Just Like An Elephant

By Robert R. Green

This is a series of short stories. Check the table of contents and choose one that sounds interesting. I know that will lead you to read another story.

There is a wide variety of action stories about Paris, Berlin, New York, Wisconsin,  and a surprise or two. You’ll read them all, some twice.

My stories are fictional. You  will smile, laugh, frown or even shed a tear. Thanks for choosing this book. 

      Just Like an Elephant

Unforgetable Short Stories

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert R. Green
• Release date: Sep 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386087915

Robert R. Green

Robert R. Green graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he took a strong interest in writing and has been writing ever since. His first short story in Freshman Creative Writing earned him an A+. He held numerous jobs and served in the U.S. Army. During his life he has visited all 50 states and been privileged to travel through parts of over 70 countries.  He has lived in six states and temporarily in Germany. Although he has been writing various stories and articles in publications for more than 45 years, his books are recent additions in his life. Bob’s books include Longhorns and Other People, a series of short stories, and a second short story book titled, Everyone’s Different, followed by the most recent short story book, Just Like An Elephant. He also wrote a series of creative fiction action novels:  Under the Polish Moon, Discrete Justice, Silent Sentinels, Discrete Security, Breeda, and his latest, Beyond Breeda, the sixth in the Discrete Inquiries series. Bob, and his wife Barbara, now live in Arizona which he feels offers weather that is kinder to his body. You can contact Bob by email:  [e-mail].

Book preview

Robert R. Green

If you enjoy this book,

You’ll like these:

Discrete Inquiries Novels

by Robert R. Green

Under the Polish Moon

Discrete Justice

Silent Sentinels

Discrete Security

Breeda

Beyond Breeda

Collections of short stories

Longhorns and Other People

Everyone’s Different

Dedicated to Barbara, my wife

All rights reserved.  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the written permission of the author, except as permitted by law.

This is a work of creative fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or the publisher.

Front Cover Photo  -  Robert Green

Back Cover Photo  -  Robert Green

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Copyright © 2017 by Robert R. Green

ISBN 13: 978-1539504320

ISBN-10: 1539504328

There ought to be a better way of starting the day than having to get up.  Earl Wilson (1907 – 1987) journalist & columnist

Excellent input for this book came from many sources.  Foremost are the San Marcos Scribes, a name created for our team of four authors who meet weekly and share their knowledge and impression of each other’s writings.

My special thanks to authors Emory Cosgrove, Donald Stevens and Ron Wick for their valuable suggestions on writing in general, and my efforts in particular. And I cannot forget the many people who helped me with my creations, without them ever knowing I was picking their brains.

Just like an

Elephant

Contents

He, She and Me  13

Told by Me

Life on A Farm  19

40 Acres of work

Blue Death    35

It Matters

And Then We Sleep     49

An American Agent

Berlin      69

In the Early 1950’s

Paris     96

Present Time

Spring Again   120

Northern Wisconsin

New York  136

A Joy to Visit-usually

Such a Great Week   161

A cruise on the Emerald Princess

He, She and Me

As Told by Me

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There wasn’t much on TV but the three of us sat on the couch and watched anyway.  There seemed to be more back rubbing and foot massaging than anything else.

Before long there was a mass exodus into the kitchen.  After all, we hadn’t eaten in almost three hours.  These trips seem to be a mirror image of the night before  

followed by the refrigerator door opening.  The glug,   glug, glug, sound is wine pouring from the box to a glass.  It is cheaper than by the bottle and many seem to like it even better.  And they say it stays fresh longer sealed in that plastic container.

Next I hear a stream of lemonade splashing into a glass, usually without ice.  As for me, I like just plain water; no ice for me either...usually.

After a walk around the kitchen, doors opening and closing, followed by sighs we start back to the couch. Then, as if a rope tightens around our necks, at least one of us turns back and, sure enough, thinks of a snack.    Like I said, we haven’t eaten in over three hours.

The rest of the evening went fine since our stomachs were full again. The TV shows seem to have improved, but I expect it is mainly because I keep falling asleep.

