Zhang Meerkat and his wife, Annika, had no idea what they were going to be up against when they had to take their son, Raphael, to the hospital emergangy room one evening. Raphael Meerkat had what Zhang and Annika had first thought was a cold, until pneumonia symptoms showed up, and Raphael complaining of feeling weak, and of his chest "feeling buzzy" when he coughed.
Shortly after Raphael was admited into the hospital, the doctor who was assigned to treat him showed up. Raphael's parents sensed that something didn't feel right about this big, brown rat. They also noticed he was circumcised, which they didn't pay much mind to, because, amomg friends of their family, are two circumcised civets* and a circumcised fossa* who's closest friends jokingly call him "Ding Bell", because his flaired shape penis head would shake around, looking like a ringing bell, when he walked.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Zander Iscelberg Rat", He introduced himself. "And I take it this is the little one we'll be checking for pneumonia this evening".
"He's had a rattle in his chest when he coughs, and says he feels weak", Raphael's mom, Annika, told Dr. Rat.
"What is that plastic thing?", Zhang asked. "And what's with the knife?"
"Oh. This is a circumcision clamp." Dr. Zander Rat explained. "Before we do anything else, that nasty skin cover needs to come off your son's penis. By the way, you yourself should also consider getting..."
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Zhang cut Dr. Rat off in mid sentence, as Raphael began freaking out, screaming and crying, scared half out of his witts...The last thing a little boy meerkat with pneumonia needs.
The accquaintance between the Meerkat family and Dr. Rat got real ugly real quick. Annika damanded a different doctor for her son as Zander Rat argued how he thought it is the thing to do.
"BACK OFF! AND I MEAN NOW, RAT!", Zhang shouted.
"STOP THIS! NOW!", Annika screamed.
As Raphael struggled, he kicked the scalpel Dr. Rat set on the gurney, followed by Dr Rat catching the flying scalpel.
It was at that point, Zhang Meerkat quickly came around the gurney and gave Dr. Zander Rat a hard shouve away from Raphael, almost knocking the doctor down, then roughing him up.
"WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE?!", Dr. Tavi Mongoose, who was treating a heart patient, called out.
"WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN! DR. ICE BERG! WHO ELSE WOULD IT BE?!", Dr. Clyde Wolf answered.
"Yea. Zander the Sander", said Nurse Teisha Civet. "Why does he always pull that crap?"
Zhang Meerkat hollered at Zander Rat, "STAY AWAY FROM MY SON OR I'LL KILL YOU, YOU CREEP! THIS IS YOUR ONLY WARNING!", as Zhang began backing him away from Raphael.
"They must be stopped!", said Nurse Civet. "Someone will be hurt!"
"NO! Let him have at it.", said Dr. Wolf. "I'd like to see that meerkat nail the living shit out of Zander Ice Berg".
As Zhang continued backing Dr. Rat away, telling him, "I've laughed at tougher things, than shit like you, ever drempt of being!", Annika was busy calming Raphael down. "It's all right, my baby. It's all right" Annika assured Raphael as she was hugging and patting him. "It's OK. Daddy's taking care of him now".
Unbeknown to Dr. Zander Iscelberg Rat, Zhang Meerkat has been through bad war time experiances and had martial arts training at a young age. And in addition to holding a 2nd degree black belt, Zhang has a temper. At this point, all Zander Rat has to do is take a half step back toward Raphael's direction, or run his mouth one more time, and Zhang Meerkat would turn Zander Rat into a corpse real quick. It had now esculated into a volitile situation. Zhang was at any moment ready to hook Zander Rat up with a ride in a hearse and a closed casket funeral.
Other doctors, hospital staff and a few patients looked on intensely, waiting for something to happen to Dr. Zander Rat, whom none of them liked. Zhang Meerkat then stared Zander Rat down, preparing at any second to go ballistic on him. Zander thought of using his scalpel as a defence weapon, but couldn't get up the nerve to do it. Had he tried it, Zhang could have snatched it away from Zander and rammed it up Zander's ass before Zander ever knew what happened. Annika had finally gotten Raphael calmed down, and came over and held paws with Zhang to calm him down. And hopeing to hold Zhang back from making a mistake he'd later regret. Annika, like any other wife, does not want her husband in prison on a murder conviction.
Dr. Zander Rat then dropped his circi-clamp and scalpel, and went running off, hollering for hospital security. Zhang, still holding paws with his wife, told Zander to go to Hell.
At that moment, Zhang Meerkat was only two seconds away from delivering a reverse spin kick to Zander Rat's chest. Zhang would have caved Zander's rib cage in like a cardboard box, instantly killing him. And all the other doctors in the hospital would not have been able to save Zander. Zander would have spent that night in cold storage with a wide open chest and a tag on his toe...and Zhang Meerkat in jail.

A different doctor was assigned to treat Raphael, Dr. Clyde Wolf MD.
"I don't want it cut", Raphael timidly told Dr. Wolf.
"I'm not like Dr. Rat", Dr. Wolf assured Raphael. "I can promise you, as long as you are in my care, nothing's going to happen to your little boy thing".
Raphael, as well as his parents were so releived to hear that. Dr. Wolf and an attractive female fox nurse, Nurse Sheryl Fox, were very careing and friendly. Dr. Wolf alleviated Raphael's fear of doctors that Dr. Rat inflicted on him earlier that evening. Dr. Wolf and Nurse Fox, and the Meerkat Family got along well, and Raphael took a liking to Nurse Fox.
At one point Raphael told her, "Nurse Sheryl. I like you. You're pretty".
Sheryl Fox replyed, "Aww. That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me all evening. Thank you, Raphael".
After an examination, a couple of tests and an X-ray, Raphael's illness was confirmed as pneumonia. Dr. Wolf even showed Raphael the X-ray and told him it was a picture of his lungs, and pointed out the spots representing the infection at the top of his right lung. Raphael was fascinated by it. Dr. Wolf administered an antibiotic shot to Raphael's haunch, which he didn't like very well, then prescribed medication for Raphael to take twice a day. Raphael was then released to go home later that night.

