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Pogisa was quite pleased with herself for getting rid of Esta. The other rag- tags did
miss Esta, but were cautious as not to bring it up in front of Pogisa. The young elephant
was leading her pack through the streets of Chetz when she saw something out of the
corner of her eye.
“Hold on.” she said to her crew.
Pogisa’s interest was taken captive by a crate of “Black Ale”. The black bottles sat
silently near the back of a rickety, rusty steam truck.
“What do you want that for,” said one of the rag tags, “I heard that stuff is thick as tar,
black as the night sky, and taste like soapy water.”
“I heard it makes your teeth black,” said another, “and makes you breath smell like
rotten eggs.”
“Bunch of wimps. You believe everything you hear?” said Pogisa, “I want to try a bottle.”
“Pogisa,” said one rag- tag, “ maybe...maybe you shouldn’t.”
A fit of anger rose up in the elephant and she turned viciously towards group.
“I’m the leader!” she said pushing one with her trunk “ Esta’s gone! Who are you to tell
me what to do? Some of her righteous stench has gotten on you! All of you, get lost and
leave me alone!”
She swatted them with her truck over and over again until she drove them away. After
her tirade, Pogisa’s was alone; and because of her arrogance, she was glad that they
she was. Now her concern was to get one of those black bottles. Not wanting to get
caught by the driver, Pogisa quickly ran to the crate, grabbed one black bottle with her
trunk, and ran as fast as he could out of sight of any prying eyes. After regaining her
breath from the run, she gazed over the black glass peering through to see the liquid inside. She pulled the cap off and took a drink: it was thick, and it was black, but it had a
subtle sweet taste to it that she liked. She quickly consumed the whole bottle.
“That wasn’t so bad.” she said. “Those bunch of cowards don’t know what they missed.”
Indeed, it wasn’t bad at first, (for many things are not)but later that day the elephant
began to cough and her stomach began to ache. Her vision began to blur and she had
trouble walking.
“Wh... what’s happening?” she said wearily.
Pogisa roamed the streets for hours, not knowing where she was or where she was
going. No one noticed her stumbling back and forward, and even if they did, they didn’t
particularly care.
King who happened to be looking for her, approached her with a nasty snarl.
“Pogisa!” shouted King, “Pogisa, get over here. I got a job for you to do.”
The young elephant slowly turned to the voice, and gradually making her way through
the crowded streets, she arrived at her destination.
“What took you so long?” said King apathetically. “When I call you move with a purpose,
hear me?”
“I not feeling....”
“Look,” King said cutting her off, “Some of the factories downtown need little hands to
work. I need you to gather some kids up and bring them to....”
The young elephant started to cough and shake; she could barely stay on her feet.
“What’s wrong with you? replied King in a harsh tone.
“I’m not feeling well. Please help.”
Pogisa took a step forward in an attempt to find some pity from the cheetah, but King
was in no position to do so.
“Not feeling well?” he said in an irate tone, “ I don’t have time for this! Get me some
workers or I’ll make you feel worse than you do now--GO!”
Pogisa, with much pain, struggled to walk. King, finding her to be insubordinate,
grabbed her by the ear and began to pull her. Her legs, which were already weakened,
gave way.
"Get up you clumsy oaf!"
King took hold of her ear again, pulling with such force that Pogisa quickly rose from the
pain. She left out a short cry as King dragged her down the street.
"Listen up!" King said accosting her, "I bought your wretched hide when your parents dumped you off in the gutter, and far as I’m concerned you haven’t been much of
anything since then! Now, get me some workers!.”
Pogisa knew that this was King’s last threat; and if she failed to move quickly he was
sure to whip her as in times past. So with much difficultly, she trotted off. She got about
a half a mile before her body final refuse to assist her. She collapse in the street with no one who cared or anyone to assist her.
