A Family of Elephants

Sophie loved exploring, and today, she was making her way through brush and forest to find new places that remained yet unknown and undiscovered by her. Her best friend, Abby, had ditched her in favor of shopping with her Mother, but Sophie much preferred trekking through the woods any day to picking out a new outfit to wear.

As she topped a hill, Sophie saw a small house that she had never spotted during her travels in the woods, situated just inside a large copse of trees. Perhaps the massive oaks and tall pine trees with their hanging moss had disguised the house from the easy prey of unwanted eyes. At present, however, it appeared to be abandoned, with shutters hanging off their hinges and doors perched open, including an unhinged screen door. As she carefully and slowly drew nearer to the old house, she noticed that the front door was slightly ajar in addition to a window in the front of the house that was raised, perhaps leading to a bedroom. It was quite possible the home had been abandoned longer than she suspected. Knowing her mother would most likely tan her backside if she entered the house, she still headed straight for it and walked up the three steps onto its long porch where she stood just outside the door that was slightly ajar.

“Hello?” Sophie yelled, but the only sound that came back to her was a faint echo of her own voice.

“Hello? Is anyone home?” she yelled again, this time louder, but still, no response from inside the house. Yes, there was no doubt about it - the house was abandoned. No one would leave their door and window open like this, and the house was far too dilapidated.

Curiosity getting the better of her, Sophie raised her hand to push against the door, but it wouldn’t budge. It was as if there was something on the other side of it holding it steadfastly in place. Using her shoulder and the full force of her small, twelve-year old, yet strong little body, she pushed harder, but still to no avail. The door wasn’t budging, no matter what she did, and it was not open enough for her to squeeze her body through the small opening.

Turning around, she eyed the window just a bit down from the front door. It was a large window and was fully open as if someone had already taken advantage of it to explore the empty house. Looking around for signs of anyone and not seeing a soul, Sophie headed down the concrete steps of the porch and toward the open window, searching all about for anything she could use as a step stool. Spying a small stump, she rolled it toward the open window. If she stood on the stump and then hefted herself up ever so slightly, she’d be able to climb inside with no problem.

Once the stump was beneath the window, Sophie stood on it and took a moment to peer inside, ensuring that indeed no one resided in this lonely, forsaken looking home. Her hands itched and her mind raced with curiosity once she saw the tattered remnants of a bedspread and old, yellowed pillows scattered about the floor. Several pictures hung askew upon the walls of the room with its tattered and faded wallpaper. There was an old dresser and bedside table, but the drawers of both were open, and from what she could see from where she stood on the stump, they were all empty.

Bracing herself on the edge of the window, Sophie hoisted herself up and lifted a leg over the crumbling ledge. Before she could maneuver her way completely over it and inside the house, a piece of the ledge gave way, and she fell inward and flatly onto the hard floor of the bedroom.

“Ouch!” she cried aloud as she fell, closing her eyes as her elbow and knee hit the hardwood flooring with a thud. Wincing and then opening her eyes, she immediately checked both her elbow and knee to make sure there was no substantial damage before she looked up and peered at her new surroundings.

Mystified, all Sophie could do was stare in wonder and awe at the room, unsure as to where to focus her gaze for longer than a few seconds. The room appeared entirely different than it had from when she had peered into it from the outside as she stood on the tree stump. It was a beautiful, lovely, and spacious room, with new splendid coverings on the bed, fresh pillows, hung draperies that matched the bedspread, and several amazingly colorful paintings of flowers on the wall. And there was a beautiful mahogany dressing table that gleamed in the sunlight flooding into the room – and no drawers were open. The table was decorated with crocheted drop cloths and several little porcelain knickknacks. A crystal atomizer full of an amber liquid that Sophie assumed with perfume was nestled on a tray along with a silver comb and brush set.

Gingerly standing and rubbing her elbow in addition to rubbing her eyes in sheer disbelief, Sophie gazed all about the vast room. What the devil had just happened and where the heck was she? Had she entered some kind of magical world when she fell through that open window? There seemed to be no other explanation for it though her mind rapidly searched for one. Being twelve, she was logical and smart enough to know that fairy tales and magic did not really exist, but if this was indeed a magical window, then she had just entered an unknown, mystical world, and life as she knew it was entirely different from everything she’d ever known or been told.

“Hello?” she yelled again, but this time her voice was weak, croaking from the surprise she felt.

Still, no answer. Dead silence.

Slowly and carefully, lest she make a sound, Sophie made her way over to the dressing table and sat on the small stool in front of it. The oval mirror in the center of the table reflected her surprised visage as she took a seat on the soft cushion atop the small stool.

