Spongebob is a Bolivian squirrel Monkey. Squirrel monkeys are quite small – about the size of a European or North American squirrel, which is perhaps why they are called “squirrel monkeys”. Spongebob is a male squirrel monkey. Until recently he lived in a zoo at Chessington, south of London. But last July, someone broke into the squirrel monkey enclosure and stole him. He was found a few days later playing with children on a housing estate in south London. He was hungry and dirty, but otherwise OK. For a few days, Spongebob was a media star – his picture was on TV and in the newspapers. We were all glad that his adventure had had a happy ending.

　　However, when Spongebob returned to Chessington, the female squirrel monkeys did not welcome him. In fact, they chased him and attacked him. The problem was that, when Spongebob was stolen, he was psychologically damaged and lost his self-confidence. The female monkeys did not like this – they wanted a strong, self-confident male. So they turned on Spongebob and tried to drive him away. The Zoo put Spongebob into an enclosure by himself, but then realised that he would have to move to another Zoo. So Spongebob is now at Battersea Zoo in London, where he has made friends with one of the female squirrel monkeys. But Battersea Zoo have not yet put Spongebob with the rest of the female monkeys in case they attack him like the females at Chessington did.

　　Kevin sometimes feels like Spongbob, on days when Joanne, Joanne’s Mum and Joanne’s friends all decide to have a go at him. Fortunately, however, he can escape to the pub or a football match with George. Poor Spongebob can’t do that. He does however have a blog in which he tells us all about his troubles.

　　There is a short Grammar and Vocabulary Note with this podcast. You may need to go to the podcast website to see it