Hospital security did not press assualt or threat charges on Zhang Meerkat, considering the circumstances. Zhang was let off with a warning instead. And he was lectured about a hospital being no place to be shouting and making loud noises.

As for Dr. Zander Iscelberg (Ice Berg) Rat, When it was his next time to come back on shift, Administration warned Dr. Rat that any more stunts, like the one he tried to pull on Raphael Meerkat, will get him up before a medical board inquirery, and a possible loss of his doctor's licence. In their jursdiction, forced circumcisions are considered unethical.
Dr. Zander Rat came within two seconds of dying that evening, and had no clue of it. And Zander still goes on as an arrogant, stupid ass rat.
*The two civits and the fossa, who are among friends of the Meerkat Family, had years ago, been in the hospital (the civits had major illnesses, and the fossa was hurt in a construction accident). Unbeknown to the Meerkat Family, they had the misfourtune of Dr. Zander Rat being their Doctor.


HISTORY OF THE CHARACTERS (A LITTLE OF WHAT MAKES THEM TICK)

ZHANG MEERKAT, male, born in Angola (Africa) on May 1st, 1986, age 27, is Raphael's dad.
Zhang came from a poor family, dirt poor, born to his dad, Bron Meerkat, and to his mom, Lacara, having two older brothers, Moze, the oldest, then Jorad. And a younger brother, Cheesah.
Mose, Jorad and Zhang didn't go to school because times were so hard, the sons were needed to help bring in family income. Bron, their dad, developed hip dysplasia as a cub, and could only work what temporary odd jobs he is physically able to do. When Zhang was going on age 6, that was also about the time Cheesah was born.
One summer morning, when Zhang was age 9, the homeland was being invaded by guerilla fighters from a country of reese monkeys in the mountains to the north. Zhang's home country was out numbered and despratly needed everyone, regardless of gender, health condition or age, who can hold and fire a weapon. While the invaders had only a limited amount of assualt vehicles and other military equipment, the meerkats had less than that. All they had were civilian firearms, dynamite (some of it old) and homemade explosives for grenades, and their military transport were their own personal vehicles.
Members of Zhang's family who were called upon to help defend the homeland were Zhang's dad and two older brothers and Zhang himself. Cheesah was only 3, and Lacara, the mom, had to stay home to care for him. Zhang found himself helping to defend the homeland in a guerilla combat war, as a 9 year old cub, not much older than Raphael is today. On two occasions, Zhang, who was issued a 4/10 gauge shotgun and rifled slugs, had the experiance of firing on another being, and at age 9, having two kills to his credit. And a time or two, Zhang had a close scrape with death himself . This is where a cub really learns to grow up, and learns to grow up fast. Maybe even too fast.
Zhang, as well as others, was well instructed in martial arts when there was time for it. There wasn't the gaurentee of a firearm, or ammo, being availible. In some parts of the country, there was a shortage weapons. Some meerkats were fighting with weapons, ammo and grenades (the real ones) taken from fallen reese monkeys.
One hot July afternoon, only a few weeks into the war, Zhang saw his next oldest brother, Jorad, take a sniper shot in the chest. Zhang imediatly dropped his weapon and ran over, crying, to Jorad, who was still concious but laid dying. Another round ricocheted near Zhang, followed by the distant sounds of muzzle fire and projectile crack, as he laid with his brother, Jorad, hugging him. An adult meerkat, who was with Jorad and Zhang, spotted the monkey sniper and took him out with a fatal 30.06 shot to the forehead.
Jorad gave his last farewell to Zhang and asked him in a weak voice, "Zhang, I love you. And tell mom and dad and our brothers good bye for me. Tell them I love them." Then Jorad passed away. Zhang cried bitterly, embracing his deceased brother for a while before he and the adult moved on. Jorad's body was picked up for burial that evening.
Zhang also saw two cousins die in that war. One he saw actually get shot, the way he saw his brother die, and one he came up on as she laid unconcious and dying.
Later during the war, Zhang earned a metal of honor when he was blazed in the thigh while helping a wounded fellow meerkat to safety.
In Fall of that same year, the reese monkeys were well on their way to being defeated. It was then, Zeth, Zhang's grandpa on his mom's side of the family was killed while helping to drive the last of the reese monkeys back to where they came from. As with the death of her 2nd son, Jorad, Lacara also took the death of her dad very hard.
Within a week of Lacara's dad's death, the meerkats finally prevailed, and the reese monkeys were drove back north into the mountains for good. The meerkats never forced a disarmament on the reese monkeys. It would have only meant another guerilla war, going into their mountain homeland, to put them under submission.
Zhang stayed with his martial arts training well after the war, and eventually acheived 2nd degree black belt. As a young teen, Zhang made progress in controlling a lifelong temper he always had, with the help of his parents and his martial arts instructer.
Three years after the war, Zhang's family was beginning to fare more prosperously. Zhang was 12 then. And Cheesah was 6. It was decided by Bron and Lacara that Cheesah would get the schooling they themselves and the older brothers never had. At least someone in the family would go to school and have a chance at a deceant education.
Zhang, like his parents and older brothers, had no formal education, and was completly illiterate until age 12. But he made up for that the best he could by attending vocational training.
Just before Zhang turned 14, Lacara had a heart attack The only hospital they had in their part of the country was a substandard medical clinic. But it was better than staying at home to die. Moze, and his wife, Leia had a new born daughter at the time, but still donated everything they can to go to pay Lacara's medical bills. Zhang found a job as a metal worker, still at age 13, with help from the vocational program he was attending. Zhang kept none of his pay from his job. He gave it all toward paying for Mom's medical treatment. Dad helped the best he could, being disabled. Younger brother Cheesah, then age 8, offered to drop out of school and get work so he can help. But Mom and Dad wouldn't allow it. No one in the family had a formal education. And if Cheesah could complete his schooling, at least one member of the family will have a deceant education.
