Short Story: The Elephant
Stella and Mina were sitting in a cozy café on the main square of Siena, basking in the autumn sunshine. They had been returning to this spot every year for the past forty years to celebrate their birthdays. Stella's was in September, while Mina's was at the beginning of October.
They had been friends since they were five, attending kindergarten together in the southern part of Siena. Their parents met at a Mother's Day celebration and became close friends. At this event, Stella's father admitted that Stella was named after a Belgian beer brand, something her mother only found out later. Mina's mother sharply interjected, ensuring her husband could hear, that Mina was named after Taormina in Sicily, the place of her first and only great love.
The relationship between Mina's parents was tense; her father had cheated on her mother while she was pregnant with Mina. Later on, more affairs came to light, including one with Stella's mother. The girls only discovered this as adults when, after Stella's mother's death, they were clearing out her apartment and found photos of the two from 1987. Fortunately, this revelation didn't shake their friendship. No matter where life took them, they always met in Siena each year.
Mina smiled at Stella, who sat quietly across from her in tattered jeans and a stylish checked men's shirt. Whenever they met, neither felt the need to dress up or spend long hours putting on makeup, trying to present their best, most successful face. They knew each other's past and present, even if they now spoke less frequently, maybe two or three times a month, on the phone or on Skype. Stella was in a band that toured constantly, turning mantras into songs and writing meditative music. Mina worked in the banking sector but hadn't made a particularly big career and didn't intend to.
She had seen what the pursuit of career did to Stella's father and her own. When they were cast aside by the very machine that had once embraced them in their fifties, both men broke down. Stella's father began to drink heavily, drowning his anger and disappointment in alcohol. He died five years later from untreated lung disease.
Mina's father always lamented that a career was an unfaithful lover. Mina often thought to herself that he was just as unfaithful to her mother. At the age of fifty-two, he was replaced at the helm of a prosperous architectural firm, known for big state contracts. From then on, he only got smaller projects for residential homes or apartment modifications, which he looked down on and didn't put his heart into. His negligence eventually led to a lawsuit, which nearly wiped out all their wealth.
'Where have you been lately? We haven't talked for about three weeks,' Mina began.
'We had concerts in England, and then we were in Japan.'
'Wow! That must've been exciting,' Mina replied, a hint of envy in her smile.
'How's everything on your end? How's Ron?' Stella inquired about Mina's husband.
'He's good. It seems he's getting a big job. He has to set up an entire chain of stores in Southeast Asia. They plan to open two hundred stores in China, Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan over two years.'
'I never thought there was such potential in furniture,' Stella said, a look of surprise evident on her face.
'Neither did I. In any case, he'll be traveling a lot, so I'll be alone with the kids.'
'How's school?'
'Well, I don't know. Tom's enjoying it, but I'm not so sure about Gizelle. I feel she's not finding her place, and just like at home, Tom overshadows her. I don't know how difficult it is for other families, but with twins, every problem always seems doubled,' Mina said with a tired smile.
'It's no better elsewhere. Every time I talk to my mother, she always says there's some problem with Gaia. She doesn't eat enough, she screams, she's always in a hurry. As I see it, she's just being a kid, but my sister and mom can't seem to understand that.'
'So, she is just like her aunt,' Mina laughed. 'I still remember when they took us to the circus. What a fuss you caused, running around the edge of the ring, waving and bowing to everyone, as if you were the one putting on the show. Your mother nearly died of embarrassment.'
Stella laughed out loud.
‘I remember. It was fun.'
'It was.'
Mina went quiet for a moment, then continued.
'Do you remember the elephant too? The huge one that came with the circus?'
'Yes, I remember. You could take photos with it before the performance.'
'I recall the trainer telling a child that when elephants are young, their legs are chained to a sturdy peg they can't pull out. As they grow up, this early experience makes them believe they can't remove the peg, even though they eventually become strong enough to do so. Yet, in adulthood, they never even think to try.
'I remember. It was a sad story.'
Mina nodded. She often wondered what would happen if that powerful animal realized its strength and just left.
'How long are you in town for?' she asked Stella.
'Four more days.'
'Would you like to visit us?'
'Of course, I'd love to.'
'Tomorrow afternoon? I'll pick up the kids from school at four; we'll be home by four-thirty.'
'Alright. I'll come by around five.'
Stella and Mina talked for another hour and a half. They discussed Stella's flings and a major love affair that had ended two months ago. She was now single. Mina shared how they started school and that she was offered a promotion at work, but declined for family reasons. After all, Ron earned quite well, and someone had to be with the kids.
