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accidental migration and the old country were part of his heritage, the toucan had no desire to go ‘home.’
    The elephant became miffed and fell into an annoyed silence. He was very fond of the toucan bird and trusted him greatly, but he wondered if this was not a mild rebuke, hinting that he should stay where he was.
    He felt tempted to irritate the toucan in some manner. He could wrinkle his skin and make the bird fall off or he could sneak his trunk up beside him and trumpet into his ear. A good blast would probably knock a couple of feathers off his tail. Serve him right for being a stuffy old bird.
    While thinking of yet other ways to disturb his guest, the elephant suddenly felt an insistent tap against his ear. The toucan was hitting him with his big bill, and when he finally got the elephant’s attention, he pointed his bill into the sky. A cloud was slowly settling through the trees. With a squawk of satisfaction, the toucan rose into the air, giving his best regards as he flew past the cloud. The elephant ambled to the middle of the clearing and waited.
    â€œHad I desired my birds to possess fewer tail feathers, I would have arranged it myself.”

    â€œI wouldn’t really have done it,” said the elephant. “Just enough to startle him. He was being an old pooh.”
    â€œHardly a fair description of a creature who was only answering the questions you asked.”
    â€œI didn’t like what he said.”
    â€œThat’s a reaction I often get,” said the cloud. “There’s no sense asking a question if you only want one type of answer. With choice and free will comes the chance of disappointment.”
    â€œChance?” The elephant snorted.
    â€œAnd don’t fault the toucan his caution.” The cloud settled more comfortably. “There is a large place in life for the cautious approach.”
    â€œIs that broad hint directed at my interest in visiting the city?”
    â€œCould be.”
    â€œYou don’t think I should go?”
    â€œHave you ever heard the expression ‘bull in a china shop?’”
    â€œYes. But I’ve never seen a china shop.” The elephant added triumphantly, “Because I’ve never been to the city.”
    â€œYour logic seems to sharpen when it serves your purpose.” The cloud moved ever so slightly. “You come and go as you wish. I can tell you that this quest is worth neither your time nor your effort.”
    â€œA caution?” asked the elephant.
    â€œNo,” said God. “A warning.”
    â€œOh,” said the elephant.
    â€œAnd, if I were you, I’d have a few kind words with the toucan bird.” The cloud was now rapidly ascending. “Friends are precious and should be well-treated.”
    â€œA warning?” asked the elephant.
    â€œA caution,” answered God.

El Elefante
    The elephant had been waiting in the clearing for quite awhile and passed his time in a persistent, if somewhat odd, manner. He would stand stock-still, keeping even his tail motionless, then give his front legs a slight bend, turn his head from side to side, and make a racing gallop across the grass, coming to an abrupt halt for no discernible reason. He would then look around, shake his head, dig a tusk into the earth, emit a very unelephant-like snort, and start the whole procedure over again. In fact, he became so involved in these events that he did not notice a cloud move cautiously across the sky and come to a stop over one corner of the clearing. The cloud hovered a few minutes, and it was only as he was giving his head one of those series of shakes that he noticed it in the otherwise blue sky. He grinned foolishly and walked over to where the cloud was descending.
    â€œHow long were you waiting?” asked the elephant.
    â€œI am a patient God,” said God. “I was prepared to stay until showtime finished.”
    â€œI suppose I looked