NOT A KANGAROO-SHE THOUGHT SHE ADOPTED A DOG____DAILY PROMPT 18TH OCTOBER

Today's #dailyprompt is not a kangaroo and this is my story.

When Ada came back from Australia, she came back with a "dog."

At least, that's what she told everybody in our street in Onitsha.

She carried a small crate from the airport, smiling. "Meet Kiki. My new baby. I adopted him in Melbourne."

We all peeped inside. The thing inside had long ears, small hands, and it was jumping inside the crate. It was not barking. It was... boxing the air.

Mama Nkechi said, "Ada, that dog looks like person."

Ada laughed, "It's an Australian breed. Very rare. Very expensive."

For two weeks, Ada was posting Kiki everywhere. Instagram. Facebook. Blurt. "My Aussie baby loves fufu." The thing would sit on the chair like a human, eating rice with its small hands. It never barked. It just stared at everybody.

One day, I went to Ada's house. The thing was standing at the window, looking outside. Standing. Like a man.

"Ada," I whispered. "This your dog is standing."

Ada said, "He's learning."

That night, the thing escaped.

The whole street woke up by 2am because we heard "GBIM!" on somebody's zinc. I came out with torch. And I saw it. Kiki was jumping from roof to roof. From one house to another. Jumping over our big gutter like it was nothing. No dog jumps like that.

We chased it with sticks. It ran into Ada's backyard and jumped inside the big sack where Ada packs her clothes for sale.

When we opened the sack, Kiki was inside, shaking, with two small babies in his pouch. Yes. Pouch.

Mama Nkechi shouted, "Ada! This is not a dog! This is not a kangaroo! What did you bring to this street!"

Ada started crying. "The man at the market said it was a dog! He said it's called Wallaby! He said it's not a kangaroo, it's cheaper! I just wanted a fine dog for my videos!"

The whole street burst into laughter. Even Kiki — or whatever he was — looked embarrassed.

We called Wildlife. They came and took Kiki and her babies. They said Kiki is a wallaby. Cousin to kangaroo. Not a dog. Definitely not a kangaroo, but close.

Ada still posts today. Her new caption is: "I miss my not-a-kangaroo. She taught me to jump over haters."

Moral: If you want to buy dog, buy dog in Onitsha Main Market. Don't go and carry kangaroo cousin from Australia.

IMAGE IS AI GENERATED