A few days after Lacara had her heart attack, it didn't look like she was going to make it. Her hushand, Bron and her three sons, Moze, Zhang and Cheesah were at her bedside. So was her mom, Mylah and her brother, Amos and sister, Beth. Lacara told them that if the worse came, she'll be in a better place with her 2nd oldest son, Jorad, and her Dad, Zeph. Fourtunatly however, it would be many years yet before Lacara was to be reunited with Jorad and Zeth. A few days later, Lacara's condition improved and she finally made a full recovery.
It was two years later, Zhang noticed an artwork wall mural being painted by an attractive, female meerkat, who was commissioned to paint it. It was painted to make it look like the building was part of the sidewalk. Zhang and the female artist, Annika, became accquainted after Zhang stopped to admire the painting. In the weeks to follow, Zhang, then 16, and Annika, then 23, became close friends. Zhang showed an intrest in art, and asked Annika if she teach him some about it. So during the following year or so, Annika would occasionally let Zhang come over to her studio for art lessons.
By the time Zhang was 18, and Annika 25, they were dateing, and there was now a strong love bond between them. Zhang would still come over for art lessons, and by this time, they would spend some quality time together.
One evening, in mid April, after Annika had just turned 26, and Zhang was a couple of weeks from turning 19, the two of them were laying on a large, roll out mat, on the floor of the porch atriums that adjoined Annika'a studio. As they were sipping on merlot wine and watching the stars come out, Annika snuggled up to Zhang as they were both laying on their backs. Zhang put a paw around her. Then Annika rested her paw on Zhang close to his genital. Zhang reached his paw he had around Annika far enough to reach her pussy, as Zhang's penis started poking his head out, and popping out further and further in timing with Zhang's heart beat. Zhang was rubbing at the edge of Annika's pussy, a little timid to go the rest of the way over onto her.
"It's OK Zhang", Annika softly told him. "Bring your paw over more. Go for it".
Now Zhang was gently rubbing the right side of Annika's pussy as his penis was just about completly extended out and hard.
"Maybe this will help", Annika said as she began passionatly massaging Zhang's penis head.
Zhang's penis immediatley stood out straight, hard and as far out as it can go. Zhang felt good all over from the erotic tingle he felt all around it's little head. His knees wobbled in and out, his feet jittered and he felt those butterflies in his lower ventral area. At one point, Zhang thrusted his pelvis up and down in a motiom like he was having sex, while Annika continued giving little penis his head massage. Zhang massaged Annika's pussy, squishing it around, rubbing his paw deep in the clef, pulling it open, then pushing the halves firm against each other bulging the middle of Annika's pussy outward, and then tickling the entrance to Annika's vagina until Zhang can feel pussy oil puking out onto his paw. Annika was lovin' every second of it. So was Zhang.
Then Annika turned on her side with her ventral facing Zhang. No one had to tell Zhang what next to do. Zhang turned faceing Annika, embraced her up against him, pushing his hard penis into Annika's pussy, as Annika also embraced Zhang. Zhang's penis didn't find Annika's vagina right away. Zhang moved his penis head up and down inside Annika's pussy clef, franticly trying to find the vagina. Then Zhang felt it...The penis found it. Then Zhang went in as deep as his penis can go, as both Zhang and Annika were having sex like there was going to be no tommorrow, and feeling like they were in Sex Heaven if there were such a place.
At climax, Zhang rejoicefully called out to Annika, "I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you! Ohhhh! Annika my girl! OUUUU! I love you! I love you!" And Annika kissed Zhang all over his face, neck and chest.
This was Zhang's first time at having sex. For Zhang a whole new world had just opened up to him...A whole new beautiful world.
Zhang and Annika had sex off and on through out the rest of the night, untill dawn. At one point during the night, Zhang and Annika fell asleep while they were still united together, and slept that way for more than an hour, then being awakened after Zhang's penis went flacid, slipped out of Annika's pussy and back into Zhang's sheath.
In the days to follow, Zhang and Annika would get together again to have sex. Then came the time they were doing it almost every night.
On May 2nd, 2005, one day after Zhang's 19th birthday, Zhang proposed to Annika, Annika accepted, and on that same day, the two happy meerkats seeked a justice of the peace, and got married. From that day on, Zhang and Annika Meerkat are husband and wife, with a love bond you couldn't tear apart if you tried.
Zhang's family was unexpectedly, but pleasently, surprised when Zhang introduced Annika to them and announced they've become husband and wife.
Annika's husband now lives with Annika, instead of with his parents Bron and Lacara, and younger brother Cheesah.
In spite of Zhang having had a hard life growing up, or maybe because of it, Zhang is an acheiver and a go getter with a strong sense of ambition.


ANNIKA MEERKAT, female, born in Angola (Africa) on April 17th, 1979, age 34, is Raphael's mom.
Anika came from a lower middle income family, born to her dad, Banga, and to her mom, Murua, having two older sisters, Nafula, the oldest, then Abina. And a younger brother, Najja.
Annika was 2 years old when younger brother Najja was born. Because Najja was the only male sibling among three sisters, and the youngest, Annika and her two older sisters use to tease Najja when they were all at cub age, except Nafula didn't tease Najja very much. She was becomming an adolescent about the time Najja was getting old enough to be teased. Abina and Annika we the ones who did most of the teasing...that is until their parents, Banga and Murua, put a stop to it with a paddle.
On that summer morning of 1995, when the reese monkeys invaded from the north, Annika was 16. The part of the country Annika help to defend didn't see as much action Zhang had seen. There was the time, about half way through the war, Annika, and another female meerkat her age, Zella, was up on a bluff that overlooked a small jungle area and an open plain beyond. Annika and Zella were sitting on a boulder that was on top the bluff when a chunk of rock popped only inches from Annika's paw, accompanied by a ricochete noise, and followed by the close sounds of muzzle fire, and projectile crack. As the two meerkats scurried behind the boulder, another chunk of rock blew out of the boulder near Zella's head, with the sounds of ricochete, muzzle fire and projectile crack. Annika, then Zella, saw them...two reese monkeys croutched behind a mound. A breif exchange of gun fire took place with Annika blasting one through the chest with her 20 gauge shotgun. The other one immediatly turned tail and ran away, dissappearing into the patch of jungle. Minutes later, Annika spotted the fleeing monkey out on the open plain. He was almost a half mile away, and Annika's 20 gauge wouldn't reach him. Zella's weapon would. She had an AK-47. Zella fired several times before she and Annika finally saw the reese monkey fall with his chest blown out.
