Week 2 Story
The Elephant and the Boy
A large elderly elephant named Sadie escaped the horrors of the circus. In captivity for years, she longed to see her family. She wailed as she remembered the games they played at the watering hole. As she searched the land to reunite with her family, she came upon an abandoned boy with an injured leg. The boy was frightened by Sadie's immense size. Sadie offered to carry him and used her trunk to gently lift the boy upon her back. The weary boy felt a great comfort as he lay upon Sadie's broad back. She went in search of herbs to heal the boy's leg. Sadie found her family's watering hole. Sadie was elated. The watering hole was plush with tall trees and thick grass surrounding it. They remained there as the boys leg healed. Sadie taught the boy to swim, forage for food and helped him build a shelter.
One day as they were noisily playing in the water, three burly men from the circus appeared. They captured Sadie and roughly took the boy into their care. The wizened ringmaster knowing the boy was hungry and alone, offered the boy food and shelter. But on one condition, he punish Sadie for her escape.
In the middle of the arena, he was surrounded by animals, clowns, trapeze artists, and jugglers. He slowly took the weathered bullhook from the ringmaster and approached a solemn Sadie. Now in front of Sadie, who had cared for him in his loneliness and need, he felt the love and connection of family. He threw the bullhook down and embraced Sadie.
The ringmaster shocked by the boys action, called the boy to him. The boy told him how Sadie saved him. The ringmaster's heart softened. Sadie was freed and the boy helped Sadie reunite with her family.
Author's Note : I took a different approach to Androcles and the Lion. In that story, the lion was injured and received help from a man who escaped slavery. They become friends but ere eventually captured and pitted against each other. I wanted to keep the story of friendship but change the role of the characters.
Bibliography: "Androcles and the Lion" from Aesop's Fables fables
Wow. What an emotional roller coaster. I really felt for Sadie and the boy. This story had a nice plot, a nice theme about animal conservation/treatment thrown in there, and on top of all that a quick character development arc with the boy and ringmaster. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Chris, this story does pull on your emotions. The story is neat in the sense it is a unlikely friendship, and it means a lot to each party. And It was an interesting story, but I think it was just a feel good story that logically couldn't happen. The Circus Manager would have never turned around his view on the situation so quickly.
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