Frank Tigue’s Reviews > The Puma Years > Status Update

Even though Laura wants to stay, another volunteer, Uri, arrives. Because of his looks & demeanor, Coco is afraid when Uri is around. Maybe it is beard & origins. Coco tries to attack Uri on couple of occasions. However, the monkey is placed outside the lodging. However, on a trip down the long hill, Coco succeeds in attacking Uri. Uri leaves. Laura talks to her mum. She says she has met someone-a puma. Wants 2 stay.

As Laura and others are in the road, Mila asks how Laura's time was with Wayra. Laura has begun to develop a closeness to the puma. Sammie is getting along well with Vanesso, the ocelot. Finally, Laura is asked when her time is up and she will be leaving. She responds her month ends in a week. Mila says in Spanish that they will need to begin looking for another volunteer. Laura is shocked and does not want another.

Laura gets close to Wayra. Wayra begins sensing an affinity to Laura & allows her to get close & pet his back. Later, Laura is assigned a macaw.. His name is Lorenzo. Oscar worked on some extenders for wings to enable Lorenzo to fly. Laura and Sammie take him on a stick, shaking it up and down. Lorenzo does not fly. Mila smiles, comparing the birds, animals, as well as humans to onions. Layers are peeling.

As Laura prepares to board a bus going into town, she sees Janes. She hollers. Jane does not want to go to town. She wants to take a book & join Wayra. Jane asks Laura if she wants to come. Sacrificing going to town with ice cream, banana milk shakes, air conditioning, and the internet, Laura joins Jane in her walk towards Wayra. As she falls asleep, Wayra is in her face. Laura & Jane spend time with Wayra.

It seems as the only sanctuary Laura has in the jungle is her quiet time at the dropoff. She continues to have flashbacks to Wayra, hoping she will notice her. She and a group take an excursion to Santa Cruz. On the way, she meets Bryan and Paddy. Once there, they have beer and party. Laura wakes up nude with Harry nearby once back at the original camp. Uh oh! She hurriedly gets dressed. What else awaits Laura here?

Laura tries to relax. She meets Harry, and watches Coco. Harry wants to smoke. Oscar is going to leave; they have been having trouble finding a replacement, especially to take care of Wayra. When Harry comes back in, Jane says a snide comment. Harry follows with his own comment. Hell breaks loose after Jane throws a boot at Harry. Laura listens then goes to bed. She gets up in the morning to care for the birds.

Laura comes back from Wayra's walk as the puma returns to her home. Laura confronts Harry at the smoking hut. He asks her if Laura would like to watch Coco. She obliges, finally overcoming some of the frear that has manifested itself during this excursion. She agreed to take Coco to his home. The monkeys had been abused. They sleep in one of the huts. Laura seems to be comfortable with her new friend.

Laura and Jane meet, with Laura being petrified. Wayra goes out on the runner. She looks at a squirrel. Jane tells Wayra to not be scared. Oscar is attached to her with the runner. Apparently, they are taking Wayra for a walk. She is free to go down whatever path she wants, according to Jane.

In the company of Jane and Oscar, Laura finally reaches the cage.... and Wayra. Fear envelops her as she does not know what to expect, and whether Wayra wil like her. The gate opens, and Wayra takes off in a whiz on "the runner"-Wayra has moments where she appears to have a low growl toward Jane. What will happen next?

Laura tries to eat, but the food is infested with insects. She is taken to the location where Wayra is. That is the puma she has been entrusted to take for a walk. The climate is unique with the monkeys, other animals, and the trees. Will she reach Wayra, and what will she do?