The AK-47 was taken from the dead body of one of the invaders. She was using it until she could no longer get ammo for it. Then she would go back to using her 32 caliber rifle.
In Fall of that same year, after the reese monkeys were defeated and driven back to where they came from, Annika and her brother Najja, then 14, received honorable mentions for outstanding service.
Annika also received martial arts training during the war, and stayed with it after the war until she acheived green belt.
Annika, like quite a few other school age meerkats, didn't go back to school after the war. Because the war went well into the Fall of 1995, and almost every meerkat from age 7 through 77 was called upon to fight, it was too late for schools to conduct the 1995 - 1996 school year. During that year, many school age meerkats got jobs and didn't bother returning to school during the 1996 - 1997 year.
The last grade Annika attended was 10th grade. Instead of going back to school, she persued being a free lance artist instead. Annika made a good living being commissioned to do wall murals, portraits and other art work. She got to be well known for her exceptional work doing portraits, and what few wealthy anthro animals there were living in Angola, would pay Annika well for portraits and novelty paintings she'd do for them.
It was when Annika was doing a wall mural for a cafe', a cute, 16 year old, male meerkat, Zhang, stopped by to admire her work. That's when they became accquainted, later became friends, at even a later time fell in love, and when annika was 26, and Zhang turning 19, they got sexually involved with each other, and shortly thereafter got married. The tail end of Zhang's history tells that story.


THE REST OF THE STORY ON ZHANG AND ANNIKA
It was late spring, going on summer, of 2005, Zhang and Annika had been married for over a month.
There had been a trend toward the meerkat's homeland of Angola becoming politically unstable over the past month, and it wasn't getting any better. Large numbers of other species of anthro animals had immigrated to Angola, from other countries that were torn by civil war, political corruption and other problems. The immigrants who came to Angola wanted a share of control of the country the governing meerkats wouldn't let them have. There had already been riots in a few cities because of the situation.
Life still went on for Zhang and Annika, as well as for their friends and relatives. Throughout the rest of the summer, Zhang and Annika would often encounter a genet, mongoose, civet or some other immigrant animal who would try to make an issue with them about "how the meerkats are trying to hold all the power in Angola". Zhang thought he was going to have to fight off a palm civet when he told him, "Why can't you get a life?" Both Zhang's and Annika's families would also have simular stories to tell of their encounters with the disgruntled immigrants.
Late September, Annika found out she was pregnant with Zhang's cub. Zhang and Anika felt like this was the best blessing they've ever had, and both of their families were thrilled to hear news of it.
When Bron, Lacara, Cheesah, Annika and Zhang was visiting with Annika's family, Lacara asked, "What name will you give the cub?"
Members of both families began offering suggested names.
Zhang told everyone, "We don't know if it's a male or a female yet".
"You know, Zhang?" said Annika. "I somehow feel like its a boy".
Bron asked Zhang, "Son, do Annika and you know when the cub is due?"
"No we don't, Dad," Zhang answered. "Annika and I have been together every night. There's no telling when it conceived".
"We're figure it will be some time in November", Annika added.
"75 days for us meerkats", said Murua, Annika's mom. "That would make November about right".
Two days after the visit with the relatives, riots began flairing up in many cities over the power struggle between the meerkats and other species immigrants. Then a new problem for the country also appeared. A pangolin, who called himself, "Sar Al Binar" had mustered huge cult following in the far western part of the country near the Atlantic coast, and was threatening to wage a holy war on the country. The meerkats had for generations adheared to Christian and family values, and Pangolin Sar Al Binar had made public statements that his agenda is to destroy that whole way of life. However, it didn't appear like he had near enough followers to pull it off.
Zhang and Annika, along with everyone they knew, were keeping up with news reports on where the country was headed. As a nation, the country was litterally falling apart. But then came the worse news of all, Meerkats who were sent to scout around in the mountains to the north, came back with reports that the reese monkeys had prepared for another invasion on the meerkat homeland. and a much bigger invasion than the one 10 years earlier.
During another family get together, the families discussed moving to a different country. Annika even mentioned concern for her and Zhang's unborn cub.
"If things get really bad, what is the chance of our cub surviving it", Annika asked.
"This country is getting to where it will no longer a safe place to live", Banga, Annika's dad, said.
"It's already gotten that way", said Bron", "All you have to do is look around".
It was then decided by both families, that research should by started right away as to looking for another country to immigrate to.
After days of research, Southern India is what the meerkats decided on to be the most ideal for them. It would mean leaving jobs, cars, possessions and homes. Not to mention Zhang's younger brother, Cheesah, will have to pull out of school five years early, leaving him with only a 7th grade education. But those things were on their way to being gone anyway with the way events were going. The main concern was to get out of the country while they still can.
As conditions within the country began to rapidly deteriorate, the families got the passports they needed, packed what they could carry, and made travel arrangements. Those arrangements were to drive out to the sea port town of Port of Beira, on the Indian Ocean coast. Once there, they were to contact a freighter captian, Yannas Fossa. The meerkat families would travel aboard Yannas Fossa's vessel, an India bound freighter, and the able bodied males would work aboard the freighter as payment for the ride over.
When they sold their homes for what they could get out of them, they didn't get a whole lot. It wasn't like the homes could stay on the market for months. Plus hardly anyone was buying real estate because of the turmoil the country was in.
The last thing left was to close out their bank accounts, make currency exchanges for Indian currency and for travel expense going through Zambia and Mozambique on their way to the east coast. Upon entering the bank, members of the meerkat families noticed the bank employes seemed to be somber.
"Why is everyone so gloomy?", Chessah asked.
"Reese monkeys attacted the northern part of the country a while ago" , a meerkat at a teller window answered.
"There's a lot of our fellow creatures leaving the country", a loan officer who knew Annika's family told them. "I think you are you all are doing the right thing by leaving. I'm about ready to get my family and leave".
