| Subject: The Elephant in the Shed |
Author:
Raphaela
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Date Posted: 15:03:37 07/25/02 Thu
The Elephant in the Shed
Part 1
“Oh you naughty dog!” Screamed Mum, running after Benji with her shoe.
Benji was not your average sort of Border Collie. He had the usual intelligence, was black and white, with a cute face, but more than anything – he was pure mischief! Mum had been patient with him when he was a young puppy. That was when she thought he would grow out if the ‘mischief stage’ when he was just a young pup. Now he had turned four and was madder than ever.
“He will have to go!” Cried Mum in frustration.
My giggles turned to tears as I realised she was serious this time. Benji may well have pulled his last stunt. I had had him since he was 3 weeks old and we were inseparable. After Dad died, my Aunt and Uncle thought he would help to keep me occupied. Boy were they right! A full time job – which was why he made me skip school so often. He would sit outside the school gate howling until I would sneak out and we would spend the afternoon together. Returning home at school time but without my books, which he had muddied, and covered in scratches and bruises from the various scrapes we got up to.
I put the lead on Benji and took him with me to see my mate Flyn.
“Yo! What’s up Alex?” Flyn asked in a puzzled tone. My expression must have given away my inner misery.
“Benji.” I mumbled.
“Ah!” agreed Flyn. No further communication was necessary. He had known me all of my life. We had grown up together these last 10 years and so he had also known Benji for the last 4. He understood the special bond we shared. He was my best friend, as well as Benji.
“What are you going to do?” Flyn had asked that dreaded question. The one that put the burden for an answer on me. I could see from the expression on his face that he also shared that burden. As I answered, the lump in my voice sounded loud.
“What can I do? Perhaps I could run away with him?”
“Then what?” Persisted Flyn. At such times I wished he would just go away. I looked at him long and hard. Then just shrugged my shoulders.
“What you need to do is get him to lay low for a couple of days until the heat is off. Can you hide him somewhere?”
I know he meant well but this just wasn’t being helpful. Where could I hide a noisy, bouncy Border Collie with the appetite of a horse?
“It would be easier if he were a small pet, like a hamster.” I volunteered. “Then I could hide him. But Benji is not like that is he?”
“He could be.” Muttered Flyn.
I looked at him with disbelief. Friend or no friend, I was frustrated enough to just punch him one.
“You could get him changed into one.” Stuttered Flyn as he sensed my impatience.
“I have heard old Mrs. Jenkins has magic powers and can do just about anything.”
I thought about this. Mrs. Jenkins was an old, frail lady who lived in the big house round the corner. We would try and pinch apples from her huge garden, knowing her rheumatism prevented her from ever catching us. We had heard all the rumours but I had never believed them. Perhaps Flyn did.
“Well, thanks Flyn I know you mean well but if she were that magical, she would have given herself new legs by now don’t you think?”
“It is her cover!” By now Flyn was so taken over by this thought that he had forgotten to whisper. I shushed him quickly in case mum heard. “Anyway, what have you got to lose?”
“My cool reputation….” I began to joke but I could see he was serious so just shrugged and agreed to go with him. I put Benji’s leash on and we went towards the big house.
Part 2
We got in through the broken fence easily enough and then beat a path through the overgrown garden to the steps. Looking up I felt smaller than ever as the steps loomed ahead of me and the big house towered over. It was an amazing house for one woman to live in alone. It had been built by her ancestors in a gothic style. It even had gargoyles leering over the edge. They looked down at me now in a menacing, evil way. There was a large Victorian conservatory at the side. I wandered round there in case we could see Mrs. Jenkins. However, there was no sign at all. Flyn used the knocker and the boom resounded in what seemed a hundred times louder than it probably was really.
After what seemed a lifetime, but was probably no more than a few minutes, the door slowly opened. Mrs. Jenkins stood there squinting at us. She seemed to be about 200 years old. Her face was like a cobweb. I was transfixed by the creases of age, which seemed to cover her as if waiting for the fly to land. Her bait.
“Yes?” She enquired.
As I looked up at her I felt like that bait. As if her tongue would suddenly reach out to me lizard-like and snap me up there. Helpless.
“I, we, errm.” I stammered.
How on earth could I …..
