[00:00:00] A parcel for Theo by Claire McColly A parcel for you Theo, mom called from Uncle
[00:00:10] John. Theo took the stairs two at a time and jumped the final four but slowed as he reached
[00:00:17] the rectangular package on the hall table. He lifted it gently and held it to his ear,
[00:00:23] no rattle on bang or hiss. It doesn't feel dangerous enough, he said.
[00:00:30] Well, I did ask him to never send Indoor fireworks again, said mom. She turned to grab the
[00:00:37] fire extinguisher but just in case. Theo squeezed the parcel, it was soft, squishy even.
[00:00:47] The tour of the brown wrapping unfurled a blue tissue paper and looked down at the last
[00:00:54] thing he expected to get from his explorer uncle. A cutly toy, it was shaped like a cat but
[00:01:01] had much groulier face. That's a jaguar, mom said. What a lovely toy. Theo looked
[00:01:10] from the jaguar whose fur was the color of butter toast to mom and back again.
[00:01:16] I love him. Mom picked up her camera, smiled, she said. Theo wanted to send Uncle Joe a
[00:01:23] thank you letter in a proper envelope but explorers don't stay in one place for long so the
[00:01:30] only way to contact Uncle Joe was by email. Mom helped him type a message then attach
[00:01:37] the photo she'd take in of Theo, cardeling the jaguar. Theo and Jaguar became best of friends.
[00:01:45] They went everywhere together until the day of Theo's first swimming lesson. He left Jaguar
[00:01:51] guarding his clothes in the changing room when he and mom returned Jaguar wasn't there.
[00:01:57] Theo searched the lockers, the bin and under the bench but he was gone. They hurried
[00:02:03] to the reception desk and mom explained what happened. What does it look like? Asked
[00:02:08] the lady, his brownish and soft and medium sized and answers to the name Jaguar said Theo.
[00:02:17] He wasn't in lost property so mom left their phone number in case he turned up later.
[00:02:24] That night Theo cried. He couldn't get to sleep for ages without Jaguar. The next day
[00:02:31] Theo saw reminders of Jaguar everywhere. A girl in the park had hair that curled just like Jaguar's
[00:02:38] fur. There was a jungle that Jaguar would have loved in a book in the library. By tea time Theo's
[00:02:46] tummy fell too wobbly for food as he explained to his mom the phone rang, mom rushed to answer
[00:02:53] then flashed a smile at Theo. Uncle Joe she shouted before turning back to the phone. Yes he
[00:03:01] loved the Jaguar but he lost him and now Theo grabbed the phone. Hello uncle Joe, hi
[00:03:08] short stuff boomed his uncle so your mom thinks that Jaguar is lost. Theo forgot that Uncle
[00:03:14] Joe couldn't see him and nodded but you and I know that he's not a lost kind of animal
[00:03:20] don't we? Where is he then Theo asked in a tiny voice. Well I don't know exactly Uncle Joe
[00:03:27] admitted but I mentioned in my travels when I wrapped him up and what I wondered if I didn't
[00:03:34] put an idea into his head. Theo took a deep breath. I suppose he might have gone exploring like
[00:03:42] you that's better than being lost right much better the adventures are amazing and after all
[00:03:49] Jaguar's are wild animals Theo gulped they are of course they are I don't send you safe things
[00:03:57] remember that Jaguar has a streak of danger in himself that's for sure. Now perhaps you look
[00:04:07] at a map and see where he might have gone. Theo passed the phone back to mom and heaved the
[00:04:15] atlas down from the bookcase. He searched for places where Jaguar might have gone. Theo spent every
[00:04:21] moment of the week examining the atlas he was far too busy to be said that Jaguar was away.
[00:04:28] On Saturday as he ate his cereal the post clattered through the letter box. He scooped up two letters
[00:04:36] for mom and a postcard which had his name on the top a picture of a huge waterfall on the other side.
[00:04:44] Theo and mom read the message.
[00:04:47] Dear Theo having a wonderful time exploring the Amazon and wrestling
[00:04:52] grouchy crocodiles have fun and eat your veggies see you soon love Jaguar.
[00:05:02] A few days later another postcard arrived as mom read it out Theo studied the picture of a rain
[00:05:09] for a while. Dear Theo having great fun hypnotizing snakes and spiders I won't bring any home
[00:05:15] with me though be good for me see you soon love Jaguar then mom's mobile rank she scrambled to
[00:05:24] get it and then sprung up and stored out of the room when she returned Theo asked for his crayons
[00:05:31] and her picture of Jaguar at a tea party with lots of jungle animals the next morning mom picked up
[00:05:39] mom called to him. Pastel for Theo he trudged down the stairs convinced that no parcel would be as
[00:05:49] good as the one he got Jaguar. He frowned when he saw mom's empty hands shall I wait for you
[00:05:56] together fire extinguisher mom shook her head it isn't from uncle Joe she said
[00:06:02] Theo scratched his head wondering who else it could be from.
[00:06:07] Mom helped him slice along the package with scissors he ripped the cardboard open inside
[00:06:13] Le Jaguar Theo squealed he finished exploring and posted himself home what a clever Jaguar
[00:06:22] he huged Jaguar then mom then Jaguar again as he did a familiar centichled his nose but why does
[00:06:30] it smell of the swimming pool. Mom's eyes were wide I guess he did a lot of swimming while he was
[00:06:37] away the end.