The Tale of the Tiger

One of the things that has always tickled me about Alexanders childhood innocence was time he asked to go and see tigers. It was a few days before Christmas and he was 3 years old. So we jumped into the car and I took him to the Big Cat house at San Francisco Zoo during feeding time. It was quite impressive to me. The tigers prowling back and forth angrly awaiting their meal, snarling and banging their water bowls.
Out of the blue Alexander asked me "Can I pet one?" I said "Well no, it might bite you." and Alexander replied "Well, it might not." I concluded the glass was definitely half full for this young man.
So, I was sad to read that this Christmas Day a tiger (I think, exactly the one Alexander wanted to pet) had gotten out and killed someone.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/26/us/26tiger.html?em&ex=1198904400&en=2f5bafe69cad194f&ei=5087%0A