Chapter 17 - Page 253 - Trouble In Chicago

   Rhasha replied, "I thought you handled yourself very admirably."

   "I did too, Papa," Shanha said, then added, "Mama, what does admur-bab-ly mean?"

   Jim and Rhasha laughed. While Rhasha tried to explain the word to Shanha, Jim slowly let out on the clutch, but something caught his attention. He quickly pushed the clutch down to the floor. Clyde was walking in front of the truck toward his car, carrying a small box of personal items. Clyde got into his car and peeled rubber as he left the parking lot. Jim pulled out of the parking lot behind Clyde.

   He drove back to the truck stop, where they ate lunch, then drove the rental car to the zoo. Rhasha and Shanha had never been to a zoo before so this was going to be a new experience for them. It was a weekday, so the zoo wasn't very busy.

   "Would you girls like to see some snakes?" Jim asked, leading them toward the Reptile House.

   Rhasha and Shanha were reluctant. "If you want to, Papa." Shanha replied.

   They entered the building and began looking through the glass windows. As they moved through the building, Jim noticed Shanha hiding behind Rhasha as she held onto her arm.

   "Shanha," he said, "the snakes are behind glass. They can't hurt you."

   Shanha stuck her head out from behind Rhasha, between her arm and her waist. She clutched her teddy bear in front of her. "I don't like snakes."

   "I don't either," Rhasha said. Jim noticed she was also keeping back from the glass.

   "Girls," Jim said, "did you know a snake was the first creature mentioned in the Bible, after God created Adam and Eve?"

   Shanha became inquisitive. "Did the snake bite anyone?"

   "No, sweetheart. What he did was worse."

   Rhasha was now curious about the first snake, too. "What did the snake do?"