“One minute he looked too sick to move — and the next he was up like a shot. He must’ve been faking all along"

The van turned the corner and into the driveway of Eli’s Animal Center. The logo on the side of the van read, “VICTOR THE VET.” Eli and his assistant, Izzy, were waiting, looking worried.

The vet jumped out, carrying his bag.

“How can I help?” he asked. “I got a message one of your animals is sick.”

“That’s right,” replied Eli. “It’s our monkey, Manny. He’s been quiet and droopy, nothing like his usual self. We think he’s coming down with something.”

“All right, let’s have a look,” said the vet.

Eli and Izzy took Victor to Manny’s cage. Indeed, the monkey was lying on his back, eyes half closed. He didn’t look up even when the men crowded around his cage.

“Hmm. Does look like something’s wrong,” murmured the vet. “I’ll need to check his temperature.”

Izzy unlocked the cage door. The vet entered with his bag. In the split-second before Izzy locked the door behind him, Manny jumped up. Quick as lightning, he pushed past the vet, nearly toppling him over, and ran straight out of the open cage!