Noble Memory
By Sanjoy Dutt
An elephant has a memory to match the size of his body. The sharp memory of a human is often compared to an elephant. This huge land animal can remember everything that it encounters in his life; unfortunately, men have used this to their advantage. Baby elephants are restrained by a chain in which, of course, they cannot escape. As adults, they are restrained by the same chain, yet now, they can easily escape; however, they remember the failure they had as babies and sadly, do not even bother to try. This story revolves around Lewis; a skinny, seemingly weak boy who has a strong intellect and twisted sense of wit.
During Lewis’s college spring break, he decided to go home to spend time with his friends and family. Coincidentally, this was also the time the state fair was taking place near his home. Going to the fair was one of his favorite things to do with his friends.
One day, as Lewis was visiting the fair with friends, he saw a sign that said, “Pay $10, play the game, win $1000.” The object of the game was to lift any of the elephant’s legs off the ground. Lewis was very excited at the thought of winning the price, but his friends counseled him not to play.
“That is such a waste of money Lewis,” they said “It’s none of a weak boys’ business!”
Lewis disregarded their advice and bought a ticket anyways. He headed over towards the elephant’s tent. He had found a stone the size of a baseball on his way over; he picked it up and continued walking. Inside the tent was a huge male elephant and his proprietor. The owner was really pleased to see the feeble Lewis.
With a great smile, he explained the game to him. “You can practice all your tricks or use strength to lift his leg!”
Lewis smirked and stood in front of the elephant. Both the elephant and Lewis had a good stare down at each other. Lewis began to walk around the elephant in very steady steps. Both the owner and the elephant followed his steps with curious eyes. On Lewis’s third lap, he passed behind the elephant and threw the stone with all his might, aiming right at the elephant’s testicles.
BANG!
The pain the followed caused the elephant to jump off the ground several times. The proprietor was irritated at Lewis, but he never said a rock could not be thrown at the animal. He then handed Lewis the $1,000 prize.
Fearing more men would follow Lewis’s cruel trick, the owner wrapped up his tent and left town.
A few months later while on summer break, Lewis went to stay with his friend Tim. One afternoon, Tim took Lewis to the Village Fair. The fair had an elephant game going, which evidently caught Lewis’s eye.
Tim told Lewis countless stories about the townspeople having tried and failed in the game. The game was different this time. Now, a person would win $2,000 if they managed to get the elephant to move his head up and down, and left to right. Lewis was determined to give it a try.
He paid $10 for his ticket and confidently marched into the tent. Lewis entered the tent and immediately, he and the elephant’s proprietor recognized each other. This time, the owner made certain that Lewis was empty handed. He sneered at Lewis, expecting to witness a delightful failure this time.
Lewis stood before the elephant with a broad smile. Each could seee the other very clearly.
Lewis got very close to the elephant with a punishing look on his face and firmly asked, “Do you remember me?”
The elephant forcefully nodded his head up and down several times as if to be anxiously saying, “Yes, yes, I remember you.” After all, how could a beast with such a colossal memory, forget such excruciating pain?
Lewis chuckled and asked the elephant, “Do you want me to do it again?”
This time, the elephant swung his head from left to right as urgently as he could, as if pleading, “Please no! Not again!”
The elephant has quite a noble memory!
About the author:
Sanjoy, an engineer and sales professional is passionate about traveling to historical places such as the Himalayas. For the last ten years, he has been writing travelogues and short stories for various magazines.
Edited by Courtney Staib
By Sanjoy Dutt
An elephant has a memory to match the size of his body. The sharp memory of a human is often compared to an elephant. This huge land animal can remember everything that it encounters in his life; unfortunately, men have used this to their advantage. Baby elephants are restrained by a chain in which, of course, they cannot escape. As adults, they are restrained by the same chain, yet now, they can easily escape; however, they remember the failure they had as babies and sadly, do not even bother to try. This story revolves around Lewis; a skinny, seemingly weak boy who has a strong intellect and twisted sense of wit.
During Lewis’s college spring break, he decided to go home to spend time with his friends and family. Coincidentally, this was also the time the state fair was taking place near his home. Going to the fair was one of his favorite things to do with his friends.
One day, as Lewis was visiting the fair with friends, he saw a sign that said, “Pay $10, play the game, win $1000.” The object of the game was to lift any of the elephant’s legs off the ground. Lewis was very excited at the thought of winning the price, but his friends counseled him not to play.
“That is such a waste of money Lewis,” they said “It’s none of a weak boys’ business!”
Lewis disregarded their advice and bought a ticket anyways. He headed over towards the elephant’s tent. He had found a stone the size of a baseball on his way over; he picked it up and continued walking. Inside the tent was a huge male elephant and his proprietor. The owner was really pleased to see the feeble Lewis.
With a great smile, he explained the game to him. “You can practice all your tricks or use strength to lift his leg!”
Lewis smirked and stood in front of the elephant. Both the elephant and Lewis had a good stare down at each other. Lewis began to walk around the elephant in very steady steps. Both the owner and the elephant followed his steps with curious eyes. On Lewis’s third lap, he passed behind the elephant and threw the stone with all his might, aiming right at the elephant’s testicles.
BANG!
The pain the followed caused the elephant to jump off the ground several times. The proprietor was irritated at Lewis, but he never said a rock could not be thrown at the animal. He then handed Lewis the $1,000 prize.
Fearing more men would follow Lewis’s cruel trick, the owner wrapped up his tent and left town.
A few months later while on summer break, Lewis went to stay with his friend Tim. One afternoon, Tim took Lewis to the Village Fair. The fair had an elephant game going, which evidently caught Lewis’s eye.
Tim told Lewis countless stories about the townspeople having tried and failed in the game. The game was different this time. Now, a person would win $2,000 if they managed to get the elephant to move his head up and down, and left to right. Lewis was determined to give it a try.
He paid $10 for his ticket and confidently marched into the tent. Lewis entered the tent and immediately, he and the elephant’s proprietor recognized each other. This time, the owner made certain that Lewis was empty handed. He sneered at Lewis, expecting to witness a delightful failure this time.
Lewis stood before the elephant with a broad smile. Each could seee the other very clearly.
Lewis got very close to the elephant with a punishing look on his face and firmly asked, “Do you remember me?”
The elephant forcefully nodded his head up and down several times as if to be anxiously saying, “Yes, yes, I remember you.” After all, how could a beast with such a colossal memory, forget such excruciating pain?
Lewis chuckled and asked the elephant, “Do you want me to do it again?”
This time, the elephant swung his head from left to right as urgently as he could, as if pleading, “Please no! Not again!”
The elephant has quite a noble memory!
About the author:
Sanjoy, an engineer and sales professional is passionate about traveling to historical places such as the Himalayas. For the last ten years, he has been writing travelogues and short stories for various magazines.
Edited by Courtney Staib
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