An Elephant Never Forgets (6325 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesRating: 1.93 on 36 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by AJ <uberaj.at.gmail.com> (View user info) at 2009-04-02 12:08:25 EDT
Rodney didn't know what the letter in his hand said, but he knew who it was for. He recognized the name as Ms. Fisher, even though he couldn't read. His mom gave him letters to give to his kindergarten teacher on occasion. He liked Ms. Fisher. She was teaching Rodney how to write his name, just like she wrote her own on the chalkboard. Hang on to the letter, Rodney. Don't lose it, or Mom will be mad. Ms. Fisher had taught them about all sorts of animals on Friday. Rodney liked the elephants best. Ms. Fisher told them elephants never forget. Rodney liked the sound of that. He waited impatiently for the bus to come pick him up. Wondered what kind of animals they'd learn about today.
The bus pulled up to the stop and the door folded in on itself and snapped open. The noise made Rodney happy. It was like the drawbridge to a castle. "Good morning, Rodney," said the bus driver. Rodney couldn't remember his name. He stammered for a second and decided it would be better to wave and sit down than get it wrong. He sat down in the first seat behind the bus driver. Little kids have to sit up front, he remembered. He was the first kid on this particular bus route, and didn't mind the lack of chatter around him. He liked listening to the gravel rocks hit the underside of the chassis as the bus chugged toward the next house. Like popcorn.
None of the other kids on the route were Rodney's age. He didn't know any of their names either, so he held to his tradition of keeping his mouth shut. He stared at the letter. It was getting tiny crease marks in it from where he held it tight in his fingers. Like the wrinkles of an elephant's skin. He traced the letters in Ms. Fisher's name over and over until the bus came to a stop at school. In his excitement to get to class, he stood up with a shot. Back row off the bus first. He stood patiently in the confines of his vinyl seat for the rest of the herd to shuffle past and clamber down the steps. Checking for what felt like the hundredth time, he made sure he still had his letter for Ms. Fisher before stampeding down the steps himself. Like an elephant.
"Good morning, Ms. Fisher," Rodney belted out.
"Good morning, Rodney. Is that from your mom?" Rodney nodded. "Can I have it?" Rodney passed the letter over sheepishly. Ms. Fisher didn't know whether he withheld the letter out of embarrassment, or whether he'd just forgotten what to do next, as usual. "Thank you, Rodney. Take your seat."
"Um... Ms. Fisher?"
"Yes, Rodney?"
"There's an elephant in my room," he said, happily. The bell rang as the last of the children scurried into the classroom.
"Sit down, Rodney."
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Ms. Fisher opened the letter while Rodney was at recess.
Ms. Fisher,
Thank you for all your help this year with Rodney. I know he can be a handful. I haven't had the time to spend with him I'd like since his father died. Hopefully that will change now. I'm engaged! My fiancé is a wonderful man. He's taken an immediate shine to Rodney, but Rodney hasn't been very receptive thus far. I know it's a big change for him, so if you notice any strange behavior from Rodney, please don't hesitate to write.
Sincerely,
Aldona Lusky
Ms. Fisher thought back to the elephant in the room. Rodney had proclaimed this with so much certainty that it had put her off-keel. She made a note of it to speak with Rodney about the elephant. Rodney was a special case for Ms. Fisher. Developmentally, the boy was unlike any she'd had in class to that point. He wasn't dumb, but he had the hardest time remembering things- unless he could tie them to his own emotions. As far as she could tell, the boy was merely different. He liked things that were different.
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One of the hardships of a small town school, aside from the lack of available resources- is the inevitable assimilation or consolidation of its occupants to a larger pool. Such was the case for the little town of Dalton. For the kids close enough to walk to school, this wasn't an issue. For Rodney, it meant forty minutes on the bus before school, and twenty minutes after school before the same bus could take him home. This gave Ms. Fisher a chance to talk to him about his elephant.
"Rodney... you mentioned earlier there is an elephant in your room? Tell me about it." Rodney beamed when Ms. Fisher said this. Before he could say anything, Ms. Fisher added, "How do you know he's an elephant?"
Rodney mulled it over for a few moments before giving her a puzzled look. "What do you mean, Ms. Fisher?"
"Describe him for me. What does he look like?"
"Oh, okay. He's gray. His skin is rough and wrinkly. He's really tall. He's got really big ears and a big nose. And fat feet with really hard toenails. When he blows his nose the sound is really loud too." Rodney tried to imitate this with a loud squeal that sounded more like the door to his bus than an elephant. Ms. Fisher couldn't help but chuckle.
"What else? How big are his tusks?"
"He doesn't have tusks, Ms. Fisher. I think he probably lost them a long time ago."
"What's his name?"
"I'm not sure."
