Chapter 15 - The Alpaca Drama

It was the day before Christmas Eve. The day before Yibo would close his mini market for three days, for Christmas Eve and the Christmas holidays. Just as Zhan's restaurant would also be closed. It was a day that could not have been more chaotic. A day that Yibo and Zhan would probably never forget.

In the morning, when Yibo entered his mini market and his new temporary help had gone through the night's earnings with him, Yibo took care of fresh coffee as usual, prepared fresh buns and checked the shelves to see which goods he had to reorder. And as every morning, many residents of the neighborhood came to his store to buy a fresh coffee and a sandwich from him on their way to work.

When the first rush of customers had passed, Yibo swept and mopped the floor of his mini market. He taped the large piece of paper with information about the day's specials to his store window. Sprinkled salt and sand in front of his store so his customers wouldn't slip in the slippery conditions and began dusting when his door opened and suddenly an alpaca stood in front of him.

Confused, Yibo stared at the animal. He looked around in all directions for the owner. But there was no one to be seen. Carefully he approached the alpaca and slowly stroked its light brown fur, trying to get at the red collar it wore around its neck. He hoped to find a name, address or phone number on it. But it was just a red soft collar.

Yibo had no idea what to do. He would be able to deal with problematic customers. But with an alpaca? Rather not. In his distress, he did what he had always done lately when he was at a loss. He called Zhan! "Hi Yibo, what's up?" Asked Zhan as he answered the call.

"I have a really weird problem Zhan." Replied Yibo without taking his eyes off the alpaca.

"What kind of strange problem?"

"There's an alpaca here in my store!"

"Please what is standing there?"

"A real, living alpaca!"

"You're kidding, right?"

"No, not at all. Please come over here and help me."

"I have to work Yibo..."

"Zhan! I'm really serious about this. I don't care how you do it. But please come here! I need you here now."

"Alright. I'll call Yu Bin and then I'll come."

"Yes. And please hurry."

"I will." Replied Zhan, ending the conversation.

Yibo didn't move an inch until Zhan finally entered the store after 10 minutes that seemed like an eternity to Yibo. Zhan stopped abruptly when he saw the alpaca. "See? I told you it wasn't a joke!" Said Yibo, trying to look angry.

"If this is an attempt to look angry, then you have failed. You just look cute right now."

"Hahaha. Do something please!"

"What do you want me to do? I don't know anything about alpacas."

"Neither do I. Did you maybe see someone outside who might own the animal?"

"No, I didn't see anyone. I mean, the street was empty of people."

"Oh that's just great. Now what?"

"Do we call 911? Or the zoo?"

"I'll call 911." Said Yibo. He dialed 911, explained his problem on the phone, and was told that they couldn't help him unless he was in danger of death or injury. He then called the zoo, but they couldn't help Yibo either. Their alpacas were all complete. "And now? Shall we put the animal on a leash and go outside to find the owner?" Yibo wanted to know from Zhan.

"It's 15 degrees below zero outside. I'm sure the alpaca came to your store because it was looking for a warm place."

"But it can't stay here."

"I get it. But we can't just walk around looking for the owner either."

"But there must be something we can do. We..." Yibo and Zhan winced in shock as the alpaca suddenly let out a scream and lay on the ground. "Oh my god! What's wrong now?" Yibo asked in a trembling voice. His heart was racing, he had been so frightened.

"Mhhh, I think we have a big problem."

"Bigger than the alpaca in my mini market where animals are banned because I sell food here?"

"Yeah, something like that."

"What?"

"See this the puddle here?"

"Oh no, don't tell me it peed in here now too."

"No, I rather think not."

"What then?"

"Well, the alpaca looks pretty round around the belly, doesn't it? And the fluid here, well, that's probably amniotic fluid."

"Amniotic fluid? Why... wait a minute. Amniotic fluid, as in amniotic fluid when a baby comes?"

"Yes Yibo."

"You're kidding, right? The alpaca is having a baby? In my store?"

