The children's story that follows is another that is being developed into a puppet show for the Graig Du Theatre Players. Chestnut Zoo made the evening news today! Cuthbert Carruthers, the gorilla known as C.C. to his friends, rescued  a little girl named Louise who had fallen down a slope into the area that was to be Cuthbert's new home. 

Sam and Louise were going to Chestnut Zoo with their parents. They were hoping they could see Cuthbert Carruthers, known as C.C. to his friends and the folk that came to see him, before he went to the new enclosure that had been built for he and his family.

"Look at that!” said Sam, pointing at a notice board as daddy drove into the car park.

The notice said the new enclosure for the gorillas is near completion and the Lord Mayor would officially open it on Tuesday week.

"Can we go and see the gorillas?" asked Louise excitedly.

"Later," said her Daddy. "We've got to see the other animals first."

"I know," said Mummy “would you both like an ice cream?"

“Yes! “they said eagerly.

Daddy and Sam went to buy ice creams, while Louise and Mummy explored the zoo.

"Which animals do you want to see, Louise? “asked Mummy.

"I'd like to see the lions, “said Louise.

The lions were tired and falling asleep. They were not interested in the people who watched them.

Near them were the monkeys, swinging on their bars and making chattering noises.

"They're funny!” said Louise, laughing. They were making faces at the people.

"Come on!” said Mummy. "Let's see the tigers."

The tigers looked fierce.

Louise hid behind Mummy

She did not like the tigers.

"I don't like tigers, “said Louise, scared.

Sam and Daddy were looking for Mummy and Louise.

They could not see them amongst the crowds of people.

"Can you see them? “asked Daddy.

"No," replied Sam, licking his ice cream.

Daddy held Mummy and Louise's ice cream in his hand.

They were starting to melt.

"If we don't find them soon, Sam, the ice creams will have melted."

Sam had nearly finished his ice cream.

"I'll have the other two, “he thought, “if we don't find Mummy and Louise."

 Louise and Mummy were looking at the gorillas. The gorillas were sad

because they were living in this small cage and not in their new home.

Cuthbert Carruthers looked shyly at the little boys and girls.

He smiled when he looked at Louise.

Louise did not see him smiling. She thought he looked grumpy.

Cuthbert gave one of his huge yawns that everyone liked.

Louise looked up at Mummy.

"What's the gorilla’s name, Mummy?"

Mummy looked at the notice on the cage.

“Cuthbert Carruthers.”

Cuthbert’s wife was telling her children off in the corner.

The little boys and girls were laughing while she chased them.

"Cuthbert looks sad," said Louise,

"Perhaps he doesn't like the cage," said Mummy. "He'll be happy when he goes to his new home. He'll be able to run around as much as he likes."

Louise was happy when she heard this.

She looked at Cuthbert, smiling.

Cuthbert stared right back at her.

Louise thought he was crying.

"Cuthbert’s crying!" said Louise, shocked.

Mummy looked .She could not see any tears in his eyes.

"Don't be silly, Louise, "she said.

Louise waved to Cuthbert as they walked away.

Cuthbert sadly watched Louise as she followed Mummy.

Daddy and Sam were still looking for them.

Sam had started to eat their ice creams.

"We'll find them soon," said Daddy, looking around the enclosures.. "They're probably searching for us by now."

Sam did not hear him. He was now busy eating Louise's ice cream.

Louise stopped by the fencing that was around the gorillas' new home.

A steep slope led down to the foundations.

Louise held onto the fence that was shaking in the wind. 

"Be careful," said Mummy sharply. “Keep well back!”

"I'm not going to fall," said Louise.

The fence snapped.

"Help! “shouted Louise as she fell down the slope.

Mummy panicked and looked around for help.

She saw Daddy and Sam running toward her.

A zookeeper was running behind them, out of breath.

"What happened? “said Daddy.

"Louise fell down the slope!” said Mummy anxiously.

Sam started crying when he saw that Louise had hurt her leg.

"It's going to be okay," said the zookeeper, smiling. "We'll have your little girl out of there in no time."

The zookeeper looked down at Louise, who was trembling and frightened.

"Are you all right?" called the zookeeper.

"Yes," said Louise, looking up at the man who seemed so tiny.

"I'll get some rope," said the zookeeper," and we'll soon have you out of there."

Cuthbert had heard all the noise and screams and was wondering what was going on. 

He bent the bars back on his cage to get out and walked through the crowds to where his new home was going to be.

The men, women, boys, and girls stared in amazement as they saw Cuthbert walking toward the keeper.

The zookeeper did not seem concerned.

"Back to your cage, Cuthbert, “he said gently.

Cuthbert Carruthers shook his head.

He looked at Sam, Louise's Mummy who was crying, and her Daddy.

Cuthbert looked down the slope and he smiled when he saw it was the little

girl who had waved to him earlier that had hurt her leg.

He jumped over the fence and ran down the slope.

Cuthbert picked her up in his arms and carried her back to her parents.

The crowd cheered as Cuthbert put Louise in Mummy's arms.

"Thank you!" cried Mummy, hugging Louise.

"Thank you, Cuthbert,” said Louise, happy to be safe again.

Cuthbert patted Daddy and Sam on the shoulder and he went back to his cage.

The crowd roared as Cuthbert went back to his old home, bent the bars back in

shape, and looked at his wife.

"What was all that about?" she said, curious as to why he had disappeared.

"Nothing," said Cuthbert grumpily. "Do you remember that little girl with long blond hair who was here earlier?"

"Yes," said his wife.

"Well, she fell down the incline into our new home. I rescued her."

His wife smiled.

"You're my hero, Cuthbert, "she said, hugging him.

Cuthbert laughed. He felt happier than he had for a long time now.

Rescuing Louise had made him proud once more.

Louise's Daddy arranged a surprise for Cuthbert and his family.

He bought them a month’s supply of bananas and  cream doughnuts

that Cuthbert liked. The zoo staff applauded Cuthbert the next morning.

Cuthbert, being his usual shy self, took a small bow as the applause died down.

What happened to Sam and Louise after they left Chestnut Zoo?

Well, they fell asleep on the way home because of Louise’s amazing adventure.

Louise knew her friends would not believe her when she told them about her rescuer Cuthbert Carruthers and how the gentle gorilla had rescued her.