Man And The Elephant Inside The Forest
By
Oyedotun Oyejide
Man And The Elephant Inside The Forest
By
Oyedotun Oyejide
Man And The Elephant Inside The Forest Of Life
Once Upon a time, in the times of old when