"I guess so. Now you can't take it outside."

"No, certainly not. But what are we going to do?"

"I'll call a veterinarian. He'll be able to help us out."

"Well, hopefully Zhan." Said Yibo. He squatted down next to the alpaca while Zhan was on the phone with the vet. He stroked the animal's head and talked calmly to the animal. "So you're going to be a mommy yes? And you came here to me so you wouldn't have to deliver your baby in the cold? Do you want us to help you?"

"Yibo? The vet said he was making his way here. But because of the black ice on the roads, it will take a while. He said to keep the alpaca warm and maybe have some towels or blankets ready. And we have to make sure it stays calm and doesn't panic."

"I'll close my store on that so no one can get in."

"That would be best."

"There are some blankets and towels in the closet in my office. I'll go get those things and a bowl of warm water and you lock the door please Zhan."

"Will do. I'll just go to the car quickly first. I have a hot water bottle in the trunk."

"What's the hot water bottle for?"

"Well the floor is pretty cold. I want to put the hot water bottle on the alpaca's belly."

"I can also turn on the floor heater."

"That would be even better."

"Then I'll do that right away. Lock the door, please."

"Yes right away."

"I'll be right back."

"Mhm, is good." Zhan locked the door and sat down next to the alpaca's head. He could feel as the floor slowly got warmer. The alpaca pressed its head against Zhan's shoulder and cried out again in pain. "Oh dear, you must be in a lot of pain. Unfortunately, I can't take the pain away from you. But I'll try to stand by you."

Yibo came back with the blankets, towels and water. The alpaca drank some water and then allowed Zhan and Yibo to slide two blankets under the animal and wrap a blanket around its body. The minutes passed and the contractions came at shorter and shorter intervals. "Where the hell is the vet?"

"I don't know Yibo. But it took us three quarters of an hour to make it here this morning too. The roads so slippery like mirrors, the vet can't drive fast."

"I know. But I'd feel better if the vet was here. What if something goes wrong?"

"I think we should stop worrying. I think as long as the alpaca stays calm, everything is as it should be."

"There's no way to stay calm ZhanGeGe. Or do you think it's normal for an alpaca to come waddling into my store to have her baby here?"

"Oh how can anyone be as cute as you Yibo? Are you calling me ZhanGeGe now?"

"What? As if that matters now ZhanGeGe... I mean ZhanZhan... erm... Damn! Focus on this down here. You... you need to see what a piece just came out of here." Said Yibo confused and afraid. But before Zhan could look to see what Yibo was talking about, there was a knock at the door. The vet had finally arrived.

The vet examined the alpaca and then explained, "Well, we don't have to worry. The alpaca mama is doing very well. She is a bit older and an experienced mama. The birth has even started. It won't be long now. You have made it nice and warm and cozy for her. I'll take mother and baby in my heated trailer later, once the baby is here and they've both recovered a bit from the birth."

"What do you mean a little recovered? How long does something like that take, roughly? Now I'm not asking because I want the mama and baby out of my store. But just because I'm interested." Said Yibo.

"About half an hour should be enough. Since she's an experienced mama, she'll help the baby get up and let it drink from her. We'll wrap them both in blankets and then take them out to my trailer. Luckily, I bought the trailer recently. It's enclosed all around and heatable." Replied the vet.

"Then are you also investigating who the owner is?" Asked Zhan.

"Yes. I'm hoping the momma's been chipped and that I can find out who she belongs to and where her herd is through this chip. Alpacas aren't kept individually and usually a herd is registered."

"Okay, that's reassuring to know. I'd be very interested to know where she came from and why she was alone on the road." Said Zhan.

"I'd be interested in that too! What would have happened to her and the baby if she hadn't come to my store?" Yibo wanted to know.

"The baby would have died for sure. The mama might have, too. Usually the owners make sure they have their babies in the spring or fall. Then it's neither too hot, nor too cold for the animals. But now it's December 23 and it's freezing outside and icy cold." Said the vet.

