Grannie's Blackie

Once there lived a very rich man in a city. He was known for his generosity. One day a woman came to him, asking for help. The man gave a beautiful baby elephant to the woman.

Woman was very happy. She returned to her home in the village with the baby elephant. The children in her village called her granny. They were excited to see the baby elephant which granny brought herself.

Granny took care of the elephant and nurtured it like her own baby. The baby elephant too fondled her and they became fondled of each other. The children in the village played with the baby elephant. They fed it with ripe bananas and bathed it. They rode on it and loved it very much. The baby elephant became popular as the 'Granny's Blackie'. 

Blackie and the village children played cheerfully all day thought. They went to the village pond to take dip, where Blackie often showered water on them and gave them swings merrily. The children enjoyed with him very much. 

However, Blackie had no worm to do. He only slept, ate and played. This continued until one day when Blackie came to Granny and said, "Granny, let's go to the forest for playing. The weather is great today!".

Granny refused arguing, "Bkackie, there is too much work at home. I cannot go to the forest".

Bkackie became sad. He sad humbly near the Granny watching her lovingly. "She works so hard. She is old and feeble. May be I should find some work and earn money to support her", Blackie thought to himself.

Next day Blackie woke up early and went to the river bank with the hope of finding some work. 

The way near the river that led to the city was wet and slithy due to heavy rains last night. A wagoner was drawing a large trail of waggons through the slity road. However wagons were heavy loaded and the muddy way prevented them from moving. The wagoner was stuck as the ox could not pull the wagons forward. 

Blackie saw the man struggling. He went and stood hear the wagoner in hope of getting some work.

Seeing the elephant, the wagoner asked, "My wagons are stuck in the slit. I want to hire this elephant to pull them through. Who own this elephant?"

A group of children who were saying in the river said, "He is Granny's Blackie".

The man said, "l shall pay two coins for each wagon he helps me up through".

Blackie was happy to hear. He started pulling the wagons across the slity river. After few hours of work, all the wagons were on the other side of the river.

Before the man started his journey back again,  he counted one coin of silver for each wagon pulled by Blackie. There were ten wagons, so the man counted ten silver coins to give Blackie. But Grannie like elephants are known to be, was intelligent. He remembered the terms of the deal and refused to accept the underpay. He refused to touch the pouch in which man had kept the money, and stopped his way. The man could not leave. He waited for the gaint animal to move away, but Blackie refused asking the money he deserved to be given.

By now it was late evening. The children in the village had been looking around for Blackie. They went and asked Granny about him, but she was unaware of his whereabouts too. On the other side, the man was getting late too, and so he put another ten coins in the pouch. He hung the pouch around Grannie's neck. Grannie gave a loud trumpet of joy and thanks. He nodded his head and trunk in utter joy and made his way back to home hurriedly. Today Grannie was proud and contended with what he did for Granny who had done so much for him.

It was already dark when Blackie returned to the village. When the children saw him, they gave a cry of joy. They cheered Blackie and ran after him asking, "Blackie, where were you the entire day", " Why didn't you tell us where you were going", " What is hanging around your back", " Why didn't you played with us today", "where are you heading now"...?

But Grannie was too happy to stop and answer them. He went on without answering them. Back home, Granny waited eagerly for Blackie. When she saw Blackie, she had a breadth of relief. 

Granny hugged Blackie lovingly. She carrased his trunk and in an endearing note asked, "My little blackie, where were you for the entire day? Did you eat anything? Who tied this bag around your neck?"

Blackie was filled with pride and contendedness. He said, "Granny, I went to the riverside to find work. I luckily got work and have earned the money in this pounch. Its for you Granny".

Granny eyes were filled with tears. She hugged Blackie gratifyingly saying, "You are so good Blackie. I am fortunate to have you in my life".

Thereafter, Blackie started working to earn. He gave the money to old Granny and they lived happily thereafter.