Bumbo’s mother had been killed by poachers. When rescuers found him, he was wandering alone, thin, weak and close to death.
They took him to an elephant rescue centre, where he was cared for by Ali, who loved looking after baby elephants.
Bath Time
“Oh, that’s enough washing!” trumpeted Bumbo. “Put that hose away, or I’ll tear it to pieces!”
Ali laughed.
“Now, now, Bumbo. If I don’t spray you with water and cover your skin with sand, the flies will bother you all day. You don’t want that, do you?”
Bumbo folded his ears.
“Remember last night?” Ali continued. “You complained that you were itchy because you wouldn’t let me wash you properly.”
Bumbo sighed.
“All right… you win.”
Then he added, “But I don’t want that horrible bottle of goat’s milk with semolina today. I’d rather eat some nice salty leaves! I’m not a tiny baby anymore.”
Ali smiled patiently.
“Bumbo, if you eat only leaves, you’ll have another tummy ache. Baby elephants need a special diet while they’re growing.”
“I suppose so,” grumbled Bumbo. “Could you at least put a little sugar on my dummy?”
Ali shook his head.
“No, young man. Too much sugar is bad for your teeth. You don’t want toothache, do you? If your teeth become unhealthy, you’ll have to visit Dr Ouch, the dentist. Believe me, that won’t be much fun.”
Bumbo made a face.
“I’d rather drink my milk.”
“I thought so,” laughed Ali.
When Bumbo had finished, Ali dried him with a big fluffy towel.
“Well done! Now let’s go inside. Breakfast is waiting.”
Breakfast Trouble
Bumbo reached for his bowl with his trunk.
“Not this time,” said Ali gently. “Use your spoon.”
“But drinking with my trunk is much more fun!”
Before Ali could stop him, Bumbo tipped the bowl towards his mouth.
Splash!
Most of the breakfast ran down his neck instead.
“Bumbo!” sighed Ali.
Bumbo looked embarrassed.
“I’m sorry…”
Ali folded his arms.
“If you don’t behave, you can forget about tomorrow’s party.”
“I don’t care!” replied Bumbo.
“The girls only whisper, giggle and dance together. I’d rather play football with my cousin Sean.”
Ali smiled.
“I’m not so sure. I think you’d miss the party after all.”
“I couldn’t care less!” muttered Bumbo, repeating a phrase he’d learned from some older children at kindergarten.
Ali tried not to smile.
A Midnight Adventure
That night, Bumbo climbed into bed, but he simply couldn’t fall asleep.
He thought about his friends, running along the beach and splashing in the sea. He loved jumping into the foamy waves whenever the water was rough.
Then an idea popped into his head.
“I know!” he whispered. “I’ll go and visit Slippery!”
Slippery was a friendly seal who lived at the nearby circus.
Bumbo listened carefully.
Everything was quiet.
He tiptoed to Ali’s bedroom and peeked through the door. Ali was fast asleep, snoring softly.
“He’ll never notice,” Bumbo whispered to himself.
Very quietly, Bumbo climbed out of the window.
As he crossed the garden, he accidentally stepped on a bed of tulips.
“Oh!” he cried.
A moment later, he brushed against a rose bush.
“Ouch!”
One of the roses swayed gently.
“Bumbo,” she said kindly, “you should watch where you’re going.”
“I’m sorry,” said Bumbo. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”
He hurried on until he reached the beehives.
The Queen Bee woke up at once.
“Oh dear!” she buzzed. “Who’s making all that noise?”
“It’s only me,” whispered Bumbo.
“What are you doing out at this hour?” asked the Queen Bee.
“I just wanted to see my friend Slippery.”
“You should be tucked up in bed,” she replied firmly. “Go home before I tell Ali.”
Bumbo grinned.
“I don’t think Ali understands Bee language!”
The Queen Bee shook her head as Bumbo wandered off into the night.
The Circus
By the time Bumbo reached the circus, the moon was high in the sky.
Everything was quiet.
The night watchman was asleep in his chair, still holding a bunch of keys.
“I’d better not wake him,” thought Bumbo.
He decided to climb over the fence instead.
He stretched…
He reached…
He pulled with all his strength…
But he couldn’t get over.
The fence was far too slippery.
With a loud thump…
BUMP!
…he landed on the ground.
The watchman woke up immediately.
“Who’s there?” he called.
Bumbo froze.
“It’s only me,” he said in a tiny voice.
“Oh, Bumbo!” sighed the watchman. “What are you doing here in the middle of the night?”
“I wanted to visit Slippery.”
The little elephant’s eyes filled with tears.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
The watchman knelt beside him.
“I know you’ve had a difficult start in life,” he said gently. “But wandering around alone at night isn’t safe.”
