Where’s Willy Whalley?

©Ann Mason February 2007

Dedicated to two powerful dreamers who live and breathe the dream

making the dream a reality.

Leaves rustled and branches lightly swayed as the gently blowing wind wound its way in and around the forest trees. The filtered sunlight flickered and twinkled, shining directly into Willy Whalley’s widening eyes. He had woken from a deep deep sleep. Perched high in the treetops he remained safe while the night shadows temporarily darkened and silenced his world. Grumblings from his stomach reminded him, though, it was time to eat.

Each morning he climbed down from his safe retreat and slowly entered the campsite where Jane would always be waiting. She was a strange creature. There was no black hair on her body, instead it was partly covered with cloth, something Willy Whalley knew nothing about. But as always, Jane had scattered bananas around the camp. All Willy Whalley had to do was find them.

Just as carefully as Willy Whalley approached the campsite, Jane would also quietly move around then find a place to sit amongst the fallen branches of the old forest trees. She knew this space belonged to the chimpanzees yet while she had been at Gombe, the chimps had generously allowed her to share their world. Innately they all knew she was of no danger to them, as if they had accepted her as if she was one of them.

Sometimes they would sit close by her, fidget with her hair and fondly groom her as they did so often to their own kind. Yet at other times, seemingly without reason, they would suddenly grab the bananas and while loudly screeching race off into the forest, hide behind bushes and watch her from a safe distance as she watched them.

Of all the chimps, Willy Whalley was the most unpredictable.

Each morning, after the early sunlight began illuminating the camp, Jane would eagerly wait for her friend to emerge from the forest. It would be Willy Whalley who would come the closest at first. Willy Whaley would lead the way then the others would follow.

But on this particular morning, as the gently blowing breeze tossed the tuffs of hair on his neck, Willy Whalley ignored his hunger pains and sat down directly in front of Jane staring straight at her eyes. Slowly he reached forward and cupped her hand in his.

“Willy Whalley! Do you want to say something?” Jane questioned, then giggled to herself at the ridiculous idea that he might answer. Willy Whalley just continued to stare then he turned his attention to the other chimps who were now eagerly gathering their stores. After momentarily glancing back at Jane he began tugging at the pure white, smooth and hairless skin on her back of her hand and watched it stretch then bounce back. He repeated this over and over again.

“Willy Whalley! What is it?” Jane whispered hoping that this time she might begin to understand why, on this morning, he was being so attentive to her.

Suddenly, unexpected loud gunshots echoed across the tree tops. The noise confused the chimps. Dropping their bundles of bananas they quickly hurried off, vanishing into the forest. They had heard this eerie sound before. It reminded them of thunder, the noise that companioned the rains, yet this particular noise always heralded danger. Their peaceful existence had been interrupted by the booming and banging, temporarily tampering with it. Willy Whalley dropped Jane’s hand and he, too, quickly disappeared.

These unnatural sounds were not often heard in the forest but when they were the air would be filled with a strange and new burning. The chimps sniffed the air. Remembering the sudden and uncomfortable jolting their bodies had felt when the first bang had resounded, they chose to stay clear of the camp. Their bodies shivered as they tucked themselves under fallen leaves whilst grasping infants and drawing dear ones nearer to them. Fear had overwhelmed them. They had witnessed this before and knew the dangers.

“What’s happening?” Jane questioned an approaching game warden, whose mission it was to protect the park, Jane and the chimpanzees.

“I was merely frightening some poachers I’d caught trying to snare a young chimp, Jane!” he replied as he lay his rifle down on the table in front on her tent. “These fellows make a fortune selling the young chimps overseas.”

“Yes,” sadly Jane responded. “I truly wish they knew what their actions were doing to Gombe.” 

As the warden disappeared into the forest, Willy Whalley watched as Jane positioned herself safely amid a clump of rocks. As familiar chirping from birdlife resumed, Willy Whalley bravely sauntered towards Jane while the others remained hidden and silent. Again he perched himself directly in front of her but this time he was slightly closer to her face.

“You didn’t like that noise my friend,” Jane whispered as she slowly offered her hand hoping he would reconnect. Willy Whalley looked deeply into her eyes then tilted his head to one side. “Guns cause even we humans pain Willy. I understand how you feel.” Spoken words were unnecessary. The two friends knew what was in each others’ minds and sensed the fear in each other’s hearts.

The unpredictable Willy Whaley knew what was about to unfold. Slowly he lifted one finger and gently dragged it across Jane’s cheek. A trickling tear was quickly captured by Willy Whalley before it had reached the ground, dissolving into the dry crumbly earth.

What do you think happened next????

Ending 1     Ending 2      Ending 3

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