“Excuse me.” interrupted Flyn before I had even begun to think how ridiculous this was – knocking at a stranger’s house and asking if she could use some of her magic to …
“Yes.” She asked again. This time bending slightly towards us and looking a little kinder and more encouraging.
“Well my friend Alex here has a problem with his dog Benji…” At this point Flyn pointed first at me and then at Benji, who for some strange reason was behaving impeccably and looking completely bewitched by Mrs. Jenkins.
“You had better come in.” She seemed to sense why we were there. Looking left to right with serpent-like eyes she ushered us in and scuttled behind. The door banged close and I felt like a chapter had been sealed on my life.
We walked up a small flight of stairs and through another door, which opened into a huge vestibule. I expected it to be full of cobwebs and dust but instead the polished mahogany bloomed with dusted pride. She walked fast for an old lady but this time instead of scuttling behind us she walked in front. She was dressed in a long black taffeta dress and she seemed to glide as if on casters. We went through what must be the library, as it contained many shelves full of interesting looking books and huge armchairs. Although the decoration seemed more suited to gentlemen than this one old lady. We had not finished our journey. A quick walk across a hall, through another room, which led into the conservatory. I felt a little relieved – at least we could be seen if in trouble …. Who was I fooling? Nobody came here apart from us naughty boys stealing apples. Even the postman threw the mail over, if there was every anything other than the usual bills.
Mrs. Jenkins invited Flyn and I to sit down. He seemed remarkably at ease and perched in one of the chairs. Although an impressive house, it did not look that comfortable and the furnishing was sparse and very, very old.
“Well, you had better tell me what is up and why you think I can help you.” She asked Flyn in a kind tone. For the moment she did not address me, but kept squinting at me over her glasses with a vexed expression. Her eyes were quite watery, as is often the case of the elderly. While she was listening intently as Flyn outlined our plight I watched fascinated as a tear escaped. It slowly traversed the creases of the cobweb, criss-crossing across her face giving it a strange glistening, cracked effect. Her voice, a little louder than usual, suddenly interrupted my musing.
“So you want me to hide your dog here do you?” She asked laughing.
“Well, not exactly.” Interrupted Flyn.
What is he on about? I thought that was why we were here?
“Can you turn him into a hamster so we can look after him until Alex’s Mum begins to miss him and wants him to return. He will be easier to look after that way.”
Errrm. We had not prepared this bit and I was about to apologise for my friend’s foolish request when she stood up. Was it my imagination or did she seem to stand straighter, taller, even look a little younger? There was a definite twinkle in her eye or was it that rheumy tear again?
“So you think I can do magic do you?” She pointed directly at us and both Flyn and I simultaneously ducked.
“Yes Ma’am, please.” Flyn asked respectfully. Whatever his failings, I realised he was wanting to help me in my hour of need.
“I am sorry to have disturbed you Mrs. Jenkins…” I began but tailed off lamely as she put her hand up to silence me.
“A hamster eh? It has been many years but perhaps it is still possible. She looked now at Benji who sat there with his usual lop eared expression but this time even he whined.
“And just what do I get in return?” She asked with merriment in her voice.
We had not thought this one through, not least because Flyn hadn’t told me what he had in mind.
“We could cut down the weeds in your garden!” Volunteered Flyn in a far too cheery voice. Especially as it was like an overgrown jungle out there!
“Splendid!” She agreed the transaction. Told us to get on with the garden while she would ‘look into the matter’ and then she disappeared upstairs.
Flyn and I went out to the garden with Benji bounding at our heels. We worked for hours hacking down giant nettles, ferns and other amazing weeds. We were hot and sweaty and both had muddy smears streaked across our faces, not to mention our aching backs. Benji sure had a lot to answer for. Just then Mrs. Jenkins appeared with a tray of drinks – fresh lemonade and some cake. We guzzled it all down. Before this afternoon we would have thought she was trying to poison us! At least now we were all able to sit in a clearing where the overgrowth had been. The sun beat down on us but I was sure it was more than the heat that was causing the sweat to trickle down my back.
I have found my book she said. Patting a huge black leather bound book. She patted it lightly and a balloon of dust parachuted up before slowly cascading down again.
“YOUR BOOK?” I stared at the book as if it were about to suddenly swallow me up whole.