Yibo was about to mention something else, but then the birthing process really started and the three men were busy monitoring the birth, petting the mama and watching the baby alpaca being pushed out piece by piece. And during the entire birthing process, none of them spoke a word.

When after 10 minutes the front legs were almost completely out, Yibo thought it would take even longer for the body to come out. But then the alpaca mama pushed again and the baby came out completely. The vet rubbed it with a towel, freed the mouth and nose and meanwhile the afterbirth came out. But Yibo and Zhan did not see that at all. Because they only had eyes for the cute baby, who was looking around all confused. Moreover, the vet immediately covered the afterbirth so that Yibo and Zhan would not have to see it.

After a short examination, the vet declared that the baby was fine. The alpaca mom was already standing up again, licking her baby's head and nudging it to get up. A few times the baby tried, but didn't make it. But then it stood up. The long thin legs were shaking. But that didn't stop the baby from going to its mommy and immediately sucking milk from her.

Yibo and Zhan were completely smitten by the sight. They didn't even notice how they held each other in their arms and had tears of joy in their eyes. For them, it was the most beautiful thing in the world they had ever seen. And they would never forget it again.

The vet gave mom and baby another half hour to recover. During that time, the three of them drank hot coffee and the vet explained to them why the baby had to get up and move immediately after birth. "For one thing, the baby's circulation needs to get going. But most importantly, for the baby to be able to get up and run is in case enemies approach and it needs to run away. That's the natural way when they're in the wild."

"So in case a wild animal comes and attacks?" Asked Yibo.

"Yes exactly. But here you could tell that the mama was very experienced. She knew exactly what to do and didn't panic. Also, she let you guys get close to her. Which means she knew the humans were helping her." Said the vet.

"What actually happens when the mama is not shipped?" Zhan wanted to know.

"Then I will put them both with me for the time being. I have a stable with several animals. They'll be safe and warm in there."

"That's good to know. Would it be possible to keep us informed?" Asked Yibo.

"Sure. I can call you if I find the owner or take them in."

"That would be really nice. Because we're interested in how things are going with these two." Said Yibo.

"I'll be happy to do that. So now I think we should put them both in my trailer so I can take them to my barn where they can get a proper rest and mommy can eat."

"Okay." Said Yibo and Zhan in unison. They took pictures of mama and baby alpaca with their cell phones to have some memory pictures and then helped the vet take them both outside to the trailer. Yibo carried the baby and mama calmly followed him. Yibo set the baby down in the trailer, petted the mama, and then went outside to Zhan. They watched as the vet closed the door of the trailer, said goodbye to him, and waited until he was out of sight in his car.

Back at the store, Zhan helped Yibo clean up. The vet took the soiled blankets and towels with him. He promised to let them clean and give them back to Yibo. But Yibo refused and donated them to the vet. After half an hour the floor in the mini market was spotlessly clean again. Yibo had even used extra disinfectant to wipe it. Otherwise, he could have gotten into trouble with the health department.

Since Yu Bin was filling in for Zhan at the restaurant, Zhan stayed with Yibo and helped him. And to every customer who came to the mini market, they told the exciting story of how the alpaca came to the store to have her baby and how the birth went. And at the end they showed them the many pictures they took of the two of them. And everyone marveled at how cute the alpacas were and how great it was that she could find shelter in the store with Yibo.

And in a quiet moment when there were no customers in the store, Yibo wrapped his arms around Zhan, pressed a kiss on his cheek and said, "You are the best husband I can imagine. Thank you for always being there for me. And sorry for being so short-tempered earlier. I just panicked."

Zhan returned the kiss on Yibo's cheek. "I thought it was cute to see you so bewildered. And I didn't think you were short tempered. You were just excited and nervous. And I will always be there for you, my cute husband."

Yibo and Zhan looked into each other's eyes. It was a very brief but very special moment for the two of them. Because at that moment, their hearts were beating in the same beat. And deep inside, the two knew that no matter what may come, they no longer want to be without the other! But the moment faded when the next customer came into the store.