The Skeeter Daddle Diaries

A few days ago four zebras escaped from the truck they were being transported in just east of Seattle off Interstate 90 near North Bend. I guess they just didn’t care to move to a new home. Or being hauled in a trailer. Three were rounded up pretty quick with the help of a passing retired rodeo clown and no, I didn’t make this up. But the fourth one is still on the lam, surprising, since a zebra is about the most recognizable animal on earth.

Needless to say, this was the top story on the evening news and even made the New York Times. Trump, Gaza, Stormy Daniels — all of em took a backseat to the missing mammal loose on the interstate savannahs up toward the Cascades. No amber alerts for the black and white striped renegade. Probably more needed in the future. But so far our escapee has eluded capture days later.

I suspect the TikTokkers have already started streaming. Zebra influencers galore. And the Go Fund Me folks are collecting donations to save little Zeebo. African trackers will be flown in, the national press will fly in too. Call it a media circus and you’d be spot, or stripe on. Nevertheless it’s a welcome diversion from the old media circus and I for one thank this creature for taking the spotlight and running with it.

For a few memorable years we had the Barefoot Bandit, a neighbor kid who outsmarted and out ran the local cops, the State Patrol and the FBI. He became our local hero although there were neighbors here who proclaimed publicly they wanted him caught or killed. Most of us South Enders were rooting for the Kid. He never hurt anyone, mostly just stole food and supplies and, well, okay, an airplane or three. You sort of have to root for the underdog in an age of cellphone tracking, credit card locating, security cameras, Amber Alerts and the ubiquitous government surveillance. C’mon, he was our Jesse James, our Robin Hood, our Billy the Kid — you always gonna root for the Powerful?

I’m rooting for Zeebo! At least he’ll get a few days of freedom. And maybe some fellow sympathizer will find him grazing the flower garden and give him sanctuary. We got a shed ready just in case he finds his way down here. We can always use another Legend….

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