“The problem is I spilt something on it about 50 years ago and can’t quite make out some of the words. Maybe it is best not to meddle …”
Perhaps, in hindsight, it was not the wisest thing to do. But she was our only hope. We persuaded her to try and reluctantly she agreed. However, first we had to agree to help her get things read to create the right atmosphere. This didn’t involve anything too complicated but to us young boys, everything was magical. First we had to put the candles all around the living room. Not just ordinary candles you understand but they were scented with strange Tibetan herbs. We thought it was weird but we had to admit later that we had felt very relaxed. Then we had to close the blinds. We stumbled back across the floor, where we were to sit cross-legged in a circle around Benji. I had to suppress the desire to giggle. Flyn was staring at me in a very cross manner and this reminded of the real reason I was here. To keep Benji.
After Mrs. Jenkins had finished all her mystical preparations, she lit some incense and then began the chants. We all had to hold hands – again trying not to giggle – as she murmured strange words. Benji cocked his ear and whined. He looked so comical with his one blue eye and one brown eye but I knew I loved him so much I could not part with him.
After what seemed an age but must in reality have been only 15 minutes she stopped. Looked puzzled. Stared over her glasses at Benji and then muttered
“It may happen later or not at all.”
“How do you mean Mrs. Jenkins? Is he going to change into a hamster?” I enquired tentatively.
“I told you some of the words were smudged and maybe they were the words I needed to get right. It is possible it could happen later tonight so keep him somewhere safe in case he changes then. I am sorry boys, it is the best I can do for now. It has been a long time.” She sighed. Mrs. Jenkins suddenly looked very frail and old. All this energetic effort had taken its toll on her. I looked at Flyn and we both stood up, thanked her, and went slowly on our way home. We were careful when we flipped the fence up to make sure we weren’t spotted. We may need to return and didn’t want to have to answer any awkward questions.
Part 3
We returned home in total silence. Flyn sensed my disappointment but knew that words would not console me just now. Especially if Benji was still in Mum’s black books.
“Where have you been?” She asked in a worried tone as I opened the front door. “I was about to send out a search party!”
Flyn decided it would be best to go straight home and seemed to disappear into the night.
“That dog is spending his last night in this house – especially after chewing my new curtains” Shouted Mum.
“I will keep him in the shed.” I suggested. Thinking it would be best, especially if he were to turn into a hamster during the night. At least he would not get lost.
Part 4
I awoke early next morning with a strange banging in my head. It must have been about 6 a.m. as I couldn’t hear Mum up yet and she got up at 6.15 a.m. I stretched slowing wondering what felt different. Ah – Benji wasn’t lying on my legs as normal. Then the happenings of yesterday came back to me slowly. I thought I had better let him out of the shed and it was then I realised that the banging was not coming from my head but from the shed! I ran down the stairs as fast as I could, opened the back door and unlocked the shed.
“Some hamster!” I shrieked as there in front of me stood the owner of the banging. It was …. a baby elephant!
I couldn’t work out where the elephant had come from or where Benji had gone until I looked more closely and there it was – one blue eye, one brown eye. Benji!
I sat down on the damp grass, as the fresh dew seemed to twinkle at me in disbelief. Then I could feel a warm, damp blowing on my neck – it was the elephant – Benji – whatever! What was I going to do?
“Come on boy I am going to have to hide you!” I grabbed hold of Benji and then stopped. Although he was smaller than the average baby elephant, he was bigger than the average Border Collie – where could I hide him?!
I gave him a quick walk around the garden, a bucket of water and then shoved him back in the shed. I wasn’t sure what to feed a baby elephant. I would phone the zoo. Benji wasn’t too keen about being locked back in the shed and he took some pushing but eventually I got him back in, locked the door, and went inside.
Part 5
“Excuse me, could you give me the number for Chester Zoo please?” I asked in my most business-like voice. I reached for a pen as Directory Enquiries gave out the number.
Then I rang Chester Zoo
“Excuse me. I want to know what to feed my baby elephant?”
By the short, sharp reply followed by putting down the phone, I had an impression that they did not believe I had a baby elephant. Not very helpful. Humph now what.
“Psssst”
“Psssst”
“Psssst”
Each time the “Pssst” got louder. It wasn’t coming from the shed, but where? Then the letterbox flipped up. “Oy” It was Flyn trying to subtly attract my attention through the letterbox.
I opened the door at the same time indicating he had to be quiet.
