The Elephant Walks Through Town

He doesn't mean to bother anybody
But, being an elephant
It is, at times, difficult

He walks through town on a Thursday
Only meaning to pop in here and there
Maybe get an errand done

As an elephant, his errands are minimal--

Get a wash
Pick up nuts
Pick up the dry-cleaning

He feels insecure
Not so much about his size
But about his presence
Which, when you're an elephant
Are easily distinguishable

People are aware of him
Very aware
And he can sense
That sometimes they simply aren't prepared
To deal with him

He avoids stepping on anybody's toes
Both literally and figuratively
But he learned early on
That there really isn't any good time
For an elephant
To appear
In your life

He stops by the china shop
Knowing he shouldn't, but--
He needed to buy a present
For his cousin
Who happened to be getting married

He stopped outside the store window
Almost hoping to see a 'Closed' sign
On the door

This is crazy, he thought
This anxiety I have
For crying out loud
It's not like I'm a bull

He goes into the shop
And instantly he knows this is a bad time
The woman who owns the store
Is lying on the red carpet that runs from wall-to-wall
A wet cloth on her forehead
Her cheeks all puffy and red
Nearly dried tears
Still asserting themselves on her face

The elephant lingers in the doorway
Wondering if she even knows he's there

A breath goes by
A beat, a moment
Two seconds and what feels like an hour

'Hello,' he says, and then 'Uh' and 'Um--
Should I come back another time?'

A faint voice

'No'

From the floor

'No'

Then--

'No, no.  Stay.'

A sort of resignation
Rather than a request
And then to confirm that the voice
Belonging to the woman says--

'After all
You're already here'