The Circus Elephants

Jake, Midge and Booker-T, hurried along the sidewalk to the field where they circus was setting up their tents.

“Look Jake,” said Midge. “Isn't that a pretty tent?”

“They have pretty tents,” said Booker-T. “Lets go find the animals.”

They walked to where the wagons were parked and found the two elephants and the tigers. “I like the tigers,” said Booker-T. “They are same color as I am.”

“Hello,” said Midge to the elephant.

“Are you talking to me?” asked the elephant.

“Yes,” said Midge. “What is your name?”

“I'm Omar the Great,” said the elephant lifting his trunk into the air.

“You are really big,” said Midge.

“And I'm really great too,” said Omar.

“I heard this is the last show you will be doing,” said Jake. “What are you going to do after it closes?”

“I heard too that the show was closing,” said Omar. “That makes me and Daisy sad.”

“Who is Daisy?” asked Booker-T.

“See that elephant over there,” said Omar. “She is Daisy.”

“What will you do when it closes?” asked Midge.

“I think they are sending Daisy and I to a home for elephants way out in the country somewhere,” said Omar. “I heard it was a nice place with other elephants there we can play with.”

“Will you miss the circus?” asked Jake.

“We will miss doing tricks for the humans,” said Daisy as she walked over to join Omar. “But you aren't humans.”

“We are animals like you,” said Booker-T.

“You are tiny animals,” laughed Daisy. “You look like the big tigers but you are smaller.”

“I'm a cat,” said Booker-T. “Tigers are cats too but they are big cats.”

“What are you?” asked Omar.

“Midge and I are dogs,” said Jake. “You have dogs in your shows sometimes.”

“Do you do tricks too?” asked Daisy.

“We can do some tricks, but we don't do tricks for the humans like you do,” said Midge. “I would like to do tricks in a show.”

“Midge,” said Jake. “Never mind. You can't be in a show?”

“Why?” asked Midge. “Maybe I can do tricks with Omar.”

“You want to do tricks with me?” asked Omar.

“Can I please?” asked Midge.

“I don't think the owner of the circus will let you,” said Daisy. “Only us elephants do the tricks.”

“Maybe you can sneak into the ring when we are there,” said Omar.

“I will, I will,” said Midge. “This will be fun, Jake.”

“Do you want to come do tricks too?” asked Omar.

“Oh no,” said Jake. I'll just let Midge go in there. Booker-T and I will watch.”

“When are you doing to do the show?” asked Booker-T.

“We will open tonight,” said Daisy. “Can you come back tonight?”

“We will come,” said Jake.

“Here comes our trainer,” said Omar. “You better go now.”

Jake looked up and saw tall man walking toward the elephants. They walked away and went to see the tigers. They sat in front of the rolling cages staring the big orange and black cats. “They sure are pretty, don't you think?” asked Booker-T.

“Who are you?” asked one of the big cats.

“I'm Booker-T,” said Booker-T. “And these are my friends, Midge and Jake.”

“You are tiny,” said the big cat. “Why aren't you in the cage?”

“I'm not a tiger,” said Booker-T. “I'm just a house cat.”

“What is a house cat?” asked the big cat.

“What is your name?” asked Midge.

“My name is Digger,” said the big tiger. “This is my friend Jason.”

“A house cat is a small cat that lives in a house,” said Booker-T. “This is my friend Midge and that's Jake.”

“Why aren't you in a cage?” asked Digger.

“We don't live in a cage,” said Midge. “We live in a house with humans.”

“Do the humans make you do tricks?” asked Jason. “Digger and I have to do tricks so we can eat.”

“They make you do tricks?” asked Jake.

“Yes,” said Digger. “But I heard the circus will be closing and we won't have to do any more tricks.”

“What will you do after the circus closes?” asked Midge.

“I heard some men talking and we are suppose to go to a big zoo,” said Jason.

“Do you know what zoo they are going to send you to?” asked Booker-T.

“No,” said Digger. “Can we come live with you Booker-T?”

“I don't think tigers live in houses,” said Jake.

“My owner won't let a tiger move in,” said Booker-T. “Tigers are wild animals.”

“I'm not wild,” said Digger. “I will be good.”

“I know you will,” said Booker-T. “But you will have a better life at the zoo. If you are in our zoo, it is a real nice one.”

“Will you come to see us?” asked Jason.

“I don't know,” said Midge. “We live long way from the big zoo. It is too far to walk.”

“You will be okay,” said Jake. “You will have a happy home whatever zoo you go to.”

“We are going home now,” said Booker-T. “Midge is going to do tricks with the elephants so she needs to rest.”

“Bye,” said Digger.

“Bye you guys,” smiled Booker-T.

The three hurried home so Midge could get some rest before tonight.

After her nap, she and Booker-T ran to Jake's house so they could go to the circus grounds. When they reached the grounds, they saw the trainer leading Omar and Daisy into the big tent. They walked to the entrance of the tent and stood watching as the ringmaster introduced the two elephants with their trainer. When Omar and Daisy walked into the ring, Midge hurried across the area and entered the ring.

“Hey!” called the ringmaster as he hurried toward the ring. “You can't go in there.”

Midge turned and looked at the ringmaster and kept walking toward Omar. In the ring, Omar reached down with his trunk and gently picked up Midge and set her on top of his head. “Stand up on your hind legs Midge,” said Omar.

Midge stood on her hind legs as Omar raised up and stood on his as he slowly dipped his head so Midge would not fall off. The crowd clapped and yelled. “We are good Omar,” smiled Midge.

Omar set Midge down on the ground. “Thanks for letting me perform with you Omar,” said Midge.

“Thank you for helping me in our last show,” smiled Omar.

“Bye Omar,” said Midge. “Bye Daisy. Good luck to you in your new home.”

The three walked away as Omar and Daisy finished their show.