Page 6 of Perfect Imperfections

“Oh man, and now the vultures descend.”

Her friend had it wrong. Equating reporters to scavenger birds was insulting. Vultures were beautiful, useful creatures. Reporters were…well, Ellie didn’t much care for the media, and she hated giving interviews.

“You don’t think Tammy’s going to make me talk to them, do you?”

Her friend let out a snort of a laugh. “Are you kidding? Tammy’s about to blow her lid right now over this whole thing.”

The director looked steamed as she marched her way over to the news crew.

“If she can’t shut them down, she’s going to offer you up on a silver platter as the hero of the day. Anything to make the zoo look good and non-culpable for this…incident.”

She wanted the zoo to look good. This was her job, and she’d like to keep it. If people thought the zoo was dangerous, they might stop coming. Then they’d lose funding and cut jobs, and not only would Ellie be out on her butt, but more importantly, where would all the animals go? So yes, she could understand painting her the hero, but did that mean she had to give an interview?

She watched as Tammy talked to the reporter, nodding her head, and turning with a big smile on her face to point at—crap—Ellie.

Noooooooo. Dammit!

Looked like she was going to be giving an interview. Her stomach turned over, mouth going dry despite the two mouthfuls of water she’d spit out hauling Charlotte out of the pool. Ugh! She hated giving interviews, being put on the spot. Her nerves got all frazzled, and she never knew what to say. Cam usually handled any type of interview that came their way, but she couldn’t shove this one off on her friend.

Nope. Because I had to jump in and be the ‘hero of the day.’

“Are we going to be on TV?” Charlotte asked, gazing up with big, bright eyes.

Okay, totally worth enduring the agony of an awkward interview for that sweet smile.

“Looks like it, sweetie.”

“Yay!”

At least someone was excited.

“Cam, Ellie.”

The radio on Cam’s hip crackled. Cam grabbed it, bringing it to her mouth to respond as the EMTs continued to check Charlotte and Ellie.

“Go for Bird Force One.”

She chuckled at her friend’s code name for them. Across the way, Tammy shook her head. The director didn’t always care for Cam’s humor. Ellie thought her bestie was hilarious.

“The teacher called the child’s father. He should arrive soon.”

“Daddy’s coming?” The young girl bounced in her lap at the prospect of seeing her father.

“I need Ellie to give the news crews an interview. Be ready in ten, Ellie. And try not to…just, be professional.”

“Crews? As in plural?”

Her question answered itself as she saw more people with cameras and microphones arriving, setting up gear.

“Craaaaap!”

“Daddy says that’s a bad word.”

Shit! At least she hadn’t said that out loud. Glancing down at the child in her arms, she smiled. “Your daddy is right. It is a bad word and I’m sorry I said it.”

Charlotte grinned, revealing one missing lower canine. “That’s okay. Daddy said the S word once when he stepped on my blocks. I forgot to put them away, but he said he wasn’t mad. I just had ta remember next time.”

It was clear this little girl was the apple of her father’s eye. Poor guy must be a mess right about now.

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