07 March 2010

*Edgar the Elephant

Intro: The idea for this story came from my husband. When I started writing this I had some great mental images of poor little Edgar. I like the idea of this eventually becoming a picture book. I may take that on as the next project in my art class. I hope that you enjoy the story. Yes, Edgar is an Elephant.

On Edgar the Elephant's second assignment from work, he realized he'd been insane to apply. The first assignment went smoothly enough. He picked up his assigned package and started the journey to Cambodia. Glad he would see more of the world than the small African savannah he'd lived in his whole life, he trudged along, taking in the scenery.


One of his co-workers flew by, “Hey, Edgar. Pick it up if you want the package to make it on time.” There was a chirping chortle and then he was out of sight.


Edgar didn't let it bother him. He kept moving knowing he would get there eventually. When he reached the coast of Somalia, he used his trunk and held the precious bundle in the air as he swam. It was difficult to keep going, but by swimming, Edgar shaved a couple of weeks off his time.


Tired and bedraggled, he finally reached the small hut in Phnom Penh. A fence, he wasn't expecting, was accidentally crushed as he tiptoed up to the window. The noise from the splintering wood brought eager faces to the window. A lone tree in the yard offered him a little cover, the darkness helped with the rest. The two young children only watched for a few minutes before they turned away.


More nervous then ever, Edgar crept around the small hut until he found a room with a crude crib in one corner. Very carefully, the package was place in the crib and as he drew his trunk back, he knocked a small chair over. The racket woke the infant and Edgar crouched down by the side of the house, covering his face with his ears, as people ran into the room. While the occupants were busy admiring the new addition to their family, Edgar crawled away and headed home.


He was too tired to swim so he went by land. By the time he made it back to Kenya, he realized maybe his co-worker was right.


The dispatcher motioned to another package, Anchorage Alaska. Edgar swallowed as the dispatcher cawed. The package squirmed and Edgar realized he had made a wrong choice. S.T.O.R.C (Speedy Transportation of Children) was not for him. He couldn't do this job, no matter how much he wanted to. With great reluctance, he turned in his resignation. As he left, a wiser yet somber elephant, he thought through everything on his dream job list. As he mentally checked off the STORK job, he smiled to himself.


“It's a little warm here, maybe I should try Santa's little helper now.” He went back in and picked up the package, figuring he could drop her off on the way to North Pole.

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