Dear Mother Sloth

Jodie strolled through the zoo, running her hand along the metal bars of the animal cages. She mumbled to herself as she walked along the gravel path.

She approached the sloth enclosure and stared up at the mother sloth gazing back at her. Gripping the bars, she let go to take her mother’s hand, but found only empty air. Her heart raced and her fingers trembled. She reached back to the metal bars of the sloth enclosure, but they suddenly felt extra cold.

The mother sloth tilted her head and approached the young girl. A tear trickled down Jodie’s cheek as she inched closer to the sloth. She wiped her face as the mother sloth revealed her baby hidden under her arm.

“There you are!” Jodie’s mother shouted, running towards her. “I thought I had lost you,” she said through staggered breaths.

Jodie smiled as she pointed at the mother sloth and her baby.

Her mother turned her head and sighed as she mimicked the young girl’s smile. “Ah.”

Jodie bounced on the tips of her toes as she clapped at the sloths, and her mother stroked a loose strand of hair behind Jodie’s ear. She followed her gaze towards the sloths and grinned. “Thank you for keeping my baby safe. From one mother to another. Enjoy every moment. Time moves faster than you ever believe it could.”