Amelia Bedelia couldn’t believe it. She had returned a missing monkey to the real zoo; she had created, with all of her friends, a great backyard zoo; and her teacher had actually liked it! But now it was all over. As people began leaving, Roger came up to her.

“Georgie’s almost defrosted,” he said. “Can we have his funeral now?”

“Sure,” said Amelia Bedelia. “You can take him home.”

“Can we bury him in your backyard?” said Roger. “Georgie likes it here.”

Amelia Bedelia understood. She got a trowel from the garage and dug a good-sized hole—so that what was left of the block of ice would fit—next to an azalea bush.

“We’ll put a mound of dirt on top and plant some flowers,” she said.

Roger nodded. “Amelia Bedelia,” he said, “would you please say a few words about Georgie?”

Amelia Bedelia did not expect that. Georgie hadn’t been her pet. But then she thought, Why not? After learning about animals, thinking like a monkey, and building a zoo, Amelia Bedelia was pretty qualified. The only thing that bothered her was that after all the fun they had had, now they were having a funeral. But Roger was her friend. She shrugged and said what her grandmother always said: “Ah well, that’s life.”

Everyone who was still in Amelia Bedelia’s backyard—kids and parents and pets—gathered around. Amelia Bedelia cleared her throat and began.

“Roger’s pet gecko, Georgie, came from Madagascar. It’s a big island next to Africa, so Georgie was far from home when he passed away. He was little, but he was an amazing, colorful, complicated animal. Roger really loved him, and when he died, Roger kept Georgie in a cold, dark place until he could give him a funeral like he deserved. But first, Georgie spent today teaching kids about animals. Now he’s ready to rest. I’ll plant forget-me-not flowers on top of you, because none of us will ever forget you, Georgie.”

Amelia Bedelia turned to Roger, who was holding the block of ice. Then Roger did another thing that Amelia Bedelia had not expected. He gave Georgie a kiss. No one looked away or squirmed or thought Eewwww—Roger just kissed a dead lizard!

No, this was a last kiss good-bye, good-bye and thank you, good-bye forever, my friend.

Some kids began to sniffle. Some grown-up eyes glistened. Even people who had never had a pet were moved by what Amelia Bedelia had said. What was true for Georgie was true for all animals—they were all amazing miracles, just like Georgie had been.

There was nothing left to say, but no one felt like leaving, either. Everybody just wanted to stay right there, next to one another.

Amelia Bedelia’s mother gave her a hug. “Nice job, sweetie. I’ll go get some snacks. Your friends can hang out here until the cows come home.”

“MOOOOOO!”

A truck was backing into the driveway. The sides were painted with fruits and vegetables and a sign that read UNCLE FRED’S FARM.

“MOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

A cow gazed down at them.

“MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Amelia Bedelia’s father ran up to her and loudly whispered, “I thought you were kidding about canceling the cow!”

“I was,” said Amelia Bedelia. “I didn’t order a cow!”

Wade’s uncle Fred got out of the truck and introduced himself. “Just stopped by to pick up my nephew and my sheep,” he said. “I can loan you Gertrude here, if you’d like to have a cow.”

“That won’t be necessary,” said Amelia Bedelia’s mother. “My husband has had a cow every day this week.”

Uncle Fred chuckled. Amelia Bedelia had no idea what her mother meant. She figured that her father’s cows must be with his goat.

As Uncle Fred loaded the sheep into his truck, Amelia Bedelia’s father said, “I’ll miss that fuzzy lawn mower. Now I have to mow the grass again.”

 

That night, after supper, Amelia Bedelia and her parents sat outside on the patio with Finally, who still smelled a little bit like skunk.

Looking out over their backyard, they recalled all the fun and excitement of the zoo and the days leading up it.

“Amelia Bedelia,” asked her mother. “I just have one question. Why is there a banana on your windowsill?”

Amelia Bedelia laughed. She laughed so hard that she could not stop. Soon her parents were laughing too.

“That was a wild time,” said Amelia Bedelia’s father.

“I already miss it,” said her mother.

“You do?” said Amelia Bedelia.

“Me too,” said her father. “I told the director how you didn’t get to go on the field trip to the zoo. We’re meeting him tomorrow morning. He’s taking the three of us on a VIP tour.”

Amelia Bedelia jumped up and yelled, “Thank you, Daddy! Family hug!”

It was their wildest family hug ever.