The Mayor and the Elephant

A young City Council member was selected to participate in a UN sponsored local government exchange program.  He was invited to work in Africa for 30 days.  While in Africa he would  able to observe and study the various functions of local African village government.

On the evening prior his return back to the States, the young council member took a walk through the bush and amazingly came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised.  The young elephant seemed to be in distress. The  City Council member timidly walked over to the elephant, got down on one knee and inspected the elephant's foot. Immediately he noticed a large piece of wood embedded deeply into the sole of the elephant's foot.

The City Council person took out his pocket knife and as gently as he could extracted the large sliver.  The elephant put down his foot and gingerly leaned on its foot several seconds then with what appeared to be a smile on his face the elephant slowly turned and started to walk away. Suddenly the elephant stopped, turned around and looked directly at the young City Council member; it raised its leg then trumpeted loudly before it ran off into the jungle as to say 'Thank You' friend.

Years quickly passed and that young City Council person was now the Mayor. While giving a tour of the new City Zoo to a group of visiting dignitaries a large bull walked up to the bars on the elephant enclosure and starred at the Mayor. 

The elephant’s eyes followed the Mayor’s every move. One of the visitors said "Mayor I believe that that elephant is looking at you". The Mayor stopped and gazed at the elephant. They both stood silent and looked at each other. Finally, the elephant lifted its front leg, wagged it side to side then trumpeted loudly. Recalling his encounter years earlier in Africa the Mayor wondered if this could be the same elephant he met in the bush.

Summoning up his courage, he stepped over the outer fence and walked up close to the bars. Slowly the elephant snaked its trunk through the bars and gently touched the Mayor's face. As the Mayor moved closer the elephant wrapped its lovingly trunk around the Mayor as though he were caressing him. Then without warning the elephant squeezed the Mayor’s torso tightly, raised the Mayor high in the air then repeatedly slammed him into the ground several times killing him. Obviously this was not the same elephant the Mayor had met years ago.