Star

Five nights a week, Route 7 takes me from work to the transit center near the fourplex. Five nights a week, we roll past a large cage dominating a side yard on the edge of downtown. Even the top of the cage is enclosed by a fine yet strong mesh wire. What is in there?  But after work, my curiosity always lacks the energy required to answer this question.

Today, as we were picnicking at the Delany Park strip, I finally met the cage resident.

When I looked up from my chinese "chicken" and saw the movement in the cage, I immediately dashed barefooted across the street to relieve my recurring curiosity.
A reindeer. Is that it? As I laughed at my flattened expectation of some jungle beast, a couple walking by sourly remarked that the caribou probably dies every couple years but they replace it, keeping the name: "Star." Star? Sure enough. There was an official, weather proof name tag and facebook friending suggestion. That's probably why they keep the name.
"Star" was more thrilling as a mystery monster.