“What an absolutely splendid day out!” announced Miss Veer cheerily, trying to lighten the mood. “Children, I beg of you, please don’t mention a word of this to your parents. I am only a year off retirement.”

The children all nodded their heads and smirked. This had been the best day out.

“Now, no more bullying from you three,” said Bob to Stubbs’s gang. “Or you’ll have this lot to answer to.”

The boy indicated his army of animal friends, who all gathered together and scowled at the three bullies.

“We won’t,” said Stubbs, looking ashamed of himself.

“Definitely won’t!” added Gaz.

“Won’t what?” asked Baz.

A little while later, Miss Veer was leading her Grottington pupils out of the zoo. “Another completely incident-free school trip!” she said brightly.

Just as the party reached the gate, Sir Basil called Bob back.

“Bob!” The man was back on the ground now.

“Yes, sir?” replied the boy.

“I have a present for you. Winston?”

The zookeeper appeared with something hidden behind his back.

“What is it?” asked Bob excitedly.

“It’s Blob!” announced Winston, as he revealed the funny-faced fish in a tank.

“BLOB!” shouted the boy, as he ran towards his friend and wrapped his arms round the tank.

Blob swam up to the glass and squashed his already squashed-up face against it.

“Now, young Bob, you need to promise me you’ll take good care of him,” said the zoo owner.

“So I can take him home?!” asked Bob.

“Yes,” replied Sir Basil. “I know he’ll be happiest with you, his best friend in all the world.”

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” exclaimed the boy.

“Animals can’t talk,” said Winston. “Well, not to us humans at least, but if Blob could, I know he’d be saying …”

“What?”

“‘… I love you.’”

Bob looked at his new pet. “I wish I could tell him I love him too.”

“He knows,” replied Winston, with a smile.