A Circle of Elephants by Eric Dinerstein

Author:Eric Dinerstein
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Published: 2019-01-21T16:00:00+00:00

he fields bordering the elephant stable had become a carpet of golden-yellow against the dark green jungle. The mustard was in its October bloom. The fields must be the same color in Jumla, too, because I awoke to hear Jayanti singing about the sun shining on the fields and the bright yellow mustard turning golden. I walked into the cookhouse to find Rita and the Jumlis tending the fire and mixing powdered milk.

They burst into a Nepali folk song about a rooster waking everyone up. Rita had already made herself a friend to these girls, who needed a friend so badly.

“Oh no, our singing has wakened the snoring Nandu,” Rita said.

“I do not snore!” I said, falling for Rita’s teasing.

The Jumlis, all three of them, suddenly bowed. I looked around to see that my father had entered the room. Rita quickly handed him a steaming mug of tea.

“Such lovely songs,” he said. “I thought there was a shama that had flown into the cookhouse.” The girls smiled. My father was referring to the most beautiful singer in the forest, the bird we call the white-rumped shama.

“Rita, it looks like you have plenty of help now with the feeding of your young animals,” my father said. “I was going to step in, but now I see there is no need.”

“Thank you, Subba-sahib, but yes, it is as if Ban Devi has given us exactly what we needed.”

“We are all grateful,” said my father. “Though the girls may not be able to stay. They may want to return to their families.”

“No!” cried Kanchi, the youngest and boldest. “We cannot return. Our families are not there. And if they are, they would only sell us again!”

My father raised his eyebrows, then rested his hand gently on Kanchi’s head. “Then you will all stay until we get more information.”

Rita called out for the rhino babies to come for their milk. The Jumlis were surprised to see rhinos careen into the cookhouse begging for their bottles by extending their curved upper lips. Next the trunks of two baby elephants appeared in the doorway, followed by a third. Kabita gasped, and she slowly moved closer to touch their waving trunks. Even the older girls were growing comfortable with our animal kingdom.

Last but not least, Nani scooted through the maze of elephant legs to claim her rightful place at the head of the line.

“A fawn!” Kanchi squealed with delight.

Rita went into commander mode, handing out bottles. “Kabita, you feed Nani. Jayanti, you take Ritu. Kanchi, would you like to feed Rona? She is feisty and may try to push you around at first.”

The youngest girl nodded. Rita had made a good call. Kanchi liked a challenge and would prove she was up to handling the rhino calf.

“Nandu, do not just stand there. Keep the elephants occupied until the girls can attend to them.”

My father winked at me. It made him happy to see all of us, the youngest people in camp, taking so much responsibility.

After Nani and

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