In the city of Delhi in a beautiful big park, live an elephant. He is also big and handsome. Wear the name El and decorated with a fine skill pattern. He lives in the playground and is a public favorite. The fact is that the elephant is not real. In the middle of her large suitcase was a children's slide. On it, the children squealed. A tail is represented by a ladder that it is possible to climb on the elephant's back - a large area. It even has a roof and you can hide from the rain.
Painted elephants
Children love to play on elephants, imagine that he is real and will move from his place. After the elephants heard the conversation two boys. They talked about elephants. Where they live, what country and what they can do. The older boy, Kamal, told me how he traveled with his parents. I was in a real protected forest and saw many elephants there. And many other animals. The younger listened attentively to him. They saw elephants, and in the forest they never existed.
The elephant also listens to these conversations and imagines how it becomes real and travels with other animals through the stretch of pasture. A girl comes up with the idea that Al used to be a real elephant, but he forgot where it was. So he's in the park, in the playground.
From now on, elephants start dreaming of travel. More than once he heard from children about various countries. The trip became his dream. And he begins to ask the Gods to set him free. The desire of the elephant is very strong. And one morning the children came to the place, and the elephant was not there. To their surprise there is no limit. After all, he left no trace after himself!
Where did the elephant disappear? He himself did not know. The night before, when the children had gone home, she covered her large painted eyes. And when I open it, I see the forest around me. Real forest! The elephant feels he can move. It was very unusual, and it was fun. The forest is full of sound. Walking through the forest, Al hears the sound of water and goes looking for a pool. He went to the beach and a little sideways saw the elephant herd.
The elephants
Some elephants are big, others are smaller. And very small children. They splashed happily in the river. Al watched with interest. To approach the not daring, in fact it is "unreal". So the kids told him. However, elephants pay attention to the observer.
"How strange you are." Where do you come from? Al asked the big elephant. He's the most important. "And why is it alone?" Where's your flock?
"I'm coming from town." I really want to travel, so I ended up here.
"The city?" Is this where animals are tortured? Or forced to work? Look what they did to you!
The big elephant carefully examined Al.
And the picture is beautiful, you will not say anything. We did not meet people like that. Do you want to come with us?
The elephant is still there. He travels with others, learns about the life of elephants and other forest dwellers. Once, when all the elephants rested in the bushes of the trees, the monkeys descended on El. They stared at him for a long time, talking about something on their monkey tongue. Then they start climbing the tail and sliding down the trunk. It's as if it's not an elephant, but a hill for skating. Al remember the children and sad. He remembered how the children rejoiced, how they greeted him in the morning and said goodbye at night. How they believe their wishes and dreams. During the time spent in the forest, he never thought of the city. And remember, he can not forget it. The elephant was bored. He is no longer happy with the beautiful sunrise and sunset, a swarm of quick deer. And a horrible crocodile with a long snout does not evoke any feelings.
A crocodile that does not cause a feeling
In a dream, he only sees children who are sad. They sat on empty plots and wondered where their favorite elephant disappeared. The condition of the elephant is worsening. And this caring monkey. They mumbled for a long time. Then they dance a complicated ritual dance.
Monkey's attention
The monkey moves so fast that the elephant feels dizzy. He closed his eyes, and the screams of the dancers began to move away. Then we came closer again. But this is a completely different cry - children. Cries of joy! Al stood back in the playground, and the children happily ran to greet him.
He still does not understand whether his journey is real. Or the collective unconscious the elephants gave him a gift like that. Elephants rejoice when they return and give this joy to the children. Now he knows exactly where it is.