Ms. Fisher looked up at the clock and noticed it was time to move Rodney to the bus stop in front of the school.
"Tell you what, Rodney... here's your homework until Christmas. I want you to find out as much about your elephant as you can. What his name is. Whether he likes peanuts, or is afraid of mice. Every Monday I want you to tell me something new about your elephant. Just one thing each day. Then we'll put it all together and have a nice story about your elephant. Do you think you can do that for me?" Rodney nodded vehemently. "Good. See you tomorrow, Rodney."
Ms. Fisher watched him hop on the bus and waved at Rodney as it rolled off the block.
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It took a little gentle prodding at first, but once Rodney got the hang of it, he was brimming with new stories about his elephant.
His elephant's name was Mr. Navin. He was 67 years old. Rodney wasn't sure if he never forgot anything, but he certainly remembered plenty. He used to work in a traveling circus before he retired. He had one son. He was allergic to peanuts. He was most certainly not afraid of mice. Rodney found this fact out in a particular gruesome fashion, as Mr. Navin's feet were the cause of an unfortunate mouse's demise. Ms. Fisher spent the twenty minutes each afternoon helping Rodney compile his book about the elephant. It was two weeks before Christmas, and Ms. Fisher unveiled Rodney's final project for his book.
"Rodney- I want you to draw a picture of your elephant. Pick your favorite parts about him and put those in the picture. I'd like you to be in the picture too. Put your names on the top, and hand it in to me next week." Rodney was excited with the assignment, and promised to work on it right away.
Monday came, and Rodney was not on the bus. Ms. Fisher checked in at the principal's office to see if Mrs. Lusky had called or written. The secretary gave Ms. Fisher a letter.
Dear Ms. Fisher,
I wish the good news I'm presenting wasn't overshadowed by the bad. The good news is my fiancé and I were married last Saturday. The bad news is the death of his father that occurred last night. He has been living with us since my husband moved in. He's been in poor health for some time, but his death was not expected this soon. He has grown especially close with Rodney these past months at your suggestion, I'm told. I want to thank you for that. I hope Rodney handles this well. I'm not sure how we're going to cope. I think my husband put it best when he told Rodney that my father-in-law was headed to the big circus in the sky.
Please keep me apprised of any noticeable changes in Rodney's behavior after school starts back up. We're taking an extended leave to resolve issues with his estate, as well as funeral and burial arrangements. Have a Merry Christmas, and thank you for your support and help with Rodney thus far.
Sincerely,
Aldona Lusky-Navin
P.S. - Rodney threw a conniption when we told him he wouldn't be back before Christmas. He said he wanted you to get this.
Rodney's drawing was folded neatly behind his mother's letter. Ms. Fisher unfolded it. Rodney had a bag of peanuts, his face pointed skyward. At the top of the page, a silver-haired old man with comically big ears, feet, and nose was waving back atop a cloud with a circus tent top. Rodney, true to assignment had labeled himself as, "Me." Instead of "Mr. Navin" was scrawled, "Grampa."
Ms. Fisher wept quietly, folded the drawing back into its neat confines, and carried it to her room. She flattened it out and placed it beneath the cellophane page of the scrapbook, which contained Rodney's stories. She closed the book and removed a marker from the cup on her desk. On the front cover she wrote, "In Remembrance."
User Reviews
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2009-04-10 19:48:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
EI looks the same as grandpa
Submitted by pandora (user info) at 2009-04-10 19:06:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Very moving and well-written.
Submitted by lungfish (user info) at 2009-04-10 18:31:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by polyamorousaj (user info) at 2009-04-10 17:31:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Put up pictures of your boxer.
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Maybe tonight. Provided I drink enough to think that I have something funny or interesting to say.
Submitted by no1hasdis (user info) at 2009-04-03 17:31:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Rowsdower (user info) at 2009-04-03 16:42:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2009-04-03 12:25:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2009-04-03 12:17:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
wow. this was wonderful!
Submitted by Ducky (user info) at 2009-04-03 10:58:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This was beautiful.
Submitted by AyeCarumba (user info) at 2009-04-03 06:47:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This was lovely, I expected a much more evil ending though, perhaps thats just me.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2009-04-03 05:55:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Emission Impossible enjoys are good, long, walk. Whenever he takes a holiday, he makes a point to take whatever hapless soul has agreed to go with him on a lengthly amble throughout whatever nearby countryside he can find.
One time, he was visiting Cardigan with a girlfriend named Zoe. Zoe was a English Literature student with a perversion of outdoor sex. When EI suggested a walk to the ruins of Cardigan Castle, Zoe assumed this was an excuse to pork her in a hedge. She readily agreed.
