As usual, Bob’s mission was to find those animals in the zoo with the funniest faces. He dashed past the lion, who was standing on a rock so that the wind caught his mane at just the right angle for the visitors’ cameras.

“I wonder if he uses shampoo and conditioner or just shampoo?” said a bouffant-haired man.

Bob didn’t stop to see the panda either. The black and white bear was sitting chewing on some bamboo and blowing off loudly.

It left a party of old folk from a retirement home befuddled.

“What was that trumpeting sound, dear?” asked an old dear.

“I thought that was you, dear,” replied the other old dear.

There was a huge crowd gathered around the elephant. She was spraying water over everyone with her trunk.

“Ooh! This is delightful!” said one posh lady.

“Yes, there’s nothing more delightful than showering in freezing-cold water that smells of elephant,” said the other.

But Bob just walked on by. He was much more interested in seeing the animals in the zoo who had no visitors crowding around them. These were the ones who many people thought were ugly. They were certainly odd-looking, and Bob found them fascinating. These were the ones he always loved visiting on his birthday trips to the zoo with Grandpa. There was:

When other children passed by these animals, they would either laugh or shriek, neither of which seemed welcome. Looking deep into the eyes of these animals, Bob thought they must be sad. Perhaps it was painful for the “ugly” animals to be ignored while all the “pretty” animals soaked up all the attention?

Bob was particularly intrigued by one creature. Hidden away in a damp, dark corner of the zoo was a little tank.

On the tank was a sign that read:

But inside there was nothing to be seen.