​Trevor the Water Elephant

​Trevor the Water Elephant

​Trevor was a magical elephant who lived with his family—his Mummy, Daddy, and two sisters—in Africa. Their home was a large grove of trees near a vast pond and a winding river.

​Trevor loved the water. More than anything, he enjoyed standing in the cool pond and dousing himself all over with muddy water. He'd watch the flamingos—their feathers a vibrant pink—and other birds as they skimmed the surface and soared into the clear blue sky. The water was also his best defense against the endless swarm of biting bugs; he’d spray them away with jets of cool, refreshing water to keep from itching.

​His sisters would often tease him, "Trevor, why spend all that time in the water? You can just roll around in the fine, dry dust outside—that gets rid of the bugs, too!"

​But Trevor would just shake his head. "No, I like the water best. It keeps me cool, and it's so hot here in Africa!"

​Even Mummy and Daddy tried to coax him onto dry land one very hot afternoon, but Trevor wouldn't budge. They finally exchanged a fond look and laughed. "I guess we'll just have to get used to it," Mummy said. "Trevor is a water elephant."

​The Artist and the Zoo

​One day, a man came to the riverbank and watched Trevor's energetic splashing. He sat down quietly and began to sketch, drawing many detailed pictures of Trevor before finally wandering away. Trevor often wondered what became of that man.

​Sadly, one miserable afternoon, a group of poachers—bad men who hurt and capture animals—came upon Trevor. They managed to trap and transport him far away to a zoo, a truly miserable place that was far too small for a magnificent elephant. Trevor was desperately unhappy. He tried to escape many times, but the enclosure was too strong.

​One afternoon, Trevor stood resting his heavy head and trunk on the cold stones by the edge of his cage. He looked up and saw a man reading a newspaper. On the back, there was an advertisement for a place called Jungle-land. Trevor looked closer. Amongst the pictures, he saw one of a jungle boat ride—and then he saw himself! It was an animated picture of an elephant spraying water, just like he did.

​"Wow," Trevor thought, "Maybe that was the man who came and drew me all those years ago." Though he felt a moment of pride, he was still heartbroken to be imprisoned in the zoo.

​A New Beginning in the Sanctuary

​A few years later, the same man who had drawn Trevor walked by the zoo. He was drawing pictures of the other animals, but he looked deeply sad. He hated seeing magnificent creatures confined in small, dull cages. Then, he saw Trevor.

​"That's him," the man whispered to himself, his voice thick with emotion. "This is the very elephant I drew so long ago. He doesn't belong here."

​The man went straight to the zoo keeper. "This isn't fair to this animal. I will give you $50,000 if you sell me that elephant."

​The zoo keeper scoffed. "I can make much more money by keeping him here."

​"No," the man insisted, his tone firm. "I want to buy him now. I'll give you $55,000 this minute. And I know you need it, because this zoo is a wreck."

​Seeing the truth in the man's words, the keeper finally relented. "Fine. Take the elephant."

​The good man immediately arranged for Trevor to be moved. He loaded Trevor into a large truck, spraying him with water and giving him fresh, green leaves for the long journey. They drove and drove until they reached California.

​When the man opened the gate, Trevor's eyes widened. There were other elephants wandering freely around a large, open space!

​"This is incredible," Trevor thought.

​The man smiled warmly. "This is my sanctuary," he said. "I built it for elephants. You are safe here, Trevor. You can live here too."

​Trevor and Charlotte

​Trevor was overjoyed. He ran around the open habitat, spraying himself with water just as he used to do in Africa. One day, he saw a little girl watching from a large, safe viewing area. She looked no older than five, with brown hair and bangs. Charlotte came to visit the elephants every single day.

​One afternoon, the sanctuary keeper (the kind man who had rescued him) came over to the girl. "What's your name, dear?" he asked.

​"Charlotte," she whispered.

​"Would you like to come meet Trevor? He is a very nice elephant, and he likes little girls."

​Charlotte was thrilled. She stepped closer and gently stroked Trevor's massive trunk. Trevor enjoyed the gentle touch, but then wandered off to join his new friends.

​Trevor and Charlotte developed a sweet, quiet friendship. Every few weeks, she would visit. Whenever he saw her at the viewing area, Trevor would lift his trunk high and trumpet a greeting just for her.

​They both grew older. Charlotte became a tall young woman, and Trevor became an old, respected elephant.

​One day, Charlotte arrived and saw that the enclosure was empty. She hurried to the sanctuary keeper.

​"I'm sorry, Charlotte," the keeper said gently. "Trevor died peacefully last night. He went to elephant heaven."

​Charlotte was heartbroken, but she carried the love she had for Trevor through her life. She eventually became a sanctuary keeper herself, dedicating her life to giving many other animals the freedom, space, and happiness that Trevor had found. She always ensured they never had to live in a miserable zoo.

​Years later, when Charlotte died and went to heaven, the very first thing she saw was Trevor, waiting for her at the door. They were together again, happily ever after.