Counting Elephants?
Chapter 58
Counting Elephants?
Leslie nudged her dad.
She nudged him again.
He wouldn’t wake up.
“Daddy,” she whispered, “wake up.”
Dad’s eyes peered open.
“Daddy, I can’t fall asleep.”
“Have you been awake all this time, honey?” asked dad.
“Uh-huh,” was the reply.
“Is there something wrong?”
“No, Daddy, I just can’t fall asleep.”
“Maybe you should start counting sheep, honey.”
“I tried that already, but the sheep came over to me and told me they didn’t want me to count them anymore. So, I don’t know what I should count anymore.”
“Well, let’s think about it for a second,” pondered Dad. “Maybe we can think of something you can count.”
“OK, Daddy,” said Leslie excitedly.
“Maybe you could count cows crossing the pasture.”
“The cow bells would keep me awake.”
“Right”
“How about pigs rolling in the mud?”
“What if they splatter me with mud?”
“Good point”
“What about chicks escaping the chicken coop?”
“Wouldn’t they miss their mommies?”
“I see how that can happen. Maybe we should leave the farm, honey.”
“OK, Daddy”
“Maybe, we could count elephants crossing the savannah holding tails with their trunks.”
“How could I fall asleep with the trembling ground?”
“That would be tough”
“Count giraffes eating from the tops of the trees.”
“Looking up would hurt my neck.”
“Of course”
“I know. You can count hyenas laughing.”
“But I would want to know what they’re laughing about.”
“Yeah, me too”
Dad pressed on.
“Snakes slithering?”
“Too slimy.”
“Fireflies flying?”
“Too much light.”
“Lions roaring?”
“Scary, dad!”
“Cockroaches crawling?
“Even scarier, Daddy!!”
“Bears fishing?”
“It’s winter, dad, they’re hibernating. I wouldn’t find even one.”
Dad looked at her with a frustrated look. “I don’t know if I’m being much help, honey. Do you have any ideas?”
Leslie looked back at her dad. “I think I’m going to go back and negotiate with the sheep. Maybe they’ll come to their senses.”
Dad sat there with a befuddled look on his face. “Negotiate, huh? Sounds like a plan. Let me know how it went in the morning. Now go to sleep.”
“OK, Daddy. Thanks.”
Leslie left the room, and Dad rolled back into bed. After about 5 minutes, he realized he couldn’t go to sleep. Immediately, he tried counting sheep. He went to count the first one, when it turned to him saying, “Excuse me but we’re busy right now. We’re in the midst of negotiations. Come back later if you like.”
Dad stared at the ceiling. It was going to be a long night.