Shark of the Park Revealed

Buddy the Blue Marlin, along with Zoey and Zeek, is pleased to announce the winner of the favorite shark of the Shark Series. Who will it be? Will it be Belle the Blacktip Reef Shark? Wally the Whaleshark? Henrietta the Hammerhead? Or Gregor the Great White? Everyone’s favorite Makaira nigricans announces the results.

Buddy: Welcome back, Zoey and Zeek. You will be among the first to hear the winner of our shark competition.

Zoey: Thanks for having us back. This really is a big day! There’s even a film crew here to capture the moment.

Zeek: (Turning to the camera) Hi Mom!

Zoey: Zeek, stop that!

Zeek: Sorry.

Zoey: You look so handsome today, Buddy. I can see you’ve shined up your silver-white belly.

Buddy: And scrubbed my blue-black scales until they shimmer. It takes a lot of work, them being so long, but I have to look my best to present the winner of our Shark Series.

Zoey: We had an enormous response.

Buddy: Indeed, I was up counting votes throughout the night.

Zoey: Oh good, our contestants are all here. They all seem anxious to hear the results. They’re all talking at once.

(Zoey, Zeek, and Buddy swim over to the sharks, who have gathered)

Gregor: I do hope they plan on making my tank extra big.

Wally: And fill it with all the things I love to eat.

Henrietta: Do you think there will be enough room for the whole choir?

Belle: Is this where we’re supposed to be?

Buddy: (To the crowd) Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming out for this, the finale of our Shark Series.

Zoey: You are all excellent sharks. Are you nervous?

Gregor: Nervous? What do I have to be nervous about, unless you haven’t provided me enough room in my new tank to stretch my fins.

Wally: I’m so nervous I’m hungry.

Belle: (Pauses) I’m very nervous.

Buddy: (Plays a fanfare on his nose) Announcing the winner of our Shark Series…

Zoey: (Whispering to Zeek) I so love how he plays his nose.

Buddy: Belle the Blacktip Reef Shark!

Belle: What?

Henrietta: What?

Gregor: WHAT?!?

Buddy: That’s right Belle, you have been crowned the favorite shark of the zoo by the patrons themselves. Congratulations!

Gregor: This is an outrage! I demand a recount.

Henrietta: Now, now. Mustn’t be a poor sport. Congratulations, dear.

Belle: I won? I’ve never won anything before.

Zeek: Nice going, Belle. It was a landslide.

Belle: There must be some mistake. I don’t deserve it.

Zoey: Sure you do. Here you are (Places a small tiara on Belle’s head and hands her a bouquet of colorful kelp)

Henrietta: You look lovely, dear.

Belle: Thank you. Thank you all so much.

Zeek: Smile! (Takes a picture)

Buddy: And now for your prize, your brand new tank made just for you. Follow me, please!

(They all swim through a small door into a large new tank)

Zeek: What’s her tank like, Buddy?

Buddy: I’m glad you asked! Belle’s tank is every Blacktip Reef Shark’s dream. As her name suggests, Belle is from the Reef Biome, so we’ve fitted her new tank with all the best reef rocks.

Wally: Wow. Look at all the pretty plants it has!

Buddy: Sure! We decorated the floor with fire coral, giant barrel sponges, featherstar, the works!

Belle: Those are my favorites! You mean I get to look at these every day?

Zoey: You sure do.

Buddy: And look, there’s even a little opaque room you can swim to when you want more privacy.

Wally: Enough about the decorations. Where’s the food?

Buddy: The food we’ve prepared for her is a special buffet of chum, shellfish, and cod. And as a special treat for dessert: clam blubber!

Zeek: (Holding his stomach) Say, that is good news.

Buddy: Would you please say a few words?

Belle: Oh. Well, I…I just want to say thank you and I love you all. This is more than I deserve.

Buddy: Now that you have your own tank you can be by yourself all the time.

Belle: Well, I’d love it if I could say to everyone that voted how much I appreciate it.

Zeek: I think you just did.

Henrietta: Show us your beautiful breach again.

Belle: Okay, here I go. (Swims around the inside and shoots up over the water, landing with a splash)

(Everyone applauds)

Henrietta: Bravo!

Gregor: Stupendous! Quite good. Yes, quite!

Wally: Neat!

Zeek: So now that you’re famous, do you think you’ll have time for us little guys?

Belle: (Grinning) I always have time for mice. In fact, I would like all of you to come visit whenever you can!

Gregor: Even us?

Belle: (Giggles) Of course! Just make sure you feed Wally before he comes over.