It was getting dark as Mina leisurely walked on Via di Città. It was Sunday and she knew that by this time, Ron had already fed the kids dinner and they were probably watching their favorite bedtime story on TV before passionately negotiating for one more story. She wasn’t in a hurry to get home.
They lived close to the main square. Their street, Via S. Quirico, had old houses just like those in the small streets surrounding the square. Parking was almost an impossible task, but Mina couldn't detach herself from this part of the city. She loved the romantic ambiance of the old buildings and felt connected knowing people had walked these tiny streets centuries before her. Even the noisy influx of summer tourists couldn't persuade her to move to the suburbs, into a nice family home.
If she hadn't studied accounting, she probably would have pursued art history or followed in her father's footsteps and studied architecture. She had studied art history alongside college for two years, but she felt she needed a more stable footing. Now she had security, but she didn't love her job. She did her job well, got along with her colleagues, but leaving the office on a Friday afternoon felt as good as taking off tight ski boots at the end of the day. But tomorrow, Monday was looming again.
Mina walked slowly on the cobbled streets, taking random turns, left then right, walking aimlessly and thinking. She envied Stella. Stella might not have had a career plan for the next two decades, but she had traveled the world doing what she loved. Mina couldn't even imagine what it's like to love what you do every day, to have the courage to dive into the unknown.
Mina remembered how worried she was for Stella when she went to college and Stella started a band. They grew apart a bit. Mina tried to bring Stella back to normalcy. She scolded her for skipping classes. When Stella dropped out of school, it felt like a rebellion against both her and her way of life. Of course, her offense didn't last long, and she had to admit that even if she didn't approve of what Stella had done, she listened with pleasure to the stories about newer and newer concerts, friends, and romances. Meanwhile, she finished school and found a job at a bank as a clerk.
Finally, when they turned twenty-six, Stella was invited to perform at a festival, she couldn't even remember which one. The band was so successful that over the next six years, Stella and her mates released four albums, held about a thousand musical meditations nationwide, and started getting calls to play concerts abroad. During this time, Mina got married and was building her career. Her husband didn't want children in the early years of their marriage, and later Mina faced various health issues. At thirty-eight, they decided to undergo IVF, and at thirty-nine, she gave birth to twins. All in all, she was content with her life.
By the time she realized, she had left the old town area. She looked at her watch. It was half-past eight.
'Oh my goodness! How did time fly by?'
She briskly began walking home.
When she reached her door, she saw Ron looking out of the window, clearly worried. She waved at him, and he visibly relaxed.
Mina took out her keys and opened the front door. As she stepped inside, a leaden fatigue overcame her. She hadn't noticed how much she had walked.
'Hi!' she greeted her husband.
'Hi! How was the meeting?' asked Ron.
'Good. Stella is fine. She'll pop in tomorrow around five.'
Ron nodded. Mina sensed something was amiss.
'What's wrong?' she asked with concern.
Ron remained silent. Just when he might have spoken, Gizelle appeared in the living room doorway.
'Mom!'
'Hi, sweetheart! I thought you were asleep.'
'You didn't come in to say goodnight!'
'I'm sorry. Is Tom still up?' Mina asked.
'No, he's already asleep.' Gizelle went over to Mina and hugged her. Mina sat down on the sofa and cradled her daughter, all the while watching Ron with concern.
He went to the kitchen and returned with two steaming cups of tea. Gizelle was getting sleepy, struggling to keep her eyes open. Mina knew her daughter, and she was sure that in five minutes, she would be asleep. And she was right. When she fell asleep, Mina took her to the children's room and tucked her in. Gizelle mumbled something, then drifted off to a deep sleep. With anxiety, Mina returned to the living room where Ron was waiting for her.
'What's the matter?' she asked her husband.
Ron stared ahead in silence for a moment, then blurted out, 'Mina, I want a divorce.'
The room seemed to spin for Mina; she nearly fainted.
'What?'
Ron took a deep breath and repeated, 'I want a divorce.'
'I don't understand. Why?' Mina's heart was pounding in her throat.
'I've met someone, and it wouldn't be fair to have an affair behind your back.'
'But where? How?'
'At the company.'
Mina's heart raced. She had no idea how to respond, what to do next. She wanted to scream, but she didn't have the energy. She felt a gaping hole in her chest. She stared at her husband, with whom she had been together for nineteen years, through thick and thin. They had their ups and downs but had always stuck together. And now he was sitting across from her, telling her it was over. She couldn't process it. Like a zombie, she stood up, left, and slammed the bedroom door behind her. She cried all night. Maybe she slept an hour. She didn't know how she would find the strength to go to work the next day, how she would get through the day, or what to tell their children. She was distraught. The next morning, Ron took the kids to school. She made them breakfast, but afterward, she locked herself in the bathroom and only came out to say goodbye when they were about to leave. Ron tried to initiate a conversation, but Mina turned away and left him. She felt there was nothing left to discuss. The man had broken his promise and shattered their life, like a spiteful child knocking over a sandcastle on the beach.
