The Best Chimp I Have Ever Known     I will never forget Charlie.  As chimps go, he was the best.  Charlie was the dominant chimp of our collection and well loved by any  whose privilege it had been to care for him.  Charlie was a peacemaker.     The Los Angeles Zoo had eight chimps that formed a  cohesive  group.  They were tight because they had a leader that didn't put  up with any monkey business.  Charlie spent a good deal of time keeping his group at pece, and that was no easy assignment.  Toto and Jeanie were a part of his group.  Toto was a former circus  chimp and stirred up trouble whenever he could.  He would often  hoot and scream and charge his cage mates.  He would then slap them with the back of his hand and run away.  Then Toto would make dramatic and threatening gestures, and that's when Charlie would swing into action.     He was a little lighter than Toto but had long since established who was boss.  Charlie would charge Toto and hold him down and  scream at him.  Toto would act submissive and Charlie would let him off the hook.  In no time, Toto would be back to his old tricks, but Charlie never gave up on Toto.  He tried his best, but Toto was a hopeless case.     Jeanie was no gift, either.  She was always on the edge of a fit  and very unpredictable.  But Charlie was equal to all of his  responsibilities.  He was  truly an exceptional chimpanzee.     One day a decision was made to remodel the very inadequate chimpanzee exhibit.  It was also decided that the eight chimps would be kept at the health centre until the remodeling was completed.  We divided the group in half and placed them in adjacent cages.  I can't remember whether there was much thought as to how we should divide them, but rational or not, our plan turned out to be a disaster.     Toto and Jeanie were housed with two of the uoung chimps in one cage while Charlie was housed with the coquettish Annie, the beautiful Bonnie, and the always affectionate Judy.  It should have been heaven for Charlie to be seperated from Toto, but that's not how it turned out.     The months began to pass, and Toto quickly realized that Charlie could do little more than yell at him from the next cage.  Charlie would try his best to govern his group from the next cage, but it  was futile.  Charlie started to lose a little weight and began to show signs of depression.  One morning, we found that our  beloved group leader had died during the night.  He died sitting up, leaning against the side of the cage nearest Toto's group.     I cannot describe to you the sadness that descended over the health centre.  We felt as if we had lost a good friend.  We had. He was the best chimp I have ever known.     When we performed a clinical examination, we were crushed by what we discovered.  Charlie had died of a perforated ulcer. Things had been bothering him a lot more than he had been letting on.  Not being able to keep his family at peace had taken a terrible toll on him.     One of the problems that a veterinarian encounters is the inability of his patients to tell him where it hurts so that they can be helped. If only Charlie could have let us know, we would have done  anything to help him.         One of the advantages we have over the animal kingdom is that we can let somebody know we need help.  We can point to where it hurts.  We can ask for help.       God's Word speaks to us directly about asking for what we need.     Matthew 6:8   .....your Father knows what you need before you ask him.     Matthew 7:  7-11     Ask, and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For evry one who asks recieves, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good  things to those who ask him!     Matthew 21: 22     And whatever you ask in prayer, you will recieve, if you have faith.     Have you asked the Lord for anything lately? You may ask for help if you are in trouble. You mat asked forgiveness if you have sinned. You may ask for gifts, like love for others, patience, or wisdom. You may even ask for God to help a close friend. He commands us to ask. It is His nature to want to help us. This is what being a Father is all about.     Author ~ Gary Richmond           All graphics © 2001  By Until Then Graphics    All right reserved.                            All other copyrights belong to their respective holders.                      This background set made and copyrighted by Until Then Graphics.                       It was made especially for "View From A Zoo - Daily Reflections",                       so please do not take any of the graphics or set.                         Thank you for respecting the copyright laws.