Lisa Doan - Jack and the Wild Life

Also by Lisa Doan

The Berenson Schemes #1:
Jack the Castaway

Text copyright 2014 by Lisa Doan
Illustrations copyright 2014 by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

All rights reserved. International copyright secured. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

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Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA

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Cover and interior images iStockphoto.com/subjug (mail envelope); Christian Mueringer/Dreamstime.com (vintage postage stamp); iStockphoto.com/blondiegirl (postage meter); ilolab/Shutterstock.com (wood background); Picsfive/Shutterstock.com (note paper); CWB/Shutterstock.com (passport stamps); Tsyhun/Shutterstock.com (canvas passport background).

Main body text set in Janson Text LT Std 12/17.5.
Typeface provided by Linotype AG.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Doan, Lisa.

Jack and the wild life / by Lisa Doan ; illustrated by Ivica Stevanovic.
pages cm. (The Berenson schemes ; #2)

Summary: Jacks parents have decided to guide safaris in Africa, much to Jacks chagrin, and none of their previous schemes have worked.

ISBN 9781467710770 (trade hard cover : alk. paper)
ISBN 9781467746434 (eBook)

[1. Adventure and adventurersFiction. 2. SafarisFiction. 3. ParentsFiction. 4. Eccentrics and eccentricitiesFiction. 5. AfricaFiction. 6. Humorous stories.] I. Title.
PZ7.D6485Jab 2014
[Fic]dc23

2013023167

Manufactured in the United States of America
1 SB 7/15/14
eISBN: 978-1-4677-4643-4 (pdf)
eISBN: 978-1-4677-7397-3 (ePub)
eISBN: 978-1-4677-7398-0 (mobi)

For Brandon and Holly Robison,
my nephew and niece, who have
starred in some of my earlier works,
including such classics as A Very
Zombie Christmas

Special thanks to April Murray for
her insightful review to ensure a
respectful portrayal of the
Maasai people

The Berenson Family Decision-Making Rules

If you are Jack, dont assume the worst will happen. Imagine what Richard and Claire would do and then take out the life-threatening parts.

If you are Richard and Claire, dont assume everything will be fine. Try to imagine what Jack would do. If Jack would never do what youre thinking about doing, that is a warning sign!

If we all follow the rules, we will probably survive.

Jacks parents hovered over the sofa, shoving clothes into duffel bags. Jack tiptoed across the living room. Standing behind them, he whispered, What are you doing? Running away?

Richard and Claire Berenson whirled to face Jack. They looked as if they had been caught robbing a bank.

You are running away! Jack said. Without me? Jack thought his family had finally settled into a comfortable routine. They were back in his old neighborhood in Pennsylvania, with the Berenson Family Rules hung on the refrigerator.

Jack, his dad said, there you are. Right there behind us.

Dont be a goose, Jack, his mom said. Of course were not running away. If we ever go on the run, youll be the first thing we pack. Were just

Organizing, his dad said.

Organizing? Jack said. That wasnt likely. Tell me whats going on.

Oh, we did try to tell you, his mom said.

Spelled it out every which way, his dad added.

Remember, Jack, his mom said, when we went to the Renaissance Fair for dinner? Right through the whole jousting tournament, your dad and I observed that life is an adventure. Dont you adore airports, we asked, and arent elephants amazing, and isnt camping divine?

Jack did remember that. He had told the medieval serving wench not to give them any more mead. What were you trying to tell me?

His mom blurted out, Were going to Africa!

What do you mean, were going to Africa? Jack asked.

Hold on, Son, his dad said, you havent even heard the most thrilling part. Your mum and I have invented a brand-new kind of tourism.

Oh, no, Jack muttered.

Now, just hear us out, his dad said. This time, weve hit upon a surefire moneymaking opportunity.

This one cant lose, his mom said.

Thousands of people travel to Kenya each year, his dad said. Every one of them becomes fascinated by the noble and revered Maasai people. But do these travelers come away with any true understanding of the Maasai way of life? No! They just think they did because they bought a necklace and took a photo.

But three years ago, we employed a Maasai elder as a safari guide, his mom said. We even stayed overnight with his family before we flew home. Meticiki was so fond of us, there were tears in his eyes when we said good-bye. Even his children were crying.

Kenya had a place in our hearts forever, his dad said. So when we found ourselves trying out the old nine-to-five grind this summer, I said to your mum, I bet Meticiki doesnt work nine to five.

And I said, too bad we werent born Maasai elders, his mom said.

Then it hit me like a lightning bolt, Jacks dad said. Lets build a camp where tourists can live like a real Maasai tribe!

Jacks mom hooked her thumb at his dad. Thats where you get your smarts from, Jack. That man right there.

His dad blushed. Im a bit surprised nobody thought of it before now.

Its brilliant, his mom said. In fact, there are layers of brilliance to it. For example, we wont have to spend millions of dollars building a luxury safari lodge with a swimming pool. Which is splendid, since we dont have millions of dollars.

Yet, his dad said.

Jack wondered if the room was actually spinning or if his brain just couldnt compute what he had heard. He gripped the nearest arm of the sofa.

You see, Son, his dad said, the Maasai live in the kind of housing we can construct ourselves. Well start by building an enkang of acacia thorns.

An enkang is a fence to keep out lions, his mom said.

Lions! Jack cried.

Indeed. Nobody wants a lion hanging about the place, his dad said. Once we have the enkang up, we build the inkajijik.

Thats the house, his mom said.

Heres another layer of brilliance, his dad said. We wont have to buy building materials. Not even a nail. Its all right there for us in the great outdoors. Mud, sticks, and grass, free to anybody that comes along.

Except for the cow dung to make it all stick together, his mom said. But well buy a cow, and then all we have to do is wait.

And thanks to you, Son, well be planning ahead for disasters. If the cow dung doesnt hold up, well reinforce the whole thing with duct tape.