Pan and Ozzy stared. The monkey stared right back. ‘Wow,’ said Ozzy faintly, ‘…a talking monkey.’ Her face paled, and Pan could tell that she was in shock. ‘Snap out of it!’ she muttered to Ozzy, nudging her in the ribs. Ozzy didn’t move, then she slowly lowered herself onto the sand, her face blank. Pan dragged her gaze to the handsome baby howler monkey. He was sitting on a tree branch, his long golden tail curled neatly around his bright, glistening body. He was completely golden, apart from the fur around his eyes, and his feet, which was brown. He had long human-like fingers and serene sky-blue eyes. Whatever happened next, Pan did not know. But something was telling her that she had to, she just couldn’t resist. Pan reached a shaking hand towards the young monkey and stroked his magnificent golden fur. ‘You talk,’ she murmured, rubbing the base of his snake-length tail. The monkey, whose golden fur glowed like the sunset in the light, turned and looked calmly at her. ‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘I do.’  

‘What’s your name?’ questioned Pan. The monkey stared at her for a minute before answering: ‘My name is Gizmo.’ Pan nodded, before saying: ‘My name is Pan.’ Gizmo stared at her, ‘Pan.’ he repeated. Pan looked back at Ozzy, who was now not in shock. Then, she turned back to Gizmo, took a deep breath, and asked: ‘Would you like to join our crew?’ Ozzy’s jaw dropped, but Pan ignored her. Gizmo stared at her for a long while, before answering: ‘I’m not going anywhere without my family.’ ‘Now Pan, do you ever think before you speak?’ hissed Ozzy from the floor! ‘Pan shrugged and replied: ‘I don’t see why we can’t let his family come, too!’ Gizmo’s eyes flashed with delight, and then, he howled loudly into the trees! ‘NO!’ cried Ozzy as around 50 howler monkeys’, all different shapes and sizes, pranced and twirled out of the trees towards the skyship! ‘NO!’ wailed Ozzy. The monkey’s swung towards the ship, bombarding through the doors and heading straight for the kitchen. Pan burst in after them. She was horrified to see them raiding the fridge!  

 As Pan sat on the deck, Gizmo curled up on her lap and fell asleep, he had had a long day, she realised. Ozzy ha told her that Gizmo would just be a heavy burden on their ship! But she didn’t think so. Pan had a secret; this was a secret that she was proud of. She loved Gizmo, and she would do anything to protect him from harm.