At Charm's Bistro, it was a very slow business day. The first customer didn’t come in
until near the end of closing time. It was a regular patron (a brown bear) who love to talk
to the chameleon about uninteresting things. Charm, although glad the see him, was not
looking forward to the conversation. As expected the dialogue was dry until the
customer’s daily travels came up.
"Been on my feet all day." the brown bear said leaning on the counter. "Nearly walked the entire country. I probably walked every street. To tell the truth you see some bad
stuff out there.”
Esta came from the back with the customers order.
“Saw a young elephant lying on the street,” said the bear solemnly. “Breaks my heart,
but what can I do about it? She look really sick, I’d say dead if I was a betting bear.
Esta ran over to the bear.
"Are you sure she was sick?"
"Well little missy, I don't know.” he said, “ She looked sick to me. Her back was scarred pretty bad too. Probably from giving her master a hard time.”
"Its Pogisa."
"Pogi who?" said the bear.
Esta approached Charm
"We have to find her."
Charm shook his head.
"She's sick, Charm, we can’t just leave her there."
Charm babbled.
"Her master's problem?" Esta said perplexed. "that's terrible! You’re a better lizard than that."
The conviction was right on the mark, and Charm relinquished his former thought.
“Sir, do you remember what street you were on when you saw Pogisa?” Esta said to the
bear.
“Um, Silverslate Road.”
Once the store was closed, Charm and Esta quickly made their way to find the
elephant. It began to rain, which did not make the journey any better. To their horror
they saw the body of Pogisa. Both ran over and knelt down near the elephant. Esta
called to her, but the elephant did not move: only her wheezing gave any signs of life.
"A DOCTOR!," Esta said with tears, " Charm, please!"
Charm motioned for her to stay with Pogisa, and trotted off in search of a doctor's office
in the area. Five blocks from the terrible scene, a doctor and his wife were resting near
the fireplace when they were troubled by the incessant knocking at their door.
"At a time like this?" said his wife rolling her eyes, “You’ve seen enough patients for the day.”
"A doctor’s work is never done.” said the physician rising from his chair, "You knew there would be days like this when you married me. I'll try not to be too long."
The door was answered and Charm started to explain the situation, but the doctor was
not versed in babbling. Charm smacked his head and motioned for a pen and paper.
Once the note was written the doctor understood the entire ordeal.
"Near death!" he said running back inside, and returning with his medicine bag, "Why didn't you say so in the first place, lead on!"
“You said you won’t be long,” said the doctor’s wife.
“Duty calls, my dear,” said the doctor in a heroic tone, “ have my toast and tea ready
when I return.”
Once at the scene the doctor wasted no time fumbling in his medicine bag. He asked
questions as he did, to which Charm and Esta did their best to answer. The doctor
pulled out his round spectacles, placing them perfectly on his nose. He looked over
Pogisa, especially her eyes. He nodded in affirmation.
"What wrong?" said Esta.
"Not sure--wait---of course--- it makes perfect sense now."
Charm and Esta watched silent as the doctor inspected the elephants teeth. Upon
smelling the breath and seeing the black residue, he pulled out a black bottle from his
medicine bag.
“Has she been drinking this?”
“We don’t know.” said Esta.
“Well, its can be assumed that she has,” said the doctor, “Blackberry Elixir or by its
slang name “Black Ale”. In right doses its a great cure for ulcers and other stomach
pains, but if you take too much, it can kill you.”
“No!”
“Don’t worry child, there’s still hope,” replied the doctor.
Digging in his bag again he pulled out a bottle of orange liquid that was thick as honey.
The doctor also pulled out a injector to force the liquid down Pogisa's throat. Charm and
Esta's assistance was needed at the doctor's request.
"The taste of this is bad, but it will get rid of the black ale in her system," the doctor said filling the injector, "She's going to want to spit it up, but hold her mouth closed. Alright, lets give it a go."
