THOMAS L. CHIU
HE CALLED HER
ALI AND TIPPEE
There once was an elephant named Ali and an egret named Tippee.
They came from different continents but shared the terrains of Africa, where
they roamed and lived.
Ali was mostly alone. He liked to explore the jungle as well as the rivers.
He ate fruit from the tree trunks that he reached for. He loved to make
sounds like trumpet calls. He was fearless and was proud of his looks.
Tippee liked to show his ability to fly gracefully and catch fish with amazing
swiftness. He made the leaves and grass rustle. He moved with gentility,
very much like a feather. He seemed to know where to land and where to rest.
Ali and Tippee met one day by a river bank.
"Why are you playing with the water?" asked Tippee upon seeing
Ali.
"I like the sound. It is a cheerful sound," answered Ali.
"I wish I could do the same," said Tippee.
"Maybe one day you will. Maybe one day, you'll make the waters sing,"
joked Ali.
"Oh, no. Only angels sing," Tippee said.
Ali continued to play while Tippee watched in wonderment.
"May I be your friend?" asked Ali.
"Yes. My name is Tippee."
"I am Ali."
So Ali and Tippee followed each other through the plains and forests. Ali
asked Tippee to stand on his back so that Tippee need not walk.
"This way we can look after each other," said Ali.
One day, while crossing a rice field, Ali suddenly whispered to Tippee,
"I sense we are having company coming our way."
"Let me check," Tippee said. "I see two white flags somewhat
apart, moving side to side and approaching us!"
"I know. They are poachers. Let me think. Tippee, fly south a mile,
turn east a mile and then go up north a mile. Build a fire quickly and come
right back." With these instructions, Tippee hurriedly flew to his
mission. No sooner did he start the fire than the wind started to blow the
smoke towards the direction of the poachers, engulfing them completely.
"You saved me!" Tippee exclaimed.
"No, Tippee, together we saved each other," Ali answered.
Days passed. They learned to like each other. They anticipated each other's
motives. They taught each other. Together they discovered ways to improve
their everyday tasks.
One day, Ali decided to build a shelter for Tippee. He was fearful for Tippee.
Ali used logs he had gathered from the forests to make a simple square enclosure,
high enough for Tippee to move in and out of with ease. He was going to
guard Tippee. Tippee enjoyed watching the pieces of logs being positioned
each day for his house. When it was finally finished, both Ali and Tippee
rejoiced in Ali's triumph.
"You are my best friend," Tippee said.
"I thank you. You are my true friend," replied Ali.
"Shall I sing a song for you?" Tippee asked.
"I'd like that," answered Ali.
The song sounded like water dancing over rocks. They both laughed.
Not long after the shelter was built, Ali woke up one day to find Tippee
gone.
"Tippee, where are you?" screamed Ali. "Come back!"
No answer.
The silence began to alarm Ali. He searched. Not far from the shelter, Ali
heard a rattling sound. It was a snake. Swiftly, Ali tore the snake to pieces
with his powerful trunk. He was angry. He panicked. He walked faster now,
trembling. Then he stopped.
His horror was dramatized by the sight of the lifeless body of Tippee in
front of him. Ali carefully moved the body of Tippee and carried him to
the shelter. He covered his friend with logs. This time he sealed the shelter
forever.
He lowered his own body to the ground, by the side of the shelter. He stayed
motionless there for a long time, staring at the blue sky.
He cried in a mournful manner until the sun stopped shining. His journey
had come to a halt here, at the shelter he had built for Tippee. "There
will be no more water dancing over the rocks," he sighed.
Ali and Tippee were very good friends indeed.
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