"It's horrible", said Murua.
"We never thought we'd see the country get like this", Banga replied.
"No one ever thought it would", The loan officer added.
There wasn't a lot of forigen currency left at the bank, but Zhang, Annika and their families were able to make exchange for some Zambian and Mozambique currency. However, the bank had no Indian currency to exchange for them. And in their small town, that was the only bank within an hour's drive.
"I don't know if you'll be able to exchange Angolan currency for Indian currency, once you get to India, being our country is under invasion", another bank employee friend of Annika's family said. "But you should try to do it as soon as you can, once you get there. If this country falls, your Angolan currency will be worthless".
The families bided them fare well and thanked them for everything, then they got into their cars and they were on their way, headed out of the country. On their way out of town, it became evident how many others had the same idea of leaving. They've never seen this many vehicles on the highways before: cars, trucks, vans, busses, bicycles, taxi scooters and even a few wagons drawn by non-antrho beasts of burden. As the meerkat family's convoy of cars neared the eastern border, heading out of Angola, they noticed the highway lane going east out of country was crowded with an exodous of fleeing vehicles, including their own. The lane coming in from the east, going west back into Angola, didn't have a single vehicle on it. After a while, the meerkat families finally made it to the Zambian border, and at least getting out of Angola was a welcome sight. They've now gotten that far. The eastbound highway lane was backed up with so many vehicles leaving the country, a hyena and a cheetah at the check point, going into the next country, just waved them on through as long as a vehicle didn't look suspicious to them.
On the way through Zambia, the meerkat families stopped at a few banks along the way and tried to exchange their Angolan currency for Indian currency, or for any country's currency that will still be accepted for exchange if Angola was taken over. But none of the banks would exchange it.
At one bank, a genet teller got her manager, a serval, to see what he can do for them.
"I'm really sorry", the serval told them. "No financual institution in their right mind will accept Angolan currency with that country about to collapse".
Some of the family members explained their situation to the serval, and expressed concerns about arriving to a new country, being broke.
The serval told them, "Here's what I can do. We don't have Indian currency. But I can exchange to you Zambian currency, allowing 20% of what your Angolan currency is now worth. It's the best I can do. Any bank in India will exchange our currency. I'll just dump off the Angolin currency into an investment, but I'm still taking a financual risk".
"We're really going to take a big loss on that deal", Zhang noted.
"Son, it's all we got", replyed Bron. "Part of something is better than all of nothing".
So it was decided by the meerkats to take the serval up on his offer. Zhang, Annika and their families would not be going to India rich. But at least they would not be broke.
Bron, being poor all his life, could never afford a deceant vehicle. That became obvious about an hour's drive before they got to the Mozambique border when the engin in his old, beat up station wagon developed a clacking sound. Bron flashed the lights for the others to pull over.
"What's wrong?", Banga asked Bron as he walked up to Bron's car, still idleing and engin clacking. "Oh, that don't sound good".
"I'm just about sure I've got a rod getting ready to go", said Bron as other family members came walking up.
"Bron, If your car doesn't make it, Lacara, Cheesah, and you can ride with us", Banga offered. "It might be a little crowed".
"Cheesah could ride with Annika and I", Zhang said as Annika nodded in agreement.
"I could make room on my flat bed for your belongings", Najja, Annika's brother, told Bron."
"Well, let's see how far this old car will make it", said Bron.
Everyone got back into their vevicles and continued their journey. As the family drove on, the clacking in Bron's station wagon got progressivly louder.
"How far will it go, Dad", Cheesah asked Bron.
"There's no way to tell, Son", Bron answered. "It can go anytime. And I've seen them run for months that way".
About a half an hour later, the rapid clacking gave way to a loud "BOOMP". The rear wheels locked up (rear wheel drive). Bron pressed the clutch petal, disengauaging the rest of the drive train from the locked up engin and allowing the rear wheels to turn again. The meerkats in the the other vehicles could see steam coming from Bron's car, and knew to pull over. Bron's car had finally quit running. When Bron got out and raised the hood of his car, he could clearly see a connecting rod driven out through of the side of the engin, and steam and coolant blowing out.
"Looks like it's gone it's last mile, Dad", said Zhang.
"I can't complain, Son. It's been a good car", Bron told Zhang. "I just wish it had not picked a time like this to quit on me".
The arrangements that were discussed earlier, when Bron's car first showing signs of trouble, were carried through with. And a note was put on the car to let the grand parents and parent's siblings know every thing was OK. They were traveling in a different group, about half a day behind, and everyone knew they would recognize Bron's car and be concerned.
The last of the belongings in Bron's car were loaded onto Najja's flatbed, and into Moze and Leia's car, with 5 year old daughter, Dora, riding on Mom's lap. Cheesah wanted to see the blown engin in his dad's car. Thirteen year olds have a way of being curious.
"We don't have time for that, Cheesah", Bron told him. "Get over there with your brother and Annika. You're riding with them".
"Cheesah! Come on." Zhang called out to his younger brother, motioning him over with his paw. "Get over here."
Cheesah got in with with Zhang and Annka. And Bron and Lacara got in with Annika's parents, Banga and Murua. Annika's sister, Abina, got in with Zhang and Annika to make room in her parent's car for Bron and Lacara.
Just before they got back on their way, Nafula, Annika's oldest sister, and her husband, Yousaf, asked everyone to travel at a slower pace, because they've been having problems, for the past 30 kilometers, with their car trying to overheat.
The meerkats continued their journey, on their way to Port of Beira, abandoning Bron's old station wagon on the shoulder of the highway. Bron and Lacara noticed that Banga and Murua's car wasn't doing much better. The automatic transmission would slip between 2nd and drive, there was an intermittent vibration from one of the front wheels.
"I hope your car holds up better than mine did", Bron said to Banga.
"The transmission's been slipping going on three months now", said Banga. "But it's the wheel I'm worried about. That's only started since we began this trip, and it's gotten worse".
The meerkat's road trip then took them through the north end of Zimbabwe. That part of the trip went pretty well without insodent.
