She listened. “Nose! Bare...G’ul..” no that didn’t sound nice. “No! No!” She touched him again. “Bare!” Then herself. She wanted a name too!
He continued with the clothes and Sandy didn’t quite understand. Though she took his hand. “Maybe he liked to see where she had lived? She went out of the camp again and to the ape colony that lived nearby. They relaxed in the sun and looked up as the two came. The girl went to the Matriarch and jumped up and down and pointed at Blair. She was going to stay with him she told the mother.

Blair thought perhaps she'd lead him to a cabin where she'd lived with her parents long ago and there would be clothes, but instead he found himself on a hill looking towards the river. Blair did not follow the girl into the camp but he unlatched the strap on his gun and took the safety off. He wasn't sure how they'd react.


The girl was obviously saying something to the large female who shook her head like a dog trying to shake water off and bared her teeth and waved her arms towards Blair. Blair watched until three of the males started towards him. When the reached the bottom of the hill, he shouted "EARS!" He drew the gun and fired into the air twice. The apes scampered back. He was glad he hadn't had to actually shoot one.

She saw the gun and understood so she covered her ears. The males ran away screeching. Oh dear. It was dangerous for Blair here so she needed to go away with him. The apes had been her family but something drew her so strong to the man!

She came to him, took his hand and walked off. She pointed at the males and showed her teeth. “Grr! Bare no!” She wanted to tell him that there was danger for him.

As they were on their way back, the youngster went off to do her business as she had been used to do with her former family. She came back then.

He wasn't exactly sure what she meant by 'Bare no'. Bare was how she pronounced his name, but what was no. No he shouldn't shoot the gun and scare her tribe. No she was going back to them? That didn't seem to be it as she took his hand and were heading back to camp. All of a sudden she hurried off. She was so fast she disappeared into the trees. But almost before he could start after her she was back.


Blaire would like to be able to ask her things, but they couldn't yet talk. They arrived back in camp. It seemed that she was staying with them. He was going to have to do something about clothes, however. He went to his tent and brought out one of his shorter shirts. He held it up. Then he unbuttoned his shirt took it off and put it back on. "Blair shirt." he said. Then he held out the other one and said "Girl shirt". He started to put it on one arm.

She watched the man and smiled. Oh would she get a shirt like him? Ohhh! She held her arms out. “Ohh! Shurt! Shurt!” As he mentioned girl she shook her head. “No grl! No.” She pointed at herself. Maybe she could try. “‘an...d..y..” she tried to give ape language a sense. Maybe Blair could figure it out.

One of his guardians looked at him and the girl. “You should give her a wash. And probably a hair cut if you don’t want any pesky visitors in yours.”

"Yes your shirt. Girls where shirt. Oh ... is your name Andy? Blair ... Andy." he said pointing at first himself then her.

"Yes I'm going to get her washed and I hope her hair cut. I wanted to get her settled in first. I think a hair cut first if we can manage. It would be hard drying all that hair.

He took off his hat. "Blair hair short ... little. He tugged a hair out and held it up against her hair. "Andy's hair is long ... big." He pointed at another man. "Bob's hair short." He went to another man one of the porters. "Njombo hair short. We will make Andy's hair short."He had no belief he could do a good job, but at least he could shorten it.

Sandy bared her teeth as she chuckled. "No andy! S..andy!" she finally managed out. She pointed at him. "Bare!" then at herself "Sandy!" There finally.

He talked about hair and making hers short. She gently pawed his hair and wanted to groom him but then he got up again. Well either way it seemed okay. She took his hand, signalling him that she was ready.

"Oh, Sandy. Blaire and Sandy." he said pointing at each of them. He went to his tent and brought out a folding chair getting her to sit. Next was a comb and scissors. He began to comb her hair. He wasn't sure what she would think, but it wasn't too different from grooming.

She crawled on the chair, squatting down rather than sitting. She watched Blair and looked curious. Hmm what was that? As he began it did feel nice! She smiled. “Oh! Hm!” It was good. She watched some hair fall and inspected it.

After a while quite a cute little face could be seen with grey-blue eyes. “‘air sho’t! Like Bare!”

"Yes that's right Sandy. I'm making your hair short so it won't get in your eyes." He knew she wouldn't understand that, but small children picked up language simply by hearing it so maybe Sandy would as well. "Next we're going to give you a bath."