look very small. Isn’t it really just a like a zoo?’

     ‘No, they will spend most of their time outside here in the enclosure itself,’ said Mr Ely. ‘As you can see, it’s very big, around seven acres in fact. There is plenty of room for the lions to roam. And it’s got features which make it interesting for the lions like trees, a small lake and a couple of large mounds. Oh, and we’ve got that old Land Rover over there painted with black and white stripes like a zebra, just like the ones driven in the plains of Africa by game wardens.’

     ‘That is awesome,’ said Mickey, as he took a photo of the Land Rover.

     ‘Now, let me tell you about the lions that are coming later this week,’ said Mr Ely. ‘It is a pride of six lions coming from South Downs Safari Park. There is Mason, the king of the pride. He is six years old. Then there is Amelia the lioness, she is five years old. And coming with Mason and Amelia will be their four cubs, which are nine months old. They will be arriving on Thursday. So if you see a large lorry driving through Heatherbridge on Thursday afternoon with South Downs Safari Park written on the side you had better watch out. It will be full of lions!’

    Everybody started murmuring.

    ‘Now,’ said Mr Ely, ‘you can have a couple of minutes to wander around the enclosure. Then I’m afraid I will have to leave you as I have a meeting to attend. I hope you are enjoying your visit to Heatherbridge Wildlife Park.’

    ‘We certainly are enjoying our visit,’ said Mrs Drake. ‘Thank you very much for your time. It is not everybody who can say they have been inside a lion’s enclosure! Now children, have a quick wander around then we can go down to the picnic benches and eat our packed lunches.’

    ‘Let’s go to the top of that mound,’ said Emma. ‘We’ll get a better view.’

    ‘That’s a good idea,’ said Geraldine.

    ‘You two coming?’ said Emma.

    ‘I guess so,’ said Charlie.

    ‘I’m going to have a look at the Land Rover,’ said Mickey. He walked off with his hands in his pockets.

    Charlie, Emma and Geraldine trudged up the mound and finally got to the top and sat on some rocks.

    ‘Just think,’ said Emma, ‘this is where Mason the king of the pride will sit.’

    ‘I still don’t think the enclosure is really big enough,’ said Geraldine. ‘I’m sure he and his pride would prefer to be roaming free in Africa.’

    ‘They will be fine,’ said Emma. ‘They will be looked after and well fed.’

    Charlie looked around, taking in the view. At this height they were nearly level with the top of the fence away in the distance. Charlie studied the way it was bent inwards, almost at right angles to the vertical part of the fence. He wondered what it must be like to climb an overhang.

    ‘Come on everybody, it’s time to go.’

    They looked down the mound to see Miss Rees, the classroom assistant, calling them. They got up and walked with the rest of the class to the gate. As Charlie went out he felt a sense of relief. He looked up again at the warning message and he felt a shiver go down his spine.

    ‘Well, that will be something to tell your mums and dads when you get home,’ said Mr Ely as he slammed the gate shut and locked it. ‘You can all tell them Mrs Drake let you go inside the lion enclosure!’

    Everybody laughed.

    ‘I’ve got to go now,’ he said. ‘Cheerio everybody.’

    Everybody said ‘goodbye’ as he walked off.

    ‘Now children,’ said Mrs Drake, ‘please walk quietly down to the picnic benches. Please be mindful of other visitors in the park. There is also a class from another school visiting so let’s show them we know how to behave.’

    They walked down to the picnic benches. Their packed lunches had been stored in a room nearby and Miss Rees and a couple of volunteers from the class brought them over.

    Charlie, Emma and Geraldine sat at one of the benches. Penny was nearby looking unsure where to sit.

    ‘Come and sit with us,’ said Emma.

    ‘Thanks,’ she said.

    They began eating their lunch.

    ‘Where’s Mickey?’ said Emma.

    ‘I dunno,’ said Charlie. ‘He’s probably over there with the twins.’

    ‘Well, I’m not complaining,’ said Geraldine. ‘It’s nice to have a quiet civilized lunch for a change. We should be grateful to Darren and Jonny for sharing the burden.’

     ‘That’s not very nice,’ said Emma. ‘Anyway, I don’t think he is with the twins. I can’t see him over there.’

     ‘Has everybody got their lunch?’ shouted Miss Rees. ‘I’ve got one left over.’

     Nobody said anything and kept on eating.

     After a little while they heard what sounded like laughing and shouting.

     ‘It’s that class from the other school,’ said Geraldine. ‘I’m so glad I don’t go to that school.’

     ‘But why are they all looking into the lion enclosure?’ said Emma. ‘There’s nothing to see.’

     ‘Perhaps the lions have come early,’ said Penny.

     ‘Of course they haven’t,’ said Geraldine.

     Charlie looked over to the enclosure. Other visitors in the park were also beginning to gather by the fence.

     ‘What is going on over there?’ said Mrs Drake as she stood up to have a better look.

     ‘Uh, I think,’ said Miss Rees, ‘it might have something to do with this.’ She had got up too and was holding the spare packed lunch.

     ‘What do you mean?’ said Mrs Drake.

     Charlie looked at the packed lunch and then back across to the enclosure. Miss Rees, was right, he thought. It had everything to do with the spare packed lunch.

     ‘Let’s go and have a look,’ said Emma. ‘Perhaps some strange creature from another part of the park has got in.’

     Charlie got up and as he did so, Miss Rees came over to him.

