Garfield
Jacob D'Arensbourg, age 7, was at the zoo near Baton Rouge, Louisiana when he saw Garfield and his friends. Emily, Aimee, Clint, Lauren, and Dad knew how much Jacob loved Garfield.
"I lost my teddy bear, Pooky," Garfield sighed. "He was with me when I was eating ice cream, and now he's gone."
"Are you sure you didn't eat him?" asked Nermal.
"Quiet, Nermal," snapped Garfield, "or I'll sit on you."
"I'll help you find Pooky!" said Jacob.
Jacob pointed to the ground. "Look, footprints! Whoever made these may have bearnapped Pooky."
Jacob and Garfield followed the footprints.
"Will we find Pooky here?" Arlene asked.
"I hope we don't find a swamp creature instead," said Nermal.
"Arf!" Odie barked. He wanted to play ball.
"Not now," Garfield said, "I have to look for Pooky."
"Arf!" Odie barked again.
"Oh, all right," Garfield said and threw the dingleball. Odie smiled and chased after it, running into the crocodile swamp.
"Uh-oh! Watch out for that croc, Odie!" Jacob shouted.
Garfield heard a loud trumpeting sound.
"Elephants!" Jacob cheered.
A big mama elephant was giving her baby a bath. The elephant sprayed water from her trunk, splashing Nermal. Luckily, Garfield and Jacob ducked just in time and didn't get wet.
"Hey Nermal," Garfield said, "how did you like your bath?"
"Yuck! This is worse than Odie's drool," whined Nermal.
"Hey," said Garfield. "Where is Odie?"
"Let's keep following the footprints," Jacob suggested. Garfield and Jacob walked by the monkeys, who were swinging in the trees and eating bananas.
Nermal made a silly face. "I look like a monkey," he said.
Garfield teased, "You smell like one, too."
A monkey squeezed a banana in each hand. Pop! Pop! The tasty fruit shot into Garfield's open mouth.
"Gulp! Gulp!" the fat cat said. "You can't feed the animals, but there's no rule that says they can't feed you!"
Suddenly, Odie appeared, carrying the dingleball in his mouth.
"We thought the crocodiles got you," Arlene smirked.
"Let's look for Pooky in the bird sanctuary," Jacob said.
Jacob walked with Garfield and his friends across a rope bridge. Brightly colored birds flew through the air. One with a wiggly worm in its beak landed on Garfield's head.
"I think the bird wants to share her food," said Jacob.
"Yuck!" exclaimed Garfield. "I prefer lasagna. All this walking is making me hungry. Let's stop for a quick snack."
"I filled up my tank and I'm ready to roll," said Garfield patting his tummy.
"Maybe Pooky is here by the lions," said Jacob.
"Rwarrr," Nermal let out a little roar.
"RWARRR!" A lion let out a big roar. Jacob wished Emily, Aimee, Clint, Lauren, and Dad were there to hear how loud the lion's roar was.
"BURRRRP!" Garfield let out an ever bigger belch.
"Garfield, it looks like you're king of the jungle today," said Jacob.
"Maybe Pooky is with the polar bears," said Jacob. "Let's check it out."
Garfield and his friends watched the bears swim and splash in the pool. Garfield's veterinarian, Liz, was there too.
"Polar bears live in the Arctic and eat fish," Liz said.
"Fish?" Garfield said. "I prefer snow cones."
"I know where polar bears keep their money," Nermal said.
"Where?" Jacob asked.
"In snow banks." Nermal said with a smile.
"Let's split up," said Jacob. "We'll meet back at the big fountain. Arlene and Nermal can look in the kangaroo habitat, and we'll look in the Spider and Snake House."
"The what?" Garfield said worriedly. Just then a snake slithered down a branch and hissed, while a big hairy spider dropped from the tree.
Garfield ran as fast as his chubby legs would go. "I hate spiders and snakes even more than I hate Mondays!"
BONK! A big green ball bounced off Garfield's head. "Where did that come from?" the fat cat asked.
A group of seals clapped their fins and barked happily.
"They want to play," Jacob said.
"Let the games begin," Garfield declared.
Jacob tossed the ball to Odie. The dog smacked the ball with his big red tongue and sent it flying back to the seals.
Garfield, Jacob and Odie met up with Nermal and Arlene at the big fountain.
"Look!" Jacob exclaimed. "It's Pooky!"
Garfield and Odie's owner, Jon, handed the teddy bear to Garfield.
"Where did you find Pooky?" Jacob asked.
"I didn't find him," said Jon. "I guess I bearnapped him. Garfield dripped ice cream on Pooky and I took him to the fountain to wash him off."
"Thanks for helping me find my bear," Garfield said to Jacob. "You're a good friend. I hope you can come back and visit us again soon."
"That would be great! I can't wait to tell Emily, Aimee, Clint, Lauren, and Dad about our adventure." replied Jacob.
"But next time," Garfield added with a smile, "No spiders or snakes!"