As usual in the morning I am the first one to wake up.  I try to stay in my bed and be very quiet.  When I hear sounds from the master bed, I get up and join in.  We usually visit the bathroom and then it’s direct to the kitchen.  It has been a really long time since we have eaten.  The smell of scrambled eggs is enticing. For some reason we all have cut way back on meat, so no bacon or sausage.  I guess it’s healthier, but I do miss the smells.  Eggs just can’t compare with frying bacon to get the juices flowing.

I hear someone suggest we take a walk; probable she is the one.  He usually prefers to get his exercise riding in the golf cart.  I really prefer to ride in the cart, but she wants company for the walk.  Oh well, I enjoy that too.  Often there are others my age walking so we stop and visit, and that’s fun too.

He cleans up the kitchen while she and me get ready.  They haven’t told me, but it sounds like we will be using the car. He and she ride in front which is fine with me; I get the whole back seat and can lounge or sleep or just watch the scenery roll by.

Yesterday was rather interesting. About noon she said, look!! We all looked where she was pointing out our den window.  There is a big green area next to our house, bigger than a football field.  Right down the middle trots a coyote; that’s right, trots, not runs.  When it gets to the far end there is an iron grate fence about six feet high.

The coyote paces back and forth several times and then disappears behind the houses. It, could either squeeze between the bars, or go next to a block wall and climb over.  It was good to be safe in the house, just watching.

He is finally ready, so we all go out in the garage.  Me in the back seat alone, and she gets behind the wheel.  He rides in the passenger seat and we’re off. I don’t know where we are going yet, but a ride is always good.  If I’m lucky we will stop to eat lunch and they will give me some healthy food.  Unhealthy tastes better, but since I have no money, I’ll settle for what I get.

We are heading south...I wonder...we came this way once before to a little town called Eloy.  They have an airport.  It is like the world capital of skydiving.  We walk over to watch the next divers get ready to jump.  She jumped, so was telling he about it while I listened.  After watching a film, the jumpers come outside and their jump partners get them all fastened into a harness.

Then they wait to be called. He, she and me go around to the front where they will land.  Soon I hear a loudspeaker. The people we had watched climb on a wagon with seats.  When it is full, a tractor pulls them out to the airplane.

The sound gets loud and she points for me to look at the airplane.  It takes off, but I missed it.

Wish I were in it, but she said no. I listen as she says to he, that they will go up to 13,000 feet before they jump.  It must be a real thrill; she said it is. After while some one points up in the sky.  He tells us he can see an airplane.

Everybody looks up.  I do hear a‘swoosh’.  The people around me are all talking at once.  They said they saw the parachutes open; each one’s a different color.

I hear more sound and then I see parachutes almost on the ground in front of us.  It would be fun for me to run out, but she is very strict, so I stay there and just watch and sort of mumble.  I must say it is very pretty, even to me. Before long, I’m getting tired of just seeing parachutes so am ready when she says, Let’s go eat.  He agrees and we are off.

They let me go ahead and I find a table on a deck. He goes in the building.  I hope they have some food; my tummy says it is empty.  Sometimes they get me a piece of bread with chicken or turkey inside.  For me, turkey is best.  I know she will be sure it is organic, but that is okay; just so it is big.

He brings out iced tea for she and he; naturally it’s water for me.  That’s good since tea is icky, it even smells bad. He hands me a piece of bread.  Hooray, it has turkey on it.  After we are all full, he leads the way to an open space of green grass.  He and she lie down and look up in the sky. Me, I lie between them and go to sleep.  I wake often since the other people are so noisy.

Finally he, she, and me are getting in the car. It must have been fun for them...they never stop talking.  I look out and see a high white hill.  It would be fun for me to run up it.  The car doesn’t slow, but she says to he, That’s cotton, all ready to sell.  Who would buy that?  It isn’t real pretty and it would cover our whole yard.  She must be wrong.  Nobody would buy that stuff. Oh well, time for a nap.