Once the meerkats crossed the border into Mozambique, most of their road trip was behind them. That part of Mozambique is not very far of a drive between it's west border and Port of Beira.
After days on the road, and with Moze and Leia's car barely making it with a boiling over radiator, it was early in the evening when the meerkat families finally arrived to Port of Beira. When they began inquireing around for Yannas Fossa, it was obvious that just about everyone knew him. The meerkats could see that Captian Yannas Fossa had quite a reputation with shore workers and sea farers. It seemed that everyone they asked told them, if you are on Yannas Fossa's bad side, he's your worst night mare. But if you are on his good side, he's your best friend, and will do just about anything for you.
"That must be Yannas coming this way now", Moze told the families, as he pointed out a fairly well built, male fossa who was approaching them.
The fossa overheard Moze Meerkat. " I'm not Yannas. I'm Joel Fossa", he said introducing himself. "I'm first mate on Yannas Fossa's crew...And I take it you all are the refugees from Angola we are to take to India?"
"Yes we are", Bron answered. "We have others who should be here by morning".
"We heard quite a bit about your captain since we arrived here", Annika added.
"He's a very likable Fossa", Joel replyed. "Provided your're honest with him, and don't try to take advantage of him".
As Joel Fossa took the meerkats to see Captain Yannas, the families told of their road trip and how their country had become.
"We've been hearing about that", said Joel. "I'm glad you were all able to get out when you did".
"Well, there it is", said Joel. "Star of Antananarivo. That's our vessel."
There, was moored an old freighter, that looked like it had seen some years and a lot of sea voyages. But it appeared to be well kept up. It had a good coat of paint, and was in farely emaculate condition for and aged old sea going vessel.
Joel pointed out the Indian flag on the freighter's stern. "She use to be regestered in Madagascar. Hence why she's named after Madagascar's capitol city." said Joel. "Two years ago, the ship's corporate owners had our ship operate out of India, and registered it as an Indian Vessel."
"Why would they do that?", Cheesah asked out of a thirteen year old's curiosity.
"Corporate?...Who can figure them?", Joel replyed. "We had an all fossa crew until then. The best crew this ship's ever had. Captain Yannas and his family, an I, took up residence in India to keep our jobs aboard the Star of Antananarivo".
"I take it your old crew didn't", said Moze.
"They chose to stay in Madagascar and look for different jobs", Joel answered. "The rest of our crew we now have are native resident of India who hired on after the registration change. At times, Yannas and I have to get after some of them".
As everyone climed up the gangway to the deck of the freighter, a feeling of excitement mounted. Although the meerkats have been in small river vessels before back in Angola, this was their first time aboard a large, sea going vessel.
"You must be the refugees", a large, burly built, male fossa called out as he greeted the meerkats out on the deck. "I'm Yannas Fossa".
Then the meerkats introduced themselves, and Yannas and Joel introduced the meerkats to the rest of the crew.
"There's a crew member you can be friends with on the way over", Lacara said to Cheesah as she pointed out a young fossa about Cheesah's age, and some of the crew chuckled.
"Oh, he's not a crew member", Yannas said to Lacara. "He's one of my sons, Habbar. He wanted to come with me on a voyage".
Then Yannas invited everyone to the ship's galley where everyone got better accquainted. Yannas had some food ordered up, and got out couple of cases of beer for who ever wanted some.
"We enjoy a drink now and then while at port", said Yannas Fossa. "But when we're out at sea, this stuff stays locked up".
The meerkats had stories to tell of their road trip, Angola's national troubles and of the reese monkey war ten years earlier. Yannas and Joel had stories to tell of their experiances out at sea, and ports they've been to around the world. Yannas Fossa had a little to say about how the corporate owners of the ship never been aboard a sea going vessel, and how they know nothing about one. Moze and Zhang, especially Zhang, and Yannas had a lot in common, being the tough types. And Yannas, like Bron's sons, also came from a dirt poor family where he had a hard life growing up in Madagascar. Zhang, Moze and Yannas had lots to talk about. They were about like drinking bubbies.
Habbar Fossa, Yannas' son, got out a checher board, and he and Cheesah enjoyed several games of checkers.
A few photos were taken of the occassion such as of Zhang, Moze and Yannas. And of Cheesah and Habbar standing side by side with paws around each other's shoulders, and various candid shots...with Yannas Fossa's camera. The meerkats never owned a camera, so Yannas did promise to later send the meerkats some prints.
Later into the night, it came time to discuss business. Captain Yannas Fossa informed everyone that the Star of Antananarivo was to set out to sea for India the morning after tommorrow. That would allow plenty of time to get the meerkat's vehicles loaded aboard the following day, and for the rest of the relatives to arrive in a few hours. Yannas also mentioned, that in the morning, he'll assign jobs that the abled bobied males will have while on the way to India, and on the way there, there will be a stop in Madagascar. Then the meerkats were shown their sleeping quaters, and a place to bath. It had been the first time they've had a bath and slept in a deceant beb since they've left Angola. They've been sleeping in their cars on the way over.
At about 5:30 in the morning, other vehicles were arriving. It was the rest of the family members. Those were the siblings and surviving parents of Banga, Murua, Bron and Lacara. The rest of the family got out of bed and went out to greet them, and the arriving family members were introduced to Yannas Fossa and crew. Lacara's mom, Mylah, told her son-in-law, Bron, how worried everyone was when they saw Bron's abandoned car on the roadside in Zambia, until they got out and read the note on the car explaining everything. Mylah added that she was so happy that everyone was OK.
"I thought you were going to take that old truck of yours", Bron told his brother-in-law, Amos.
"I did", said Amos. "We lost it on the way. About 300 kilometers before we saw your car. One of the axle shafts came out of the rear end. It's sitting on three wheels, on the side of the road, back there in Zambia".
"We should be thankful that these junky vehicles of ours that did make it here, did make it here", said Banga.
"That reminds me," Yousaf added. "One of the tie rod ends on my car needs to be rewired back together after I can get this running hot problem fixed".
"Yannas", Joel called to him.
"What is it?", Yannas asked.
