The wild child (with JodyJames)
 

Far away in a jungle was living a Bonobo family, living from day to day. One little bonobo however was different as the young child was not a bonobo but a human girl of 7 years.
An expedition had long ago been conducted and the girl’s parents perished, leaving the infant alone. Having been found by the Bonobo matriarch, the infant was adopted and raised as their own.

The group had been quite excited these days as another expedition had been wandering around the jungle they were living in. Of course they were curious, yet careful as they only visited the camp at dawn to look. The little child was with them, looking at the things she found. Shoes, clothes and hats!

Professor Müdfly was up early this morning. He'd had touch of stomach flu the day before and had stayed on his cot. Now he was quite hungry. He stepped out of his tent being sure to close the mosquito netting behind him. The camp was still quiet as it was barely dawn.



He saw several chimpanzees (I just recalled that we didn't know the difference until very recently). They began to scatter as they saw him, but he stopped in surprise when he saw a dirty young girl. She was not in his group, and he didn't think there were any new arrivals, but she wasn't a native so she must have just arrived. "Hello, I'm Professor Müdfly, Dear, what's your name?"

The youngster saw the big man coming towards her and as the others scattered, she wanted to follow but only reached the nearest tree and looked down at that strange man. She hadn’t seen humans before, all she knew was her “family” and their language. She heard the strange noises the man made and showed her teeth to him and screeched. Well she tried to communicate.

The girl was dirty, had long, dirty hair and was of course naked. She was of average weight but a bit small, she was also due to her lack of hair considered a runt in her family but was looked after carefully.

Blair was amazed. The girl climbed the tree with such ease. He hadn't noticed while she was hunched over, but her hair was long and she was otherwise naked. The way she screeched at him sounded like an ape call. Was it possible?

He looked around and saw an apple lying on a table. It was bright red and he thought it might attract her attention. He held it out to her but she didn't budge. He realized she might not realize what an apple was. He took a bite and smiled. He held it out and mimed tossing it to her a few times. Then did toss it.

The girl looked at him. Well he did eat the thing. She climbed down quickly grabbing the apple before her siblings would get them. She bit into it and tasted. Hmm it was sweet. She made happy noises. Maybe he was a big ape? Like from another family?

She eyed him. His hands looked like hers. And her feet as well. More than those of her family. His nose was also nearly the same. At least the face was, except for the fur he had on his chin and under the nose. Maybe she could see if he liked to play.

She hunched over to him and nudged him then ran off. But came back as he didn’t budge. “Hiiih!” She made as if to say Play!

The girl didn't seem scared of him. She came over twice. It seemed like she was trying to tell him something. Perhaps she wanted another apple. He found both an apple and an orange then he put them in his pocket and followed her. He could barely keep up with her until she climbed a tree. He had no hope of doing that.

He sat down and held out another apple putting it on the ground close to him. He called, "Come it's for you."

Hm he didn’t seem to understand but didn’t seem to be a danger. The little one went up again but he didn’t follow. Oh well some other animals couldn’t climb either. As she saw the apple, she came down again.

She took it and munched it, watching the man, beginning to touch him. She saw his hand and put hers against it. Smaller but the same! She made exciting noises. The same meant family, that’s what she was taught.

"I wish I could understand you, child." he said. "I'm sure there would be lots you could tell me." He pulled the orange out of his pocket and held it up for her to see. He began to peel it and when it was finished, he took a section and put it in his mouth. He chewed carefully extracting two seeds which he showed her. He then threw the seeds away.

He pulled out another section and held it out to her. "This is even sweeter." he told her.

As he took the orange she was quite fascinated. Oh he opened it and ate it. She took the part, munched it and did spit out the seeds as he had showed. She listened to him whenever he spoke and sometimes it seemed as if she tried to imitate. Just like a very young child. “Hm! A! Uh!” She was quite surprised a bit about herself.

It looked like she was trying to speak. He held up the fruit. "Orange" he said. He patted the tree trunk. "Tree." He patted his chest, "Blair." He repeated it twice more. Then he patted his chest but said nothing looking at her. Would she get it?"

Ohhh! She took the fruit. “O..nage!” She pointed at the tree. “‘Ree!” Then with a smile at him. “Bare!” Well she did her best and certainly with a bit of lessons and exercise she could speak properly.

She heard her siblings call her and did turn around to go back but...something told her to stay. She liked that Blair man and he was family. They were the same! She got back to him and crawled on his back.

She was quick. He gave her that. He wondered how long she'd been living on her own with just the chimps. Had she learned languages before. He smiled broadly at her, but she flinched. He quickly held out another orange piece. He realized she'd probably reacted to his bared teeth. He smiled again a simple smile not showing his teeth.

He tried again. He touched his chest and said Blair. Then he touched her to see if she'd give a name. Instead she climbed on his back. He'd heard the chimps chattering in the trees. He wondered if they were calling her. Did she want him to carry her there? He didn't think that wise. They were incredibly strong if they were to attack him. Instead he stood up and carried her back to the camp. She didn't jump off so he guessed she wanted this.

When they arrived people were stirring and suddenly they were the center of attention. He could feel her arm grab him harder. She was probably scared. "Stay back!" he said. "She's frightened. He could see some of the native porters watching warily. Perhaps they'd had some contact with her before.

The little one had no real name. It was something that couldn’t be translated. She stayed as they went back to the camp and indeed gripped tighter as they got attention.

She growled slightly and showed her teeth with a frown. One of them stepped closer. “Master. This is a wild child. We’ve seen her many times in the bush. We once wanted to take her with us but she bit and fought. You should be careful.” The child didn’t remember that incident as she had been even smaller than now. For now she held on to Blair like a baby chimp on its mother.