That noise is familiar to me.  It’s our garage door going up. We must be home. After going in I hear that screeching sound as the door goes down.  He better do something about that noise.

I think I’ll take a nap, said she.  Why don’t you two go for a walk?

Come on, says he. I think I’ll just be quiet and wait at the door.  I know he is not happy.  He likes his afternoon naps and doesn’t want to traipse off with me.

He and me are having a long walk.  I don’t remember being here before.  All of a sudden there is a loud growl and snarl.  I’m afraid.  I get close to he.  A huge black dog runs at us from behind a garage.

He yells at the dog, but it just stands in front of us growling.  I don’t know where to go.  I just stand there next to his legs, shaking. He yells at the dog, screaming at it, but the dog crouches down snarling.  He is madder than I have ever seen him. He yells so loud it hurts my ears.

He unbuckles his big belt and pulls it off.  Holding the end, he swings the buckle around his head and slaps that big black dog with the buckle.  When he misses, the dog barks and then bares his teeth and comes toward us.  He swings the belt again, and this time he hits the dog right on the nose with the buckle.

It sounds to me like the dog is crying.  He rubs his nose with his paw.  At that time, he swings the belt again and hits the big dog right in the head.  The dog runs away yipping.  I don’t think I was breathing the whole time.  I’m so proud that he protected me, but I do feel bad for the dog.  Probably has a bad owner.

We got home and she met us at the door.  Knowing something happened she reached out for me.  It was so good to have arms holding me.

He talked and talked, telling the whole story about the dog and me standing so close to his legs. He talked some more, and then unbuckled his belt and pulled it off like he did to fight the dog.  She covered her mouth and made that happy sound, because when he pulled off the belt his pants fell down. Me, I just don’t get it, but I do like that happy sound.

Yes, we do have names besides he, she and me.  Emma is my name.  I’m a 16 pound shihpoo girl dog, with beautiful gray and black wavy hair.

And I am certainly prettier than that big ugly black dog with the all that blood on his nose!

Life on a Farm

For Everyone Who Never Saw a Farm

The first semester at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was in session.  Everyone was just starting to get acquainted.  Two young men who had recently met are sitting in the Union cafeteria each having a piece of apple pie and a glass of milk.

That last class was neat.  The part about Wisconsin dairy farms got my attention.  I’m a city boy. I’ve never even been on a working farm; have you, Kent?

Kent choked on his milk. Well, yes.  In fact I’ll be leaving for our farm right after this week’s classes.. Want to come along?

Well, I...I...Gee I don’t know. Where are you going? How will you get there?

Home.  I live on a 40 acre farm down in the southwest; it’s an easy drive and I have a jeep.

I’d have to get a sub to work my shift at Liz Waters Dorm.  I know the girls will miss me busing their table.  I’d like to go; it would be fun.

Nobody said anything about fun.  We will be harvesting this year’s last crop of alfalfa. Come with me and you’ll work your ass off; if you can take it.

Now you did it!  I’ll go.  What do I need? said Bob, When do we leave? And what is alfalfa?

Alfalfa is what we grow for hay to feed our cattle...you sure are a greenhorn.  We’ll leave about two o’clock right after the noon class. Bring your overalls and about three changes of work clothes.  You should also have some heavy socks.

What for?  It isn’t cold yet.

You’ll want them inside the boots when we work in the barn.  Most of the time we will work with the hay, but there are cows to milk and a barn to clean...you’ll see.

Where do we stay? Do you have enough room?

My wife, Donna...

Your wife?  You never said you were married.  What will she say?

After she gets done laughing at how dumb you are, she’ll say ‘welcome.’  Now I have to get to class.  I’ll pick you up at your dorm...that is unless you’re scared of getting a little manure on you.

I’ll be right out front so you don’t have to park.  Afraid...I’ll show you. Geeze, manure?

See you Thursday about two, Bob. Kent took off running so he wouldn’t be late.

Afraid?  I bet Kent would be scared working with me during the summer