     ‘You might like to take this,’ she said.

     ‘Thanks,’ said Charlie, as he took the packed lunch off her.

     ‘What did she mean?’ said Emma as they started walking.

     ‘Oh no,’ said Geraldine. ‘I know what’s happened. I do not believe it. I think you’re right, Emma. There is a strange creature in the lion enclosure. One of the strangest, weirdest creatures ever known to mankind.’

     ‘How exciting,’ said Emma, ‘I must take a photo when I get there.’

     ‘I don’t think you will,’ said Charlie. ‘I don’t think this creature is very photogenic.’

     ‘What do you mean?’ said Emma.

     Then they reached the crowd. They stood on tiptoe to see what everyone was looking at. And there, standing inside the enclosure, was Mickey.

     ‘Don’t just stand there gawping,’ he shouted. ‘Get someone to unlock the gate!’

     But everybody just laughed and kept taking pictures.

     ‘He’s bringing the name of Heatherbridge Junior School into disrepute,’ said Geraldine.

     They pushed their way to the front of the crowd.

     ‘What are you doing in there?’ shouted Charlie.

     ‘I’m entertaining the visitors. What do you think I’m doing in here? I got locked in.’

     ‘But how?’ said Charlie.

     ‘I was busy taking pictures of the Land Rover and got inside to see if I could take it for a spin. Next thing I know the place is deserted. Anyway, never mind that, get someone to unlock the gate.’

     ‘But Mr Ely’s got the keys and he’s gone to a meeting,’ said Emma.

     ‘There must be someone else with a key,’ said Mickey.

     ‘This is SO embarrassing,’ said Geraldine.

     ‘Anyway, I’m getting hungry,’ said Mickey, who was beginning to sound a bit upset.

     ‘We can’t feed him,’ somebody from the other school said. ‘There are signs everywhere saying, “don’t feed the animals”.’

     Everybody started laughing again.

     ‘Very funny,’ said Mickey. He got down on the grass and sat cross-legged, looking very miserable.

     ‘I’ve got your packed lunch here,’ said Charlie.

     ‘Well, what are you waiting for?’ said Mickey, as he got up. ‘Throw it over.’

     ‘Okay,’ said Charlie.

     He took a few steps back as people made room for him. He threw it up as hard as he could. It went over the top of the fence, but then landed on the overhang.

     ‘Oh, great,’ said Mickey, as he looked up at his packed lunch. ‘That’s just brilliant. What am I supposed to do now?’

     ‘It’s a shame lions can’t climb up fences,’ said one of the onlookers.

     ‘That’s not a lion,’ said somebody else. ‘It looks more like a meerkat.’

     ‘Very funny,’ said Mickey.

     By now the rest of the class had reached the fence.

     ‘Mickey Dewhurst, what are you doing?’ said Mrs Drake.

     But Mickey just sat down and looked miserable.

     Then a member of the park staff came up to them.

     ‘I’m afraid, young lady, one of my pupils got left behind in the enclosure,’ said Mrs Drake.

     ‘That’s no problem,’ she said. ‘Another member of staff with a key is nearby round the other side near the gate. I’ll radio him to unlock it.’

     She got on the radio and a few moments later there was the noise of the gate being opened.

     ‘Look out mate!’ somebody from the other school shouted. ‘The lions have arrived early. They’re letting them in.’

     Mickey jumped up, ran to the Land Rover, got inside and slammed the door shut.

     Meanwhile everybody was laughing and taking more pictures.

     ‘Unbelievable,’ said Geraldine, shaking her head. ‘Unbelievable’.

 

‘That Mickey Dewhurst is a tinker,’ said Mother, as Charlie finished telling his parents what had happened as they sat at dinner that evening.

     ‘I don’t blame him,’ said Father. ‘I’ve always fancied owning a Land Rover.’

     ‘Really,’ said Mother, as she got up and gathered the empty plates together. ‘We’re not having a Land Rover.’

     ‘Well, perhaps I could paint the car with black and white stripes instead,’ said Father as he winked at Charlie.

     ‘Perhaps the both of you could help clear the table,’ she said. She walked out with a sigh into the kitchen.

     ‘Charlie, you haven’t forgotten about the climbing competition?’ said Father as they got up.

     ‘No. It’s not soon is it?’

     ‘It’s a week on Saturday,’ said Father.

     ‘Okay,’ said Charlie.

     ‘It will be a good experience for you. It will be just lead climbing and not bouldering. We’ll be using the climbing wall at Heatherbridge High School. There should be quite a few climbers in your age group. It will be fun?’

     ‘What is the climbing wall like at the school?’ asked Charlie.

     ‘Here, I’ll show you,’ said Father. He grabbed his laptop and brought up a photograph of the wall on the screen. ‘You have to see how high you can get without falling off. Each climber is roped of course, they’re belayed by somebody at the bottom.’

     ‘It looks okay,’ said Charlie. ‘I should be able to get to the top.’

     Father laughed. ‘Yes, well, I’m not so sure. You see this photograph is taken from the front. Here’s a side view.’

     Charlie looked and bit his lip.

     ‘It won’t be easy, will it?’ said Father.

     Charlie scanned the wall from bottom to the top. At first it seemed straight forward, but near the top there was a large overhang, maybe three times longer than the fence at the lion enclosure. Then the wall finished with a few vertical feet to the top. The overhang on the fence seemed bad enough, but the overhang on the climbing wall seemed impossible.