Blair said. "We can't leave her in the wild. She seems to be fine with me, and I'll be careful. For now just give her space for a bit until she's used to things. And bring me my canteen. Shes' probably thirsty."


Once the canteen was brought, he opend it and took a drink. He held the canteen out to her, but she didn't take it. Of course,Blair thought. She has no idea what it is. He poured a bit of water into the palm of his hand. He said, "Water" He then raised his hand like a cup and drank. He offered the canteen again.

The little girl watched him. This big ape could do so many things! She took the canteen as he had showed and looked in. Well she could see nothing. She then poured some on her hand. Oh there was really water! “Wata!” She said all happy and took a sip from the canteen making a little duck face.

She gave him the canteen back and looked curiously around but stayed near Blair. She pointed at some things, even touched them before looking at the man. He must know what these all were.

Right, "Water" he said. Blair told her things as she pointed. "Chair." he said sitting down. "Table." He put the top of the canteen back on and laid it on the table. When she touched his revolver in his holster, he wasn't sure what to do. "Gun." he said. She just looked at him. He put his hand over his ears and she copied. He reached for the gun and she removed her hands as well. "No." he said. He put his hands over hers. When he removed his she kept hers in place. He took the gun out and pointed it into the air. He put one hand against hers and pressed tightly. Then the other. Then he fired.

It was so fun playing with him! Oh now she had to cover her ears...and now not? Oh no...
Oh okay she needed to keep them covered!
She wondered what would happen.

The gun was fired and the little one still got a bit frightened. She did jump slightly and then took her hands off screeching and pointing up. Oh that sounded bad! “Gan! Gan!” She told Blair. As the noise was gone and it seemed to be alright, our little chimp settled down again and got some sticks to play. She may be small but had more strength in her feet and hands than the average 7 year old. She could easily break big branches using her feet.

"Yes gun." he agreed hoping she was scared enough of it to keep away. He turned and told everyone. "All guns are to be kept locked away unless you are carrying them. In camp safeties are to be on."


When the girl brought the branches over, Blair was a bit surprised she could break them. "Branch." he said. He pointed at the tree she'd taken the branch off and said "Tree" ten he touched one of the branches and said tree branch. Then he pointed to himself and said "Blaire." Then he rubbed his arm and said "Blaire arm."

Oh! More words! She looked at him. “Banch!” “Bare!” She smiled there. “A’m” she crawled on his lap and touched his nose and hers. That was the same. She looked at him and tried to repeat what he said and tried to save the new information.

She then pointed at him again. “Bare!” But then at her. What was her name?

"Yes Blaire. Blaire's arm." he said smiling at her. "Nose, Blaire's nose. my nose and your nose. He said touching each. It seemed she was asking him what her name was, but he didn't know that. He'd asked before, but she'd just made a sound. "Blaire," he said touching himself the "Girl' as he touched her.


He tugged at his shirt and said, "Shirt." he ran his hands over his pants and said "pants. Blaire shirt Blaire pants." he touche her bare skin and said, "Girl shirt. No." he shook his head sadly. He put his hand over his eyes and looked around. "Girl shirt. Where." He held out a hand to her and they went looking.

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."

“Baf..baf!” She repeated and was quite happy about her new found hairy freedom. She smiled at Blair and climbed on his back. She liked to be close. He was so big!

“You can go to the river master. Or we can bring you some water to wash her here.” Njombo offered.

"Njombo, please bring some water up here. I don't even know if she can swim. I don't want to take a chance on the river." While several men went off to carry water, Blair lifted the girl off his back and put her on the ground holding her hand. "People hold hands." he said.

The youngster watched him and happily took his hand. “Oh.” She made understanding what he said. “Hands. Hold.” She repeated. Well alright hands holding it was.

They got some water and heated it, filling a wooden tub with it. Sandy saw the fire and pointed at it with a worried face. She had seen fires happening in the bush.

Blair picked her up again and carried her closer. "It's a small fire, Sandy. It's OK. He scooped up a bit of water. "The water is cold. The fire will make it hot." After a while he took some more water and let her feel it was warmer. "Warm water. Now it's time for Sandy's bath." He took her shirt off.

Sandy hid her face onto Blair but then he showed it was ok. The water got warm! “Wata! Cold...wa’m!” She smiled. She had understood. “Ohh baf!” She seemed to know what it was and looked forward to it.

"Oh you remember baths?" Blair wondered if that was a clue to her past. Did she remember getting baths from a mother or father before. "Did Sandy's mother give you baths before?" He emphasized the words he thought she might understand.


He picked her up and lowered her gently into the water.

Sandy looked up as he spoke. “Mo..ma?” She asked then smiled and made ape noises again. The ape had been her mother. She splashed a bit with the water, not having had a good bath in ages

Blair wondered about the girl. Her ability to recognize and use English indicated to him she must have spent some time with a human family before going to live with the apes. She appeared to be about 7. Blair thought she must have lived with her parents or other until she was about 3. Most people had very few memories from before they were three or four so it would make sense she might have no specific memories, but she apparently had had some exposure to English, which was very fortunate.


He produced a bar of soap and s cloth. He showed her how he rubbed the soap on the cloth then washed one of her arms. Then he handed it to her to see if she'd get the idea.

Sandy watched how he lathered the cloth and washed up the arm. It smelled nice and the dirt went off! He reached the cloth to her and she did taste it. She pulled her tongue out. Yuck! Though then she rubbed it over the other arm. She looked up to Blair. Was it good?

Yes either Sandy remembered baths or she was incredibly bright -- perhaps both. She began to wash herself. Blair laughed when she tasted the soap. He knew form experience as a child just how bad it tasted.

"Very good, Sandy. Can you stand up and do your legs?" He mimed the action rubbing his legs with his hands.