Nakutazuka's Wilflife Park (RP)

" they like swimming too." Kayla chuckled. " have you thought putting a small tub in here for them to splash around every once in a while. Yes it's more of a mess because of the splashing. But they'll enjoy it."

"No, not for in here. Once they are put out into the main park, then they will have a small pond, but nothing indoors. I don't need one trying to drown the other for some stupid reason." He said as he took the bowl, cleaned the wet sawdust and refilled it before he stepped out of the small stall and latched the door. "One of the most important things here is the phrase, Latch, Lock, Leave." Dalton said. "Before you ever walk away from anything, you latch it, lock it, and double check to make sure it's locked properly before you leave." He told her as he gave the small lock on the door of the stall a quick tug.

(Shall we skip like a week or so into the future, just so we can move the plot along?)

" one of my goats was an escape artists. There was locks on every gate." Kayla chuckled. " it's still a habit of mine to try and lock gates and doors."

(Sure)

"Good." He said with a curt nod.

A few weeks passed and Dalton had moved her up from working in the petting zoo area to also being a keeper-in-training. He had shown her how to deal with the cranes and swans and was letting her clean them on her own. It was getting to be just after noon, and the clouds covered the sun but the heat raged on.

Kayla sighed the heat was getting her but she kept on working. She had a list of tasks to get done and kept wanting to prove to Dalton she was a valuable member and a good vet.

One of the swans, the female, angrily swam at her through the pond and honked at her as she walked along the pond side. She reached up and tried to bite her.

Kayla stepped out of the swans reach. " if you let me work I would give you some food and maybe a treat." She told the swan.

She heard a soft grunt followed by a thump. "Oh...nice...very nice!" A male voice said behind her. Behind her a man with white hair, and dressed in jeans and a flannel was standing on the guard rail of the pond by the swans. He was stamping at the lumber with a steel-toed boot. "Wonderfully designed. Strong, but modern looking." He said gently. He jumped slightly as he stood on the railing. He landed with another loud thump, and kept his balance "Truly well designed."

" excuse me?" Kayla asked walking towards him.

The old man was more occupied with the guard rail than he was with her. Honestly he didn't even notice her calling to him. "3/4th, inch grate fencing, safe... large enough for the eye of a phone lens to see through but still small enough to keep people from putting their hands through." He mumbled. "Top bar is supported on the under side for extra support! Genius!" he smiled, his back still too her.

Kayla walked up to him wondering what he was doing.

The man then started hanging on the fence when he finally noticed her. A smile lit up.his face. "Oh, hello there darling!" He said as he pulled himself up and straddled the fence like a horse. "You must be new here, it is a pleasure to meet you my lovely!" He smiled warmly and offered her his hand.

" I'm kinda new. But I'm the newest member." She shook his hand. " What are you doing?" She asked.

"I am checking the integrity of this guard rail. Checking to make sure it is difficult for people to climb over or stand on and to also make sure it is strong." He smiled as he sat on the fence. "I never got your name darling, I am James, James Nakutazuka."

" Kayla. Some people call me Kay or Layla." She told him. " you seem to be climbing around it pretty good."

"Yes it is wonderful in design, and looks nice and professional. Kyle did a good job on the design." The man smiled. As he smiled she noticed the similarities, his smile was the same as Kyle's, and his face as stern in looks as Dalton's. "Pleasure to meet you Kay, how long have you been working for my son? Is he being nice to you?"

" I've been here almost 2 weeks." She told him. " He's been a bit tough on me. I'm a veterinarian. Just graduated from school a month or two ago." Kayla said looking around. " I wanted to shadow the vet you have here but Dalton wants me working else where."

(Hey sorry I haven't been on, my laptop broke and I'm trying to working things around with my new cockatiel, and I've been busy working and packing.)

He laughed. "He has a method to his madness." James sighed gently. "His wife was a vet, and after she left he went through 4 other vets and each one messed something up causing an animal to die. He's just skeptical, about letting people near his children." James said. "Oh, also, radio, Dalton, and him over here, but don't let him know I'm here."

" I've heard." Kayla nodded. " that's why I'm working hard to get his approval." She looked at the man a bit suspicious. " they don't know you're here do they?"

( it's all cool. Hey I'm packing too. Heading off to school soon.)

Congratulations! Good luck! ))

James smiled and shook his head. "Me and the wife didn't tell him, that we where coming, so we came as a surprise!" He grinned. "Dalton tends to avoid people and confrontation so it's best if he doesn't know until last minute."

( thanks. I'll probably need it. )

" I can radio him over saying there is something wrong with the swan?" Kayla suggested with a grin.

James cracked a bright smile. "Oh, I like you. I like you a lot." He giggled. "Yes do that, and I'll wait." He smiled sitting on the fence.

(I'm sure you will be fine!)

Kayla took the radio that was to clipped to the back of her belt off and pressed the button to speak. " Kayla to Dalton." She spoke into the radio let go of the button and waited for a response.

There was a pause then a crackle over the radio. "Go ahead!" Dalton's voice barked out through the radio. The squak from a Macaw came through before the transmission stopped.

She held down the radio button " one of the swans is acting weird." She said then left go of the button.