Posiga's mouth was opened and the liquid injected. At first nothing happened, but
suddenly Pogisa flung her head upward and her body twisted and turned. Charm and
Esta found her strength incredible for her age. Both struggled to keep her from spitting
the medicine out. After a minute, the struggle was over and Pogisa returned to her
dormant state.
"Is it working?" Esta asked.
"Yes, yes, but these things take time." said the doctor. "She'll need the entire bottle to recover completely. Someone will have to stay with her until she's strong again.
"I'll do it." said Esta quickly.
"You're very brave." said the doctor handing her the bottle. " Now lets get her out of this weather. Do you have a place for her?”
Esta looked up at Charm. The chameleon nodded. It took some time but they were able
to get Pogisa back to the Bistro. Once upstairs in the loft, Pogisa was dried off and
given a blanket to keep her warm as she rested.”
“I’ll make a few visits myself just to make sure she recovers. Now I need to get back
home; my toast and tea should be ready by now."
The doctor started to walk away.
"Do we owe you something?" said Esta.
The doctor looked over his shoulder with a smile.
"Just love her." replied the doctor waving good-bye.
Esta and Charm stayed with Pogisa, giving her the dosages she needed. On the third
day they were able to help Pogisa to her feet. Her legs wobbled but she was able to
stand.
"Feeling better?"
Posiga did not respond to her.
"Your legs are shaking really bad. You should sit down."
"I'm fine." Pogisa said curtly. “Stop telling me what to do.”
"I'm just trying to help that's all."
"I didn't ask for your help." replied Pogisa nastily.
"You didn't ask to get sick either." Esta firing back.
Pogisa flung her trunk upward to hit Esta in the face, but the young hound dodged the
blow. Pogisa lost her balance and tumbled to the ground. Esta went to help her.
"Don't touch me!" the elephant.
“Your just as crabby as ever.” Esta said taking hold of the medicine bottle,. “Now it’s
time for the last bit of medicine."
Pogisa rose to her feet slowly and stood stiff as a board.
"If you come near me with that stuff, I'll throw you across the room."
By this time, Charm came into the room; and finding the injector ready to be used, he
took it from Esta's hand. With little resistance Pogisa opened her mouth as the medicine
was given. She held it in her mouth refusing to swallow. Charm pointed at her and
mumbled. Pogisa looked over to Esta for the interpretation.
"He said swallow it," Esta replied with a smirk.
The medicine went down slowly and as it did Pogisa's face followed. Esta snickered
from the expression with much satisfaction. Charm went to work to make breakfast
while the children sat down near the large window in the loft.
"You should stay here." said Esta.
Charm's grumbles made her aware that it was not her place to make such a decision.
"But, Charm, where else can she go."
"I go where I please," said Pogisa curtly.
"And where would that be?" Esta asked.
"None of your business."
"Why are you so nasty?"
“That’s none of your business either.”
“I never in my met any creature so---so mean” said Esta, “You’re going to grow up and
be a big meanie.”
Esta’s comment sparked something in the young elephant that brought all her emotions
of pain out of her.
"I have every right to be mean," said the elephant poking her with her trunk. "Its the only thing that makes me feel good about myself. Its the only thing that I'm good at and
its the only reason why I've survived this long! Nobody cares. Sold here. Sold there.
Nobody cares! They beat me for no reason--even when I do everything right. I HAVE A
RIGHT TO BE NASTY! ALL OF THEM HIT ME! I HATE THEM! I HATE YOU!”
Her voice came to a crescendo. The vicious regurgitation of all the pain and abuse
placed a eery silence in the room. Whether it was the shock of the tirade or just the
kindness that God had placed in Esta heart, the young dog walked up to Pogisa and
gave her a hug around her neck. Esta clung there right on the elephant’s neck without
saying a word. The elephant shifted a little bit, finding Esta's bold move not only
unexpected; but a little scary. Gradually, Pogisa trunk rested calmly on Esta shoulder;
both in a silent embrace. Charm, witnessing such a sentimental act, grabbed a napkin
and balled like a baby.