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| Story ID: | 2750 |
| Written by: | Bobby O'neill Mitchum (bio, contact, other stories) |
| Story type: | Family History |
| Writers Conference: | $500 2007 Family Memories Writing Project |
| Location: | Phenix City Alabama U.S.A. |
| Year: | 2007 |
| Person: | SELF |
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My Aunt Agnes,who is now 94 years young,once related this story to me about a carnival that came through her home town.She grew up in a small community in Alabama called Mellow Valley,which is in Clay County,near Ashland. Now back in those days,it seems that when a carnival traveled,it was sometimes nessasary for the animals that were to perform in the acts were some times required to be walked,i am,of course,referring mostly to the Elephants in this case.The runors had been flying around for weeks that the Elephants were going to walk down the road right through the middle of Mellow Valley,and it was of great interest to everyone as to what was going to happen when they crossed the bridge over the creek on the outskirts of town.It was a very small and rickety bridge and washed away almost every time it rained,surely it would break in and send wild and panicked Elephants rampaging all over the country side!On the day of the great event,every one in Mellow Valley had gathered on the side of the road to watch the great beasts as they peacefully ambled through the town and toward thier unknown fate while crossing the bridge. The lead Elephant was a huge female,who seemingly enjoyed all the free publicity of walking down the side of the road with all the towns people watching,she bobbed her head and waved her great trunk in the air as if she were a queen waving to her royal subjects. As the line of about six Elephants neared the small bridge,everyone held thier breath,the moment of truth had arrived!Everyone had thier attention riveted on the lead elephant,surely that little bridge would fail with such a great weight!As the huge animal approached the frail little bridge,she hesitated,but only for a second,she abruptly turned right,stepped off the road,splashed in the creek dipped her trunk in the water,drank for a second before proceeding up the bank on the oposit side of the bridge and continued her journey,the other five Elephants obidiantly following.Everyone applauded and the great mystery of how the Elephants would cross the bridge was solved. |
