The Interview

                                            The Interview

Good morning, Mr. Hodgkin. Thank you for accepting this interview. I know my viewers are aware you have had a distinguished career in national politics. We are a local news network. I would like this interview to be about your long period of being our mayor. The first question is: As our mayor, what is the one event that you remember the most?

“I was the mayor for thirty years. In that time period there were many memorable events that passed under the bridge.For instance, when The Queen visited our town some 10 years ago. But the memory that caps them all was the town’s bi-yearly agricultural show in 1998. Before I tell you the story, would you like a coffee?”

The young reporter accepted with a smile.

“Now for the story. The agricultural show of 1998 was a very special year for the event, as it was the 150th anniversary. As Mayor, I was determined to organize a special occasion. Over the previous years, I had received various requests to have a larger animal section, exhibiting animals of a more exotic nature. These animals would be in addition to the local farm animals. I had always refused these requests on safety grounds. The Show’s committee suggested that for the 150th celebration we revisit the question. Their choice was: two or three bison, a family of kangaroos, two or three llamas, two or three ostriches, a family of elephants, and a family of giraffes. I agreed, providing we constructed a separate area with strict security measures.

After much discussion, it was decided to have six enclosures for each species of animal. These enclosures would be surrounded by a large fenced area that allowed the public to walk with their children easily to each animal's enclosure to admire the inhabitants. The fencing would be 4 feet high with sturdy lockable gates on all enclosures. The overall site plan for the show was to have six sections: exotic animal section, farm animal section, farm machinery and equipment section, food section with attached picnic area, a funfair section, and farm product sales section. Several days before the event, there were many lorries, and men and women working diligently preparing their different areas. I was present to welcome the arrival of the exotic animals. All the fencing looked sturdy and secure. I saw mountains of food imported for each animal's special nutritional requirements. It was an exciting moment to see these exotic creatures among us. I remember at the time I felt quite pleased with myself, being able to put on a show of this nature.

The day before the show opened, I made a tour of each section accompanied by the responsible manager. Then I had a discussion with the committee about overall management and security. The exhibitors were mostly local farmers. We had a few outsiders (non-local exhibitors), as we called them, who came every year, as did the funfair crew. Our past agricultural shows were always three-day events. I decided that as this was the hundred and fiftieth anniversary, we would make it a five-day event. That evening I left the site area with the impression everything had been well prepared.

Opening day came with the local school marching band leading the way. I led the column of people that followed the band. At midday, I opened the five-day event. The first two days of the show passed off without a hitch. We had a very healthy crowd enjoying themselves. The main attraction was the exotic animal section. In fact, we had to employ a man on the large gate of the outer fence to control the crowds.

It was on the third day the troubles started. I was in the food section having a drink with a couple of farmers when I got a call telling me I was needed over at the exotic animal section. I hastened over and saw an unbelievable sight. The visitors and their children were in the animals' enclosures, and the animals were feeding and strolling happily in the public section, occasionally glancing towards their pens. To tell you the truth, my first reaction was to burst out laughing. I quickly controlled that emotion and made my way towards the gathering of a small number of people. I immediately asked if anybody was hurt. The answer was no. The visitors were just a little surprised and frightened.

My next question was, ‘Where is the keeper who is supposed to be at the front gate?’

A voice said, ‘He is recovering in one of the animal enclosures.’

‘What exactly happened?’

At this point, the person responsible for the section stepped out of the gathering and said, ‘Apparently a prankster knocked the man out at the entrance door, took his keys, dragged him into the public enclosure, locked the main big door, and then barged through the visiting crowd and opened all the animals’ gates. The animals, once their gates were opened, strolled out to feed on the grass in the public area. I think at first the public thought it was all part of the show.The keeper, now recovered, told the crowd to take refuge in the various animals’ enclosures and close the gates. 

“I have just told the visitors to keep calm while we organize the way they will leave the area. At present, the animals seem peaceful and content roaming in the public area. We are now discussing the best way to reverse the situation.’

The plan for the visitors’ exit had been put in place. First, they were asked to go calmly to the llamas’ area. They were guided by a few men who were now in the public section. Once the visitors were safely behind the llamas’ fencing, the delicate operation of herding the animals back to their enclosures began. Coaxing the animals back into their space required laying trails of food. It took a bit of time, as the animals had been enjoying themselves. Once the animals were finally under lock and key, the crowd walked through the public concourse to the main gate. It was interesting to see the llamas stop eating and watch the crowd leave.

 When the crowd finally came through the main gate, I stood there to listen to their comments. Most of them at first thought it was part of the show, as the animals seemed quite calm and gentle. Nevertheless, they had been a bit concerned for their children, who were getting too close to certain animals. The animals were on loan from zoos, and usually their cages kept them well away from spectators. When the public had heard the keeper tell them to take refuge in the animal pens and close the gates, they realized something was wrong.The keeper had insisted that everybody stay calm and keep hold of their children. Once the keeper came out, I spoke to him. He was still a little dizzy. I told him he had performed well under unusual conditions. That remake put a smile on his face.

The local news reporters had a field day. At the time, I remember talking to the team responsible for this area. We were all pleased to have chosen animals that, if treated well, had a calm and docile nature. I passed the matter over to the local police in hopes that they might find the prankster.

‘Let me offer you another coffee, as the memorable events of the show are not over.’

‘On that same day, we had a child get a plum stone stuck in his throat. For a few minutes, the showgrounds were filled with the sound of an ambulance siren. I witnessed quite a serious scene, with the mother not helping by screaming the entire time. The next incident occurred an hour later, when the first-aid team had to rush to the farm equipment section because a teenager had badly cut his leg attempting to climb up to the driver’s cab of a combine harvester. That evening, when the crowds left and the night watchman arrived, we all breathed a sigh of relief. I remember that night,when I went to bed, I had that extraordinary image in mind of the exotic animals glancing at the humans in their enclosures. It made me think of the book Animal Farm.

The fourth day of the festivities passed with only the normal complaints and small things going wrong. The complaints were mainly about running short of certain foods. This was largely the result of the huge crowd drawn to the event by articles in the local papers about the exotic animals having been freed to stroll amongst the admirers. The committee and I had decided not to repeat the spectacle for safety reasons. The disappointed visitors turned instead to the picnic area. In the fairground, our local farmer-strongman hit the punch ball machine so hard that it collapsed; the needle showing the power of his punch just kept spinning around. This drew groans of disappointment from a band of farmers.I was told they consoled themselves by drinking beer.

The fifth and final day found three marquee tents collapsed from a rainstorm in the night. Unfortunately, it took the workmen over four hours to repair the damage—finishing an hour and a half after the gates had opened. In the afternoon, we had a dance floor set up with a live band. This proved very popular and attracted a good crowd. It was here that I made my closing speech, thanking all who had worked so hard to make sure this hundred and fiftieth anniversary was a success. In conclusion, it was a triumph, judging by the record attendance numbers and financial proceeds. The underlying credit belongs to those calm and gentle animals that enjoyed their brief spell strolling amongst their admirers.’

The cartoonists in the newspapers, both local and national, went to great lengths to show animals looking at people in cages—not only at our agricultural show, but in ordinary life. Years later, on the internet, the story went viral under the heading: Humans Caged, Wild Animals Watch.

The interview continued with a few other questions.