Mina could hardly grasp what was happening at her workplace; she went through the entire day on autopilot, pondering how to break the news of the divorce to the children. Her husband sent her a text saying he wouldn't be coming home that evening, which Mina was thankful for. She had no desire to dance around him at home. She had completely forgotten about Stella. She picked up the kids, did some shopping, and when they got home, she found her friend waiting outside. Stella could tell at once that something was terribly wrong.
'Oh my God, I'm so sorry! I completely forgot about our plans this afternoon.'
'It's okay! Are you alright?' Stella asked with concern.
'Yes,' Mina replied, but her tone made it clear she wasn't telling the truth.
Inside the house, Mina prepared a snack for the kids and coffee for Stella and herself. Once Tom and Gizelle went to do their homework, tears burst from Mina's eyes.
'Ron wants a divorce. He told me yesterday.'
'What?'
'You heard me. He met someone at work.'
Stella hugged Mina tightly. While she didn’t have a husband and two kids of her own, she knew the chaos and pain that comes from a breakup. She'd lost a band and nearly her career when she broke up with a past love. It felt like a tsunami, taking away everything she cherished. She knew Mina felt the same, plus there were the kids to consider. It was a terrible situation. She was at a loss for words.
'I thought we were good. We never fought, have two adorable kids, a house, a car, and friends.' Tears streamed down Mina's face.
Stella wanted to say that she understood the issue: Ron craved adventure and unpredictability. He grew tired of his stable life and couldn’t appreciate what he had. She sighed deeply and swallowed her insight.
'What will you do now?' she asked Mina.
'Honestly? Maybe I’ll kill him! Being a widow sounds better than being cheated on, right?' A sardonic smile crossed Mina's face.
'It really does,' Stella replied, comforting her friend.
They sat in silence for a while, then Mina broke it.
'How do you do it?'
'Do what?' Stella responded.
'Handle the uncertainty. Aren't you scared?' Desperation was evident in Mina's eyes.
'Of course. I often am. I worry about growing old alone, whether I'll be called for concerts next year, or how long I can sustain this nomadic lifestyle. But music is everything to me. It outweighs my anxieties and fears.'
'My family was my everything,' Mina said, staring blankly at the floor.
'I know,' Stella responded gently.
'What would you do if music was taken away from you?' Mina asked.
'Well, maybe I’d pick up a knife too,' Stella said with a bitter smile, then continued more seriously, 'I have no idea. I guess I'd need to find my 'music' in something else.'
Mina nodded thoughtfully. Find her music in something else. But in what? She didn't love her job, and she hadn't had time for hobbies in years. She took care of her family, held down the fort at home when her husband traveled, and tried to be involved in her kids' preschool and then school activities. Just like her mother.
'I'm like my mom, aren't I?' she asked Stella.
'No. Your mother stayed with a man who constantly cheated on her, trying to show the world a perfect family image.'
'Yes, but I…'
'Mina, you're not like your mother. I knew her and I know you. You're different. You have a job, hobbies, and while you've acted like family is the only thing that matters for you, it was your choice. The Mina I know is kind, caring, loves her kids, adores art history, is a passionate stamp collector, a fantastic cook, and best friends with an unstable, crazy musician.’
Stella took a big breath and continued.
‘Remember the elephant at the circus? It believed it was just a baby elephant, unable to pull out that stupid stake from the ground and go wherever its heart desired. However, it was a 4-ton massive creature, which could have easily uprooted that stake and roamed freely.’
'So, I'm the 4-ton elephant whose self-image keeps it imprisoned, like the stake and chain did to that circus elephant?'
'What I'm saying is, up to now, your family has been your everything. You centered your life around them, being the sacrificing wife and mother. But things are changing now. Not of your own choosing, but they're changing. Ron is leaving, the kids will stay here, and you'll have to reorganize your life. But this can also be an opportunity! Just as the elephant could recognize it's not a 100kg calf anymore and could easily break free from the chain.' Stella noticed that her pep talk wasn't really hitting the mark. Mina sank into herself and remained silent, unsure of what to do.
'Okay, listen! What if the kids were homeschooled, you quit your job, and you all come on tour with me in Asia?'
Mina snapped out of her daze a little.
'Excuse me?'
'Come tour with me! You'd see so many interesting things, have new experiences. It would be a massive adventure for the kids, and you could figure out your next steps.'
'That's impossible. I can't just quit, and the kids have just started school.' Mina just shook her head.
'Please, reconsider! I think a change would do you all good.'
For the next two hours, Stella helped Tom with his homework, fed the kids dinner, and put them to bed. She told them their father had traveled, and their mom had a migraine. After explaining what a migraine was, she sent them to brush their teeth, tucked them in, and read two bedtime stories. She loved Mina's children. Once the kids finally fell asleep, Stella sat back down next to Mina on the couch.
'Should I stay overnight?' she asked her friend.
'Would that be okay?'
'Of course. Don't you want to go to bed?'
'I can't sleep in the bedroom, not in that big bed alone. I'll stay here too.'
Stella brought blankets and pillows from the bedroom, covered Mina up, and lay down herself. Mina quickly fell asleep since she hadn't slept the previous night. By morning, Stella was already making coffee and sandwiches for the kids. Mina got ready quickly, and they set off for school. They dropped Stella off at her hotel on the way, and Mina continued to the school with the kids.
Three days later, Stella left, and Ron appeared to discuss the details of the divorce. The following weeks felt like a nightmare. Ron moved in with his new girlfriend, the kids constantly asked when he was coming back, Mina couldn't grasp what was happening at work, Tom's grades started slipping, and he got into fights, while Gizelle became even more anxious than usual. Ron did come by every week to take the kids out for ice cream or a movie but hadn't introduced them to his new girlfriend yet. Mina was thankful, feeling it would be too much for them.
Weeks passed, and the divorce had been ongoing for two months. Fortunately, they were able to agree on financial matters, and the kids remained with Mina by mutual agreement. Ron got more immersed in his new life and still hadn't introduced the kids to his girlfriend. Suddenly, it turned out he was no longer with her at all and was enjoying his newfound freedom. Mina couldn't understand what was happening but felt she was sinking deeper into sorrow, overwhelmed by responsibilities.
In December, two weeks before Christmas, the real estate agent informed her that her father's house had finally been sold after four years of trying. Mina felt like a ray of hope had appeared at the end of the tunnel. The price of the house combined with the money left after the asset split would provide a safety net, no matter what happens next.
She was on her way to pick up the kids from school when she got stopped by a red light at a busy intersection. She stopped and tiredly stared out the window when she heard loud music approaching, followed by a crackling male voice. A large truck, resplendent in bold colors and playing music, appeared at the intersection. On its side, it read: 'Schmidt Circus - World-renowned acrobatics, horse acrobats, and wild animals!' The annoyingly sing-songy male voice announced the five shows that would be held over the next five days near Sienna. Mina decided in a split second to take the kids. She quickly snapped a photo of the website address with her phone to check the exact location and times later.
The next day, Gizelle and Tom excitedly prepared for the circus. Gizelle's hair had to be braided, as she felt it was suitable for the festive occasion. Mina was glad for their enthusiasm. They had never been to a circus before; it had somehow been overlooked among puppet shows, theatre performances, and children's concerts.
The circus show wasn't held in a tent but in a converted warehouse that resembled a large theatre. The auditorium wasn't warm, but most people, including Mina, came prepared with blankets and warm coats. The Schmidt Circus was allegedly world-famous, whatever that meant.
Gizelle and Tom immensely enjoyed the performance. Gizelle was most impressed by the horse acrobats, while Tom was captivated by the jugglers. Throughout the show, Mina kept thinking about the elephant. She wondered what might have become of it. There was no elephant in this circus, yet she couldn't get the image of that magnificent beast, a prisoner of its own imagination, out of her mind.
She turned to her kids during the intermission:
'Do you feel like traveling with me for a few weeks?'
Tom, who loved to travel, became excited.
'Yes! Where to?'
'I don't know. Maybe Asia.'
'Where's that?' asked Gizelle.
'I'll show you on the map when we get home.'
'But what about school?' Gizelle asked with concern.
'We'll manage. I'll teach you both in the meantime.'
Gizelle's face began to brighten, but then the clown act started, distracting the kids from the idea of traveling.
Mina sent Stella a text:
'Where are you?'
She wasn't sure if her friend would reply, since she had no idea in which time zone Stella was. The response came immediately:
'In Hong Kong. Why?'
'How long will you be there?'
‘Another three weeks. We're working on an album with some Chinese musicians. Why are you asking?'
'The elephant realized it's not 100 kilos, but 4 tons.'
'Glad to hear! So, are you coming?'
'We are!' Mina wrote back, feeling invigorated for the first time in months.
– Eszter
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