Ruddy faced and beaming, EI would stride onwards holding Zoe's hand and boring her with meaningless trivia about the area, wildflowers and the construction of any small walls nearby. feeling somewhat huffy, Zoe suggested a rest. EI, annoyed at having to take a break that wasn't on his list of "rest stops" aquiesced and they sat down on a rock which jutted out of the earth in a nearby field.
Starting with amorous kisses and suggestive carresses, Zoe insinuated her gloved hand into EI's trousers. EI was caught in a quandry; on the one hand he was (and probably still is) a young man and sex is always fun for young men, but on the other hand he was outside, in a field, in north wales. It was not warm, nor was it comfortable. Despite rubbing, tugging and oral loving, EI's primal parts were reluctant to thrust themselves up into the bitterly cold wind.
Zoe felt slighted, EI felt embarrased. So embarrased, in fact, that his frantic efforts to make up for his performance on that windswept moor almost rescued the holiday from tremendous awkwardness. Sadly, it was to no avail and the relationship ended soon afterwards.
Now, several years on, EI still enjoys taking his girlfriends on walks but is sure to keep a pill of viagra in his wallet in case spontanaity demands an external sexual performance.
This is a true story which EI didn't want me to tell you, but I have done so anyway for the crack.
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2009-04-03 05:32:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
when berty grew up in the forest of dean he often rode polar bears to pre school. unfortunatly, one day, a ravenous wolverine blocked his path. fortunatly for berty, neil diamond lay in his rucksack, berty took him out and threw him to said wolverine. As the ravenous wolverine feasted on diamond, bertys polar bear trotted past and was able to arrive just before double finger painting.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2009-04-03 05:19:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2009-04-03 04:41:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
i once saw berty eating dirt from a crows kneecap, not that crows have kneecaps. it was actually salvador dali dressed as a crow eating some monster munch. then a monkey came down and bit bertys balls
true story
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True Story:
Emission Impossible has a cousin (by marriage) called Zaroof Mezos. When he was a boy, the cousin was playing with EI who proceeded to light the poor boy's hood on fire and then ran up to his parents gleefully shouting "Zaroof! Zaroof! Zaroof is on fire!".
Poor Zaroof was traumatised and is unable to go near barbeques to this day. EI still thinks it is hilarious which, to be fair, it is.
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2009-04-03 04:41:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
i once saw berty eating dirt from a crows kneecap, not that crows have kneecaps. it was actually salvador dali dressed as a crow eating some monster munch. then a monkey came down and bit bertys balls
true story
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2009-04-03 04:27:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by NerfHerder (user info) at 2009-04-03 00:49:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww shucks.
Submitted by jared.melton (user info) at 2009-04-03 03:46:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Loved it.
Submitted by NerfHerder (user info) at 2009-04-03 00:49:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww shucks.
Submitted by simple_catalyst (user info) at 2009-04-03 00:46:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
cute. predictable. but cute.
Submitted by polyamorousaj (user info) at 2009-04-02 17:38:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I like to give people an alternative. And +2s are more positive encouragement than any I'll get at work.
Submitted by DonkeyOnTheEdge (user info) at 2009-04-02 17:33:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Rodney is you, isn't it? What the fuck are you doing writing here anyway? This is for ubersite personal squabbles and news links.
Submitted by maiorano84 (user info) at 2009-04-02 17:32:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Skinnamarinkydinkydink. Skinnamarinkydoo.
Submitted by Sidivan (user info) at 2009-04-02 16:18:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
jesus christ, you're gonna make me cry...
Well done.
Submitted by BranDo (user info) at 2009-04-02 16:01:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Elephantastic!
We used to label chubby women as livingroom elephants.
Submitted by TheStitch (user info) at 2009-04-02 15:17:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Pentameter (user info) at 2009-04-02 15:15:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Rodney is such a great little character...I like how you captured the essence of a child's innocence.
Submitted by HateMudkips (user info) at 2009-04-02 14:58:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
nice
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2009-04-02 14:56:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Fey (user info) at 2009-04-02 14:44:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Blinkish (user info) at 2009-04-02 14:22:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Ballare (user info) at 2009-04-02 14:12:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by RoadSong (user info) at 2009-04-02 12:54:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
There is an elephant in many houses but people don't want to see them.
Submitted by polyamorousaj (user info) at 2009-04-02 12:47:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I thought about tweaking the ending, but I'm lazy. And at work.
Submitted by monkeyswithguns (user info) at 2009-04-02 12:44:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
This was well written, and had an actual plot, but I thought the ending was dissappointing and could have been done better.
Submitted by firefly (user info) at 2009-04-02 12:39:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2009-04-02 12:27:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2009-04-02 12:23:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
A gem.
Submitted by secret_of_nimh (user info) at 2009-04-02 12:18:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Very well written - there are metaphors aplenty.