Sophie’s small fingers trailed lightly over the gleaming wood and crocheted doily. Interestingly enough, there was not one speck of dust. Carefully, she picked up a small, carved, white onyx elephant on the right-hand side of the table and fingered it before placing it back where it had originally rested. On the left-hand side, she saw a lovely music box covered with silk that had several ballet dancers embroidered throughout. As she opened the lid, it began to play Tchaikovsky’s Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies. It was lined with a light purple silk and nestled within were several pieces of shining, glimmering jewelry, including a pair of long earrings made from the clearest and most beautiful ice blue stones.

Sophie slowly lifted the earrings and pretended they hung from her ears. She looked quite sophisticated, she thought to herself, despite being only twelve years of age. Not daring to actually try them on, she replaced them in the box before she pulled out a ring with a large stone of the same blue hue. It was encircled with small, tiny diamonds. Unable to stop herself, Sophie slipped the beautiful ring on her third finger. As she was admiring its beauty on her tiny hand, she looked up at the mirror and gasped. Directly behind her stood a woman who appeared young but also old enough to be a mother; she wore a flowing white dress. She was beautiful and had the warmest and most welcoming smile upon her lips that Sophie had ever seen.

Quickly, Sophie removed the ring and spun around in the seat. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t think anyone was here…….” Her voice trailed off as she realized no one was there. Her heart beat rapidly. She knew she had seen the woman reflected in the oval mirror, but where was she? She attempted to gather her wits. She was not about to leave now when this house had so many surprises awaiting her discovery. If there was someone here, she would come back, but chances were she’d probably imagined the woman anyway.

Sophie stood and walked over to the large bed. Stepping upon the foot stool on the floor beside it, she sat upon the large mattress and then fell backwards upon the bed, encompassed in its softness and silky coverings, pillows spread all about her. Here indeed was heaven, she thought to herself. She closed her eyes momentarily, relishing the feel of the luxurious bed.

Only moments later, she opened her hazel eyes to find the same woman standing next to the bed with the same warm smile as she gazed at Sophie.

“Hello, Sophie,” the woman said. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

Startled, Sophie bolted straight up and came face to face with the woman in white.

“Hello,” she croaked. “I’m so sorry to intrude. I didn’t know this was your home.” In her surprise, it had not even dawned on her that the woman had called her by name.

“No, Sophie dear, don’t be sorry. I have tea and biscuits for us. I’ve been expecting you, love,” she said as she extended her hand toward a small table set with tea on the other side of the room. The woman’s voice was strangely soft and lyrical, and her image was nearly ethereal.

Sophie eyed the woman skeptically, tempted to reach out and touch her to ensure she was as real as she appeared and sounded. And yet, while she appeared real enough, there was something about her upon which Sophie could not lay her finger.

“Tea? Biscuits? You’ve been expecting me?” she asked.

“Yes, dear. Shall we?” The woman headed to the table of tea and biscuits, nearly seeming to float across the hardwood floors.

Sophie stood and followed, intrigued and unable not to do so. “Thank you,” she said for lack of knowing what else to say as she took a seat at the same table and watched as the woman poured steaming tea into dainty bone china cups covered with hand painted purple violets.

“And so, how is Sophie today?” the woman asked as she placed a cup of tea before her.

“I am fine,” Sophie answered. “I’m sorry, but have we met before?”

“Not precisely dear, but we do know one another.....in a manner of speaking. I’m Genevieve.” The woman smiled as she took a seat across from Sophie. “Biscuit, dear?” she asked.

Confused, Sophie picked up a biscuit and absent-mindedly bit into it. It was scrumptious and melted in her mouth. Eagerly, she picked up another as Genevieve watched and continued to smile as she sipped her cup of tea.

Moments passed in silence until Genevieve stood and walked to the dressing table. She picked up the small onyx elephant and then walked toward Sophie.

“Sophie, dear, please accept this elephant to remind you of our time together today. Oh, yes, and please take all the biscuits you’d like that will fit in your pocket. I have a handkerchief here that you may wrap them in for safekeeping.”

Genevieve placed the small elephant in front of Sophie and then handed her a lace-trimmed handkerchief and proceeded to pile it with the delicious, buttery sweet biscuits. Even as she did so, the biscuits seem to magically multiply on the platter upon which they rested.

Sophie’s eyed widened in disbelief. “Thank you,” she managed to politely murmur, despite the fact her mind was racing with so many unanswered questions.

“You’re as pretty as your mother, Sophie,” the woman said once she’d resumed her seat.

“You know my Mother?” Sophie asked in surprise.

“Well, dear, we met many years ago – just like you and I. She was a special young girl, just like you.”

