There once was a giraffe named Lulu who love Africa SOOO MUCH that when she was sad she thought about the tall brown grass and large areas of land where she would run and play.

Sadly, her and her family where shipped off to the San Diego Zoo where they would be on display for families to go and see.

When Lulu first arrived she would try to run and play with her brothers and sisters but her cage was to small. Nothing like the big pieces of land  in South Africa. She was so upset, she wished nothing more than to be in South Africa running and playing in the tall brown grass.

One day a small hedgehog walked by her cage. The hedgehog was out of his cage!

She ran up to him and asked, “How did you get out of your cage!!”

He looked at Lulu smiled and said, "When they feed me they never shut the cage all the way, so instead of staying in my cage I leave and walk around the zoo.”

If only I could escape the zoo thought Lulu.

"What’s your name?” asked Lulu.

“ Li,” replied the hedgehog, “I am from China and one day I am going to leave this zoo and go find my family, what’s your name?’ he asked.

"Lulu! And I want to leave this zoo too! I want to go back to

South Africa and run in the tall grass.” exclaimed Lulu.

“Is your family still in South Africa?” questioned Li.   

“No they are here in the zoo but they don’t miss Africa like I do” whispered Lulu.

“Well why don’t you leave right now?” exclaimed Li.

“I have tried before, I got out of my cage but then I turned back around because I was to scared,” cried Lulu.

“I can go with you!” he said.

 “No, I would never see my family again, and they think it’s better if we stay here where we are safe,”Lulu said and lowered her head.

“Now Lulu, you have always dreamed of leaving this zoo just like I have. We would be together Lulu. I think you are brave for thinking  about leaving the zoo,” said Li

“I don’t know Li” said Lulu.

“Well think about it and I will come back tomorrow night,” Li said as he walked away and headed back to his cage.

Lulu couldn’t sleep, she was to nervous about trying to escape but excited that she was so close to leaving the zoo with her new friend.

The next night Li went back to Lulu’s cage and whispered to each other about how they were going to escape.  

Li looked around and told Lulu, “It is time to go.”

“Oh my, I am so scared Li” cried Lulu as she climbed over her cage trying not to step on him.

When she landed on the other side she couldn’t believe herself she did it! As soon as she stepped over her cage a guard walked by and yelled at Lulu. Lulu climbed back over her cage with Li grabbing onto her leg.