Aart Vaard

Aart Vaard may look like just a man, but he is an Aardvark at heart.  He would love to visit zoos to see “other aardvarks” but most of all, wants to see the world as far and fast as he can!

The Vaard family, Maartan and Caaren, wanted to celebrate their son Aart’s first birthday, so they decided to go on an African safari.  It was a splendid trip where they saw all manor of exotic animals that they had only seen in zoos back in the Netherlands.  Caaren’s favorite animals were the Meerkats.  She dreamed of having one as a pet, so when they came upon a pack of them, she hopped out of the Jeep and rushed over to pick one up and hug it.  Unfortunately for Mrs Vaard, the pack she chose to greet with open arms, chose to greet her with open mouths as they were rabid and hungry.  Mr Vaard jumped out of the van to come to the aid of his wife, only to share her fate as a Meerkat meal. 
Poor Aart, sat alone in the Jeep, hungry, hot and cranky!  A new mother of the African plains heard the baby’s cries and came to investigate.  Aannie the Aardvark found Aart and took pity on him.  She carefully led him back to her burrow and nursed him along with her own son Aaron.  At first Aart was scared of the dark burrow, but the warmth of his new mother and brother comforted him.
Aart thought the ants his new mother was trying to feed him were a little tickly, but hunger overcame his unease, and he soon was an ant munching expert!  Aaron was a little miffed that Annie expected him to lead Aart around and dig the tunnels for him since the weird looking creature didn’t have any claws, but as the months went on, Aaron learned that Aart had other talents. 
By the time Aart was 3, he learned to make simple tools out of bones, rocks and sticks, and was soon digging even faster than Aaron. 
Shortly before Aart’s 15^thbirthday, Aannie passed away, and Aart and Aaron set off together to explore the world.  After travelling for about a month, they came across some strange creatures that looked kind of like Aart.  Neither Aart nor Aaron knew what to make of these creatures, so they hid and watched them.  They were so entranced with these creatures, neither one noticed the one sneaking up behind them.  Aart was captured, but Aaron managed to hide under some brush. 
Aart was taken back to their camp, bathed, dressed and fed strange food.  The creatures also made strange sounds at him.  Aaron watched in horror at what they were doing to his brother.  Aart didn’t seem to mind though. 
After a week of watching, Aaron braved coming into camp.  The creatures were fascinated watching Aart and Aaron interact with each other.  Aart started to understand the creatures a little bit and explained to Aaron that they wanted the brothers to go with them on a journey.  Aaron was wary, but trusted Aart and the two got on a plane with their new friends. 
The plane landed at an airport in Michigan, and the two brothers were amazed at the buildings, cars and throngs of people everywhere.  Their friends took them to a place nearby with lots of animals, but the animals were separated by walls.  Aaron was given a place to stay with other Aardvarks, and Aart was taken to a strange above ground burrow.  Aart was allowed to go and see Aaron whenever he wanted, and Aaron was allowed out of his walls when he was with Aart.  They both lived happily there for years.
Recently, Aaron passed away, and Aart’s wanderlust set in again.  He travelled from Detroit to the city of Lansing, where he met a man named Peter who introduced him to a game that reminded Aart of hunting for ants and termites back in Africa.  Aart thanked Peter and set out to meet others who liked this game and travel the world as much as possible