Sophie’s mind raced. First of all, this was definitely a magical place. Secondly, her mother had never mentioned anything about a house like this or someone named Genevieve. Sophie was more than perplexed, and though she knew she was wide awake, she still wondered if she was dreaming.

Genevieve stood and walked to the window, peering out. “It’s getting late, dear, and your mother will be worried if you’re not home soon.”

Sophie realized it was nearly the five o’clock hour and that Genevieve was right - her mother would be worried. And besides, she had a ton of questions for her. She stood and brushed the biscuit crumbs from her lap.

“Don’t forget your biscuits and the little trinket, dear,” Genevieve said. “I’m so glad you came, and we were able to meet. Perhaps the future will bring us together again.”

Stuffing the handkerchief full of biscuits in one pocket and the little elephant in the other, Sophie stretched out her hand. “Thank you so much. It’s been a pleasure, Miss Genevieve.”

The woman brilliantly smiled as she took Sophie’s hand warmly in both of hers and said, “I assure you that the pleasure is all mine, sweet Sophie.”

Sophie returned her smile and went to the open window. Before hoisting herself up onto the ledge, she turned to give one last smile to Genevieve, but she found the room completely empty. Genevieve had mysteriously disappeared.

Sophie managed to climb over the open window’s ledge and then peered inside the room from the tree stump. Amazingly, the room was once again in its former dingy, dilapidated state. There were no beautiful bed coverings, dressing table, and no Genevieve.

More perplexed than ever, Sophie hurried home before her mother sent a search party out after her. Once she arrived, she entered the backdoor and found her mother cooking at the stove. Her mother barely glanced at Sophie as she came through the door, opened the fridge for a glass of cold water, and then took a seat at the table where she emptied her pockets. Carefully, she stood the elephant up on the table in front of her, knowing her mother would see it.

Placing a lid on a steaming pot, Sophie’s mother turned around. “So how was your day……?” her voice trailed off as she took note of the elephant perched on the table top. Slowly, she walked toward the table and took a seat across from Sophie, carefully watching her all the while.

Sophie, in response, only raised an eyebrow and stared back at her mother.

Finally breaking the silence, her mother spoke. “I see you met Genevieve. She’s very nice, isn’t she? Were the biscuits as delicious as they were many years ago?”

Sophie pointed to the handkerchief on the table. “Have one and see for yourself,” she said quietly, turning to unwrap the lacy wrapping. But as she did so, the handkerchief fell flat: it was completely empty.

Astonishment filled Sophie’s face, but her mother merely smiled; an all-knowing smile. “But the elephant, my dear, is very real ….and very precious.”

Her mother rose from her chair and left the room, returning moments later with an identical elephant in her hand. She resumed her seat and sat her elephant on the table next to Sophie’s.

“What in the world?” Sophie’s eyes grew wider and larger than before. “Who is she? Who is Genevieve?”

Her mother reached down into her pocket and retrieved a very old picture and laid it on the table. It was yellowed, yet still an oddly beautiful and captivating picture of the woman Sophie had encountered once she’d gone through the magical window. Genevieve was as pretty in the picture with her lovely smile and flowing white dress as she had been in person.

“Genevieve is a very old relative; she’s your Great-Great-Grandmother. And she manages to meet every female that is born into our family – or her family. I guess you could say that she continues to watch over us,” her mother said.

Sophie picked up the two elephants. As she did so, her mother reached into her other pocket and pulled yet two more elephants that were identical. “These were my mother’s and grandmother's elephants.” Her mother laughed. “I guess you could say we have our own herd of elephants in this family.”

Sophie laughed. It was true. As long as Genevieve continued to watch out for the family, their herd of elephants would grow, that was for sure.

Her mother grew serious as she added, “You are very special, Sophie, and Genevieve ensures that you will continue to remain so. Did you know that elephants are a symbol of good fortune, prosperity, power, wisdom, vitality, and protection from all evil? Genevieve is quite purposeful about why she gives you the elephant, and you must always take special care of it.”

Sophie nodded, strangely aware that she'd been granted a once in a lifetime magical and wondrous experience that she would always remember. It would remain rooted in both her mind and heart for all her years.

That night as she prepared for bed, Sophie carefully placed the little onyx elephant on the bedside table atop the lace handkerchief where it would be able to watch over her as she slept. She would never forget Genevieve or the magical experience she’d experienced this day. And in her heart, she was hopeful that one day she would have a daughter of her own who would be able to experience the same wonder she had as she’d climbed through that magical window and met the beautiful mystery that was Genevieve.

Feeling immensely privileged, contented, and well-loved, Sophie easily fell asleep that night with visions of tables laden with tea and scrumptious biscuits, while statues of beautifully decorated elephants loomed in the background. It was a beautiful dream. It had been such a beautiful, unforgettable day.