The Backyard Zoo

by Jim Dunlap

"Diglet's Day"

The dusk eased in warm and wonderful over the south lawn of the Science Learning Center last Saturday. The sun was just settling behind the pecan trees in the eastern sky. The distinguished panel of interpretive judges had been introduced and seated. The judges were Jackie Fleming, your publisher of the Plano Star Courier, Terry Traveland, an outstanding lawyer and former student of mine, and dressed in his legendary striped, red and white suit, Mr. Peppermint, star of stage, screen, and television. The Mayor of Plano, Jeran Akers, resplendent in his boots, jeans, red, white, and blue shirt, stepped up to the microphone.

Hear ye! Hear ye! The crowd had gathered, and the special ‘Diglet Diggin’ Dirt’ had been spread. The beautiful concession stand decorated by the Mendenhall Elementary, fourth and fifth grade Environmental Club, was in place. They were offering cold Dillo-dew, bagged and sweet Dillo-doo, and souvenir t-shirts. "Cockroach Dundee," Michael Bohdan of the Pest Shop in Plano, was seated behind a large, live-catch trap, ready to answer questions about relocating turf-destroying armadillos. The Second Annual Armadillo Day Fun-Raiser was ready to go. Tammy, office manager extraordinare, arrived with our star weather prognosticator. Diglet, our resident nine-banded armadillo, had been warming up in the flowerbed at the other end of the building. She was primed and ready.

Concessions were already flying off the counter. Although the price was five cents each, the wonderful crowd always paid more because all the proceeds were to go to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. By the way, whoever paid fifty dollars for a cup of Kool Aid, we thank you. The Mayor, in his best-exaggerated Texas drawl, read our proclamation. Then Tammy pulled Diglet from her custom made carrier, placed her on the dirt, and poured the canned rainwater on her back. The crowd held its collective breath. Would she roll, meaning the warm weather would hang around, or would she walk, indicating a cold spell real soon.

The water hit Diglet’s back. She raised her sensitive nose to the air, her ears stood at attention, she turned her head back to the ground, and waddled off. That was so cool! She was right because a cold front came in the next day. Her record of correct predications now stands at two out of two. Groundhog get a job!

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