Elephant Race

The Elephant Race

                                                          Today was the day. The day of the elephant race.

The square was bustling with people. Excited children ran around, their mothers chasing after them. Men pushing stalls of food, clothes, and all assortments of jewelry. Fearful mothers trying to hold on to their frantic children, not wanting them to get trampled. The anticipation was high.
            I stood their, watching it all unfold, spotting familiar faces in the crowds and new ones. People of all different ages and colors moving like the ocean, all making their way through the town and up to the castle. The towns people had been preparing for months now for this moment. All of them each having their own expectations for what this day would bring.
            As I got closer to the castle, shouts of excitement and amazement went up in the air. The elephants had arrived! I started to frantically jump up and down, trying to see over the ocean of people. I needed to see the elephants. I had been waiting for this day for too long. I then spotted the bell tower, the highest building in town. I sprinted to the tower, quickly skipping up the steps, almost tripping in my haste. I could not help the gasp that escaped as I looked at the sight below.
         Eight elephants, all lined up in a row, each painted a different color of the rainbow. Their jockeys seated high and proud on their backs. Despite looking in control, all were strapped in on their elephants back. A sudden thought came to mind and I furrowed my brows in confusion. There are only seven colors of the rainbow. And that's when I saw the last elephant.
             Significantly smaller than the others, this little elephant was painted to look as if she was a rainbow herself. Compared to the other elephants and their jockeys, this little rogue elephant and her jockey appeared less experienced but nonetheless excited. I stared in wonderment at the boy that sat atop the little calf. His unruly hair blew in the breeze and he looked to only be about my age. I immediately noticed that he was not strapped on. My heart rose to my throat in fear. Surely he wasn't going to race? He would fall off and be trampled!
          My question was answered as they called the elephants to be brought to the starting line. The tiny elephant followed the rest and I mentally pleaded with the boy not to race. I tuned out the man telling them to race from the town line to the castles courtyard, too focused in on the young boy.
       My heart started beating faster as I saw the trumpeters step forward. Three trumpet calls and they would be off.
           Everything went dead quiet. Even the crickets were silent, as if some how knowing something important was happening. The crowd held their breath. My heart beat loudly in my ears.
                  The first trumpet was heard.
                      Then the second.
        As the second trumpet was heard, I made a decision. I scrambled down the bell towers stairs, reaching the bottom just as the third trumpet was heard. The crowd exploded with cheers, scaring the elephants as they took off. I tired to gain my bearings through the noise, searching for the smallest elephant. I spotted her quickly, as her and her jockey were already in the lead. I took off, pushing my way through all the people. I heard shouts directed at me but I didn't care. I kept chasing after them.
           The noises and the smells were almost unbearable, people shouting and the elephants running and grunting. The stench of sweat and elephant feces was heavy in the air, making it hard for me to breath. I threw my arm over my face as I spotted a tree up ahead. I pushed my legs to go faster, quickly reaching the tree and scaling it. I turned around and saw the elephants charging towards me. I noted there were only three now. But what about the boy? Was he okay?
I then saw him running alongside one of the biggest elephants. And despite me having no idea who this boy was, I couldn't help the pride that I felt that he had made it this far. But along with it came fear for the boys life.
          Suddenly I heard screams and shouts of alarm and then my name. The entire tree shook, almost tipping over. I lunged for a branch, holding on with all my might. I looked down and felt bile rise in the back of my throat. The bigger elephant was on it's back, like a turtle, the jockey not moving.
            The sound of laughter brought my head up to the boy, his head thrown back. He winked at me before calling for his queen to go faster. I scrambled down the the tree. Avoiding the elephant, I stared to run again, ignoring the numerous people calling my name. I was running fast enough that I was right alongside them. The boy kept looking at me and laughing. I looked ahead to see how much farther we had to go but my eyes widened in fear at what I saw. I was about to call out to the boy and warn him but it was too late. The last two elephants crashed together right in the middle of the road. The boy's elephant came to an abrupt halt, rearing up before slamming back down to all fours. The boy had panic and fear in his eyes, but I also saw determination. He pulled his elephant to the side, going around the pile up, his elephant trumpeting in success.
            It was then that I realized he was the only one left. He was going to win!  A giant smile came upon my face.
                      "He's won!", I shouted with all my might. "He's won, he's own, he's won!"
         Out of my excitement, I grabbed the person nearest to me and kissed them on the cheek. I let out a joyous and relieved laugh as I took off after them.
              They were crossing the finish line just as I arrived. The crowd was cheering louder than they had all day, as I myself cheered so loud my lungs hurt.
                   "Quiet!", we heard, as the king himself stepped out of the crowd.
            "What is your name young man?"
        Everyone waited for the boys response. The boy smiled cheekily, as if knowing that he was keeping us all in suspense.
                  "Harry," he responded. I felt my heart skip a beat. Harry.
                        "And your elephants name?"
                     "Penelope."
             "Well, Harry and Penelope, I am honored to present to you with one-hundred gold pieces," the crowd gasped. "And enough peanuts to last you a life time!"
          The crowd erupted into cheers once again. I felt a small smile slip onto my face as I admired the boy. His green eyes, that I wasn't able to notice before. His deep dimpled smile, as big and as bright as the sun. He caught me staring and I felt a blush creep on to my face but he just threw his head back in laughter.
                                                  
                                          And that is why I will never forget him and the day the elephants raced.