“Well, did it work? Is he a hamster now, he he?” Chuckled Flyn. The look on my face soon quietened him.
“What’s up?”
“Quick – come with me to the shed. Mum is in the shower. We have to be quick. I don’t know what to do!” I led the way but did not want to spoil his surprise. Opening the shed carefully I pushed him inside.
“Whooahhh, sheesh kebabs!” Exclaimed Flyn who was for once completely dumbstruck. “Some hamster!”
“I guess the blottings in her spell book have a lot to answer for! But what am I to do. A mad Border Collie was one thing but a baby elephant! Boy, will mum go mad this time!”
Flyn nodded but when he realised it was loveable Benji beneath the wrinkled grey hide he didn’t look so alarmed and scratched the fluff on the top of his head.
“We will have to see Mrs. Jenkins. Should we take him with us or would it be safer to leave him here?”
Flyn was trying to be logical when no logic seemed to have flown out of the window but he was right. We had to do something.
“Leave him here – may attract some unwanted attention otherwise.”
With that thought we disappeared inside to have breakfast before Mum came looking for us.
“What do you boys have planned today?” Mum asked whilst still drying her hair and not, thankfully, watching us closely.
“We thought we would go for a walk Mrs. Sanderson.” Flyn answered for us both. “It looks like such a lovely day, we should have some fresh air.”
“Mmmmm. Mum looked a tad suspicious at such a polite non-trouble suggesting answer but as she was in a rush she had to be satisfied with that. “Well be good boys, I will get home as soon as I can.”
Part 6
Her car had barely driven round the corner before we followed out of the front door, down the street, through the gap in the fence and straight into Mrs. Jenkins' garden – which, despite the pickle we were in now, we had to admit was so much tidier thanks to our efforts.
It took several swings of the huge doorknocker before Mrs. Jenkins appeared. She looked surprised to see us again and squinted over her glasses again as she asked what she could do for us.
“It’s Benji ….” I began but the emotion got the better of me and I knew I would cry if I continued. Flyn went on for me
“He is huge – absolutely huge! In the shed. Can’t stay there. Not quite the thing to keep in the shed is it.”
“The hamster?” Mrs. Jenkins enquired.
“That’s just it! He isn’t a hamster. He’s he’s he’s a baby elephant! In our shed!” I eventually managed to blurt it out.”
“Ah I wondered if something may go wrong with not being able to decipher those letters.”
“What!” Both Flyn and I shouted out together.
“Not to worry my dears.” She said.
“Not worry! I have done nothing else.” At this point it all got too much for me. I was worried I would lose Benji but I had lost him already at this case. He would have to leave now. I began to sob uncontrollably.
“No need my dear.” She continued “That was only a temporary spell – it worked a little late but it won’t last forever – not sure how long exactly – but I didn’t think you would want to keep your dog as a hamster forever”” At this she started laughing and we had to join in. Of course, it was a temporary solution until Mum came round.
Part 7
We ran back home but Mum was already home. She had a man with her.
“Alex, this is Mr. Drummond. He has come to see Benji.”
My heart sank. I could feel it beating so hard I thought it would surely explode. He must be here to take Benji away from me.
“Where is he dear?” Mum seemed to sense we had been up to something as she asked again. Flyn, Benji and I went everywhere together. The Three Musketeers she called us.
“Errrrm I don’t know. Not seen him all day.” I looked down at the spec of dust on my shoes as I responded. I couldn’t look her in the eyes.
Just then we heard a banging and scratching in the shed
“Oh no.” Flyn hadn’t needed to utter what was also on my lips.
“Silly thing, must be locked in the shed – wonder how he managed that.” Mum laughed as she and Mr. Drummond walked purposely over to the shed. Guess she didn’t want to say she had imprisoned him there.
Mum unlocked the shed with her own key and out bounded Benji!
“Wow – just in time eh mate” Flyn whispered and gave me a knowing wink.
“Yes just in time for Mum to get rid of him.”
“Don’t be silly Alex.” Replied Mum who had overheard. “I would never take Benji away from you – he is almost like your brother. Mr. Drummond is from the Dog Obedience Club and he is going to show you some training techniques to help make Benji a bit more well you know…” We knew all right and the relief showed as this time we laughed and cried in pure happiness.
In memory of my Border Collie, Benji who got me into more scrapes than I care to remember.
25 July 2002
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