"I hope those meerkats find a better way of life in India than they had in Angola", said Joel.
"I hope so too, Joel", replyed Yannas. "I hope so".
At dawn, everyone had a good breakfast, then Yannas Fossa assigned the males their work assignments for the duration of the trip. Part of Cheesah's area of responsibility was cleaning the restrooms. He didn't like it, but someone has to do it. Some of the females shared in kitchen work and other domestic type work.
At about noon, Yannas Fossa set some time aside to get the Meerkat's vehicles loaded into the deck of the freighter. A car was driven into a caged like structure, then lifted onto the ship with one of it's cranes. The car was then driven onto the deck. Then the same was done for the next vehicle. When Banga began to drive his vehicle over to the ship, the car lost one of it's front wheels. Banga's car slid to a stop on it's three remaining wheels, and on it's rotor and control arm where the wheel came off. The wheel rolled off the dock and in into the water.
"That's another vehicle on three wheels", said Amos Meerkat.
"I beleive that's what the vibration in the wheel coming over here was all about", Bron said to Banga.
"Blown wheel bearings", said Banga. "At least the car got us here though".
It was deciced that Banga Meerkat's car, being that it also had a slipping transmission, wasn't worth taking along. So it was left for Port Athority to dispose of it how they saw fit. Yannas Fossa arranged for a wood shipping crate for the contents of Banga's car. It was like pulling whales teeth to get one. But Yannas did manage to get one.
On the following morning, the Star of Antananarivo was pulling out of port.
"For an old ship, it sure runs quiet", said Cheesah.
"We're being pulled out by tug boats right now", replyed Cheesah's new found friend Habbar Fossa. "Our ship isn't running yet. When we get away from everything, then the ship will run."
Once out in the open water they were on their way. A few of the meerkats looked back to watch the African continent slip out of sight. Bron came to the stern of the ship and reminded those looking back of the biblical account how Lot and his wife were told by God not to look back when leaving Sodom and Gomorrah.
"We should look ahead, not back", Bron said.
The Star of Antananarivo made it's stop in Madagascar to deliver infastructure supplies, then continued on it's way to India.
Since the voyage began, the meerkats always noticed a shoulder held missile launcher hanging on a wall in the gally. The meerkats knew what it was because they've seen war in their former homeland of Angola.
One evening, when everyone was sitting down to dinner, Moze asked Yannas,"What's the missile launcher for?"
"I'm surprised you knew what it was. It's to deal with pirates", Yannas Fossa repyled. "Joel and I, and two of my other crew members know how to use it too. If we're attacked, that's what's waiting for them".
"I just hope we don't run into any pirates", said Annika. "We had enough adventure since we left Angola.
"Do you think we'll see any!?" Cheesah asked.
"I've never seen pirates in these waters", Yannas answered. "But if you ever get up around off the coast of Somolia, those waters are infested with pirates. And it seems like baboon pirates are the worst out of all of them".
After days out on the Indian Ocean, The Star of Antananarivo arrived to it's destination, the port city of Karaikal, in the southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu. The freighter was sceduled for extensive maintenance work, so Yannas Fossa would have two months off with leave pay while the vessel was in down time. Once the meerkat's vehicles were unloaded, immigration procedures completed, and their Zambian currency exchanged for India currency, most of the relatives found work. Although the jobs some of them found were not very good jobs, and didn't pay well, they did have an income. A few of the family members got better jobs, getting hired on working at the sea port. As for Moze, he got a job with a construction contractor. Najja put his beat up old truck to work, being in business for himself as a local hauler. Chessah wanted to get hired on with Yannas Fassa's crew aboard the Star of Antananarivo, but at age 13, he was considered too young. Whether a family member found a good job, a bad job or no job at all, they were greatful the country they now live in wasn't on the verge of exploding into instability and collapse like the country they just left. A lot of the families shared appartments or rented shanty houses, and later, getting to a point where they could do better. Being that Annika was pregnant, Yannas Fossa offered to put her and Zhang up at his house to live with his family, which is a good drive inland from Karaikal, and out into rual country, in the mountains near Yercaud. Zhang and Annika have never been in that nice of a house before, much less been invited to live in such a place. Yannas introduced them to his wife, Sthella, his 1st and 3rd sons, Haja, age 16 and Mario, age 8, and the youngest member, daughter Malala, age 6. They already knew 2nd son Habbar, age 14. Arrangements were made for Cheesah so he can stay over, days at a time, at Yannas Fossa's place, with Annika and older brother Zhang, as Cheesah and Yannas' 2nd son Habbar had become very close friends, and Cheesah was becoming friends with the other two brothers as well. Cheesah's place of residense was still with his mom and dad in Karaikal.
While staying at Yannas Fossa's place, Zhang would look for work in near by Yercaud and in the next town, Salem, a larger city, but with not much success. In fact, for three days in Yercaud, Zhang would encounter a begger, who was an old ragged lesser panda. When the panda would ask Zhang for money, Zhang would simply reply, "Find me a job, and I'll give you a paw out"...His way of telling him, "I don't have it to give".
During the late morning of November 23, Annika called Zhang into the bedroom she and Zhang were using.
"Get Sthella to bring some old sheets or towels in here", she said to Zhang. "The cub is about to be born".
"This is a blessed day!", Zhang told Annika as he went running to get Sthella, and to break the news to everyone.
Zhang and Yannas' family gathered in with Annika, Sthella bringing in the old sheets. Yannas' three sons had witnessed the miracle of their siblings being born. Malala had not because of her being the youngest. But this was the day they will all witness a new born meerkat coming into the world. Cheesah was staying with them that day, and was standing in the doorway.
"You can come on in Cheesah", Zhang said to his younger brother. "You're about to witness yourself become an uncle".
"Well, we're already uncles", said Cheesah, "Dora", refering to their brother Moze and sister-in-law Leia's five year old daughter.
"You'll be his uncle also, right?", Annika asked Cheesah.
"Sure will!", Cheesah answered with enthusiasm.
It was at that moment Annika passed fluid.
"I feel the cub coming through", Annika said just before fur and afterbirth can be seen pushing out of her clef.