Bumbo sniffed.
“Ali will be very cross with me.”
“I think he’ll be much more relieved than cross,” the watchman replied kindly. “Come on. I’ll drive you home.”
Home Again
When they reached the rescue centre, every light was on.
Ali and several helpers were searching everywhere.
“Bumbo!” shouted Ali.
He hurried over and wrapped his arms around the little elephant.
“I was so worried!”
Bumbo burst into tears.
“I’m sorry, Ali.”
Ali took a deep breath.
“Why did you sneak out?”
“I couldn’t sleep,” Bumbo admitted. “I wanted to see Slippery.”
Ali nodded slowly.
“I understand.”
He looked serious for a moment.
“You gave us all a terrible fright.”
Bumbo hung his head.
“I know.”
Ali smiled at last.
“I’m not going to punish you tonight.”
Bumbo looked up hopefully.
“But…”
“I think you’ve learned your lesson.”
Bumbo nodded.
“Yes.”
“Tomorrow there won’t be any birthday party.”
Bumbo sighed.
“Instead, you’ll help me in the vegetable garden.”
“I understand.”
“And afterwards,” Ali added with a smile, “perhaps we’ll have time for a game of tennis.”
Bumbo couldn’t help smiling.
“That sounds fair.”
That night he fell asleep almost as soon as his head touched the pillow.
A Busy Week in the Garden
The next morning, warm sunshine streamed through the bedroom window.
Bumbo was still fast asleep when Ali quietly came in carrying a tray with a mug of hot cocoa topped with whipped cream.
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” he said with a smile.
Bumbo rubbed his eyes.
“Good morning, Ali.”
After breakfast, Ali handed him a little wheelbarrow.
“Come on,” he said. “Put the shovel, the hoe and the bucket inside. We’re going to the vegetable garden.”
Bumbo sighed.
“What are we doing today?”
“We’re going to weed the carrots and celery,” said Ali. “And I think the radishes are ready to be picked.”
Bumbo made a face.
“Oh no… Does that mean we’ll have to go to the market tomorrow? I don’t like busy markets.”
Ali chuckled.
“Don’t forget—you got off lightly after your midnight adventure.”
“I know,” mumbled Bumbo.
When they reached the vegetable garden, Bumbo noticed something moving among the lettuces.
“Oh look!” he cried. “The whole garden is full of slugs!”
“Put on your gardening gloves,” said Ali. “We’ll gently move them over the fence to the wild garden, where they won’t eat our vegetables.”
Bumbo smiled.
“That’s much kinder.”
Ali nodded.
“Every creature deserves a safe place to live.”
Together they spent the morning weeding, watering and caring for the vegetables.
Bumbo used a little watering can while Ali watered the larger beds with a hose.
Instead of using chemicals, Ali sprayed the plants with a natural nettle feed that he had prepared himself.
“Our garden grows the natural way,” he explained.
Bumbo thought that sounded rather clever.
A Wonderful Surprise
The whole week passed quickly.
Every day Bumbo worked hard without complaining.
He pulled weeds, watered flowers, harvested vegetables and even remembered to tidy away his tools.
Ali noticed every bit of it, although he didn’t say very much.
On Friday afternoon they walked back to the house together.
“Now,” said Ali, “go and have a shower. Don’t forget to use the olive-oil soap.”
Bumbo grinned.
“I won’t forget.”
“And tonight,” Ali added, “I’d like you to go to bed nice and early.”
“But…” said Bumbo. “You promised we’d watch our favourite television programme together!”
Ali smiled mysteriously.
“Trust me.”
Bumbo wondered what Ali was planning.
That night he could hardly fall asleep.
He remembered all the wonderful holidays they had shared together.
Last year they had visited England’s beautiful Lake District and explored the Beatrix Potter Museum.
“I wonder where we’ll go next,” he whispered.
Off to Disney World!
Early the next morning there was a gentle knock at the bedroom door.
“Come in!” called Bumbo.
Ali walked in smiling.
“Time to get up! The taxi will be here in half an hour.”
“The taxi?” asked Bumbo.
“Where are we going?”
Ali reached into his pocket and handed him two tickets.
Bumbo looked down.
His eyes grew bigger and bigger.
Then he gasped.
“Disney World!”
He could hardly believe it.
“Are we really going?”
Ali laughed.
“We certainly are.”
With a joyful trumpet, Bumbo jumped out of bed, wrapped his trunk around Ali in a great big hug and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you!” he cried.
“This is the best surprise ever!”
Ali smiled warmly.
“You earned it.”
Outside, the morning sun shone brightly.
It was the beginning of a brand-new adventure.
The End
