Chapter Four The entire Carter family, except baby Paulo, knew right away what had happened. They knew right away because this was not the first time that Grandma had lost an animal. In fact, over the years since Daddy had brought his mom to live with them at Carters’ Urban Rescue, she’d also lost a sugar glider, a pregnant possum and a rat snake. Daddy dashed upstairs. Mama took the baby out of Keisha’s lap and set him in his high chair. “Keisha, you keep the baby in here. And do not let Razi out of this room.” “But, Mama, I—” “Do not ‘But, Mama’ me now, Ada. That alligator could bite off your toe!” And she rushed out after Daddy. In Nigeria, “Ada” was the word for “first daughter,” and Mama always called Keisha that when she wanted her to act like a grown-up. It would help if Keisha’s family could learn to stay calm during an emergency. If Mama had thought it through, she would realize how unlikely it was for a small, scared alligator to bite off anyone’s toe.