It was Zhang who began holding the new born on the rest of the way out.
As Yannas cut and tied the umbilical cord, and Sthella gave the little one a wipe down, Zhang said to Annika, "Do you remember, when we were still in Angola, saying you felt like he was going to be a male?"
"Yes. I do rember saying that", Annika answered as she was regaining her breath from giving birth to their cub.
"You were right", said Zhang. "We have a son".
Annika was the first to snuggle their son, as he found the strengh to reach out with his little paws, and grab Mom's fur, and hugged her. Then Zhang gently hugged him, and eventually everyone else had a turn holding him. Even tough old Captain Yannas Fossa gently hugged the new born meerkat cub. As Cheesah held him, he said, "Hey. How's my little nephew?"
Then he was given back to Annika so he can nurse. There was no crying or pitching a fit, as those are not the ways of new born animals.
Everyone gave suggestions as to what to name Zhang and Annika's newest family member, but Zhang and Annika decided to name their son Raphael. Yannas Fossa even broke out the finest wine he had for everyone to celebrate the occasion. He had wines he had picked up at various ports he's been to, in many parts of the world. What he broke out that day was wine he reserved only for special occasions. And this was a special enough occasion.
Within a few days, Zhang was blessed with a good job oppertunity. He was able to get hired on as a yard worker with the railway, at the Salem Railway Junction. The railroad paid well, and in a couple of months Zhang and Annika, with their son Raphael, had their own place, renting a fairly nice, modest home in the town of Yercaud. They were even able to help a couple of family members who weren't yet prospering so well. Yannas Fossa let Zhang and Annika borrow an old car the Fossa Family no longer used. The car that had belonged to Annika, since before her and Zhang were married, was litteraly falling apart, and finally quit running.
As Raphael got up to ages 2 and 3, Cheesah, then age 16, and Raphael would go over to play with Yannas Fossa's sons and daughter. Sometimes Moze and Liea would bring Dora, then age 8, to play.
It was about that time Zhang put in for a position that became available where he worked. It was for an assistant locomotive operator trainee. Zhang had the most seniority among the others who also put in for it, and it was Zhang who got the position. With Zhang's higher pay grade, it was only several months, he and Annika were able to purchase a nice home in the mountain rual countryside. And it isn't more than several kilometers from where Yannas Fossa and his family live.
Zhang and Annika also got a deceant reliable vehicle, and it was a one in a lifetime deal too. An elderly widowed palm civet, who's husband recently passed away, had a utility vehicle, she called a jeep, her late husband left her, she was selling at almost a give away price. When Zhang and Annika went, and takeing along 3 year old Raphael, to see the so called jeep, the widowed civet mentioned that it hade some collectable value to it, but since her husband died, she just wanted to get rid of it. When the Meerkats saw the vehicle, they found out what the widow palm civet was calling a jeep, was a 1959, four door, hard body, Land Rover, in pristine condition, in mint mossy green with a white top. It had 4 wheel drive, in line 6 cylinder engin and a manual transmission. It was the ideal rugged, well built, go any where, nastalgic, family wagon, built to hold up and last. Little Raphal was even hopping and climbing over the seats in glee and astonishment. Zhang hopped on that deal right away. Although Zhang and Annika had the Land Rover registered in both of their names, this was the first time Zhang, then 22, ever in his lifetime, had a motor vehicle with his name on the title. And it was the first vehicle any of the family members had, that wasn't either beat up, or a falling apart peice of junk.
In the recent years, life has been good to the meerkats, and more so to Zhang, Annika and Raphael.



RAPHAEL MEERKAT, male, born near Yercaud India to Angolan parents, on November 23rd, 2005, age 8, is Zhang and Annika's boy.
At Raphael's young age, most of what will be his history is still yet ahead of him. Raphael is a playful, inquizative young meerkat who likes companionship, loves his friends and relatives, and loves, honors and obeys his parents, and like his parents, God fearing and a love for the creator. The lifelong love bond between Rahpael and his parents is a very strong one. Hardly a day goes by without Raphael, at least once, hugging his parents and telling them, "I love you, Mama", "I love you, Dad". And it's always the highpoint in Raphael's day when either Zhang or Annika would pick him and hug him, and snuggle him, and love on him, and tell him, "Raphael, you're my boy. I love you", and then hug him again. There are some nights, that Raphael's parents would let Raphael sleep, snuggled up between Mom ans Dad. And if you were to ask Raphael, "Raphael, what movie picture hero would you want to be like?", the answer he would give you would be, "I just wana be like my Dad".
Raphael likes helping his dad, and learning things, when his dad is working on projects or doing maintenance on the family vehicle. And Zhang likes having his son with him, helping him. Zhang has been a good teacher to his son. Since age 7, Raphael has known how a gasoline engin works, and how to change spark plugs, do an oil change, check filters and maintain the fluids on their Land Rover wagon. Zhang even taught Raphael how to drive the family wagon, with the driver's seat pulled all the way foward so Raphael's feet can reach the petals. The stipulation to that was, that Dad or Mom would be with Raphael, and only on the secondary dirt roads, and no speed above 40 kilometers per hour (25 miles per hour).
There are times Zhang would get permission, from his boss with the railway, to let Raphael come along on a run aboard the train. It was made clear to Raphael that the controls aboard the locomotive were to be touched only by his dad, Zhang, and the cheif locomotive operator, Benjamin Binturong. However, Raphael was allowed to sound the horn and bell. Zhang would get Raphael up on his shoulder so Raphael can reach the pull cord and blow the horn, or turn the switch to make the bell ring. Raphael always gets a thrill from that.
Raphael has always had a fascination for trains, and has recently said he would like to be a locomotive operator when he grows up. Young ones have many things they say they want to be when they grow up...Only time will tell

THE END

Nico and Panc... Mar21/13 0 819 1

Nico and Panc... Mar21/13 0 795 1

Nico and Panc... Mar21/13 0 758 1

Haru Nov11/09 1 3209 2

TV Show Not F... Sep28/13 0 573 -