Free Still Life with Elephant by Judy Reene Singer

“You can’t tell anyone.” I shook my head a definite no.
    â€œWe have to keep it confidential because—you know—first of all, it’s very, very dangerous, and, secondly, there could be diplomatic problems if it leaks out to the press.”
    â€œDiplomatic? Like international?”
    â€œLike an international incident if it doesn’t go off.”
    â€œI promise.”
    He continued. “Okay, then.” He stopped, started again. “Okay. We’re going to Zimbabwe. We’re…we have to…steal an elephant.”
    I stared at him, speechless, then giggled a little with embarrassment. “You know, I have this hearing thing,” I said, laughing at the absurdity of it. “So—I thought you said ‘steal an elephant.’”
    He laughed, too. Then he said, “I did.”
    I had to think about that for a minute. He had said “steal an elephant.” I looked him in the eye and said, “Really?”
    â€œReally.”
    And I thought about Matt and how much I loved him and wanted to be with him, and that maybe I should fight for him, danger or not, and then I said, “I’m in.”

Chapter Fourteen
    â€œZ IMBABWE?” ALANA repeated, her voice rising with incredulity. “Are you sure you didn’t hear Richie say you’re in a bad way? Because you are.”
    Of course the first thing I had done when I got home was call Alana and tell her all about it.
    â€œI’m positive,” I said. “They’re rescuing an elephant from Zimbabwe. And I volunteered to help.”
    â€œYou have to admit, it’s not your everyday activity,” she said, “like could you please get my dry cleaning, and, oh, it just might be a little out of your way, but could you also pick up an elephant from Zimbabwe?”
    â€œWell, what do I do now?” I asked her frantically. “There’s a meeting Friday night for everyone. Richie’s counting on me to come.”
    Alana had no sympathy. “You’ve been hoist with your own petard,” she said. “And, yes, you heard me right.”
    â€œWhat happens if Matt’s there?” I asked. “And what if he brings Holly-Folly?”
    â€œOf course Matt’s going to be there,” she said. “So withdraw your offer to go. You have no business rescuing elephants anyway. Besides, I think you’re just doing it to stay in Matt’s life. And if you want to do that, then just spare yourself more agita and find a way to work things out with him in your own country.” She paused. “Are you listening?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI didn’t think so. So—go get yourself an elephant.”
    Â 
    Of course Alana’s suggestion was sensible. I should just tell Matt I still loved him, and I would work on forgiveness, and in the meantime, he could come back to me. I didn’t have to go to Zimbabwe to do that.
    Except I could never bring myself to tell him that I forgave him and wanted him back. It was the equivalent of saying it was okay to cheat on me.
    And that would never be okay. Never.
    Â 
    â€œI’ve been hoist with my own petard,” I said to Isis while asking her to halt in the riding ring. “And I did it to myself, and I don’t even know what a petard is.”
    She flicked an ear back and forth and stood motionless at the halt. I patted her neck and praised her lavishly, and then asked her to move forward into an energetic trot.
    â€œI have a meeting Friday night to learn how to rescue an elephant,” I said as we trotted around the ring. “I don’t know anything about elephants.” Then I asked her to slow her trot into half-steps, half the length of her normal trot stride. “What happens if Matt doesn’t show up?” Isis slowed her trot, slow, slow, until she gave me one prancelike step, which is exactly what I wanted. I praised her again, and asked her to trot a few more