We were back on the road and Wichita was miles behind us. As I lay on my cot reading my copy of Moby Dick, Ambrose snored happily. I noticed the wagons were slowing down and came to a stop. Ambrose woke up and said, “Are we in Topeka yet?”

I lay the book down and looked out the window. Dusty dry grass stretched towards the horizon. “Looks like another water stop,” I said, standing to stretch my legs.

Ambrose rose from his cot smiling. “What a lovely afternoon. Care to join me by the river?” 

“Be right there after I put on my shoes.”

I walked down the step and saw people milling around up near the front.  Bo Dandy, one of the roustabouts, was arguing and waving his arms in the air with Bill Dooley, the foreman, about something, and I watched as he threw his hat upon the ground, and stomped on it, kicking up the dust. He picked it up and lumbered off mad.

Helen “Devine” Shappley, the fat lady, sat on the step fanning herself. “Harvey dear, do you know why we stopped? The heat is simply unbearable. I sent Eddie Bee to see what the hold up is but he hasn’t come back.”

“I’m sorry, Ma’am. It doesn’t look good from what I can see.” 

“Looks like they could have least pulled over near a creek or lake. Looks like we’re out in the middle of nowhere,” she said, shaking her head.

Ambrose came back from talking to men. He rolled his eyes and sighed, “We’re about ten miles outside of Topeka. One of the truck’s radiators is blown and needs to be fixed before we could continue on.”

“Oh dear Lord! I’m gonna die in this heat,” said Devine, wiping the sweat from her face.

“There’s a swimming hole ‘bout half mile down the road from which we came. I’m heading there now. I’m gonna ask Miss Melody if she will accompany me,” he said, winking.

“What am I supposed to do? I can’t walk that far,” said Devine.

“Not to worry, Ma’am. They are getting a truck to drive people that way. Looks like we’re gonna be here for a while,” he said, walking off towards Melody’s trailer.

I turned to follow Ambrose, when I heard someone running toward me from behind.

“Hold up, clown!  Clyde sent me down here to get you. We need to get those elephants down to the watering hole, and we need you to lead them there. Go get that fiddle of yours and hurry back,” said Jimbo, breathing heavy.

I led the elephants down to a small lake with a few small shade trees. The boss decided to set up camp beside the lake. Most of the crew were in a bad mood. It was an unbearably hot afternoon. The roustabouts were setting up a tent in the field near the lake. I had just sat down on a log, beside the lake, with Eddie Bee and Miss Devine, and put my feet in the water, when Tim walked up beside me and said that Clyde was looking for me.

“Again? Why on Earth does he want me for now?” I said, clenching my teeth and grumbling.

“Don’t know, he just said get the clown,” said Tim, shrugging his shoulders.

I reluctantly followed Tim through the open field with my head down past where the roustabouts were setting up the tents. I was thinking Clyde had it in for me. What could he possibly want with me now?” I thought.

Tim led me past the main tent towards the boss’s wagon. Clyde stood beside Mr Addler, the owner, and three other men dressed in fancy pinstriped suits.

“There’s my boy right there!” Clyde said, pointing at me and waving with a big smile. I knew he was acting, but why?

As I joined the men, Clyde put his arm around my shoulder. “Yeah, old Harvey here has a true gift. I’ve trained him well,” he said, bragging to the men.

“Mr Jones, I’d like to introduce you to Mr Jenkins, Mr Parker, and Mayor Thomas. These men wanted to meet the clown who charms the elephants. I told them that you are going to be our main attraction,” said Mr Addler, as I shook the men’s hands.

A young red headed cameraman had me pose standing beside these well dressed men. I felt so out of place.

“We look forward to seeing Friday’s performance Mr Jones,” said the mayor, patting my arm. 

That afternoon, Clyde had me playing the fiddle while the other trainers led the elephants to perform their special tricks. I asked the men not to use the bullhook while I played. 

Bo Dandy yelled at Rosie to stand on a platform. Rosie looked over at me and cocked her head, curiously. “Rosie, he wants you to stand on the platform. She slowly lifted one leg then another until she was standing atop the box. It was as if she could understand my very words. 

“Tell her to lift her front legs in the air,” Bo Dandy said.

“Rosie, the man wants you to lift your two front legs into the air.”

She stared at me, then obeyed my command.

“Oh my, when did you learn to speak Elephant. I am impressed,” Bo said, slapping his hat against his leg.

“I’m not sure, but I don’t think you need to use that bullhook. Maybe if we ask them kindly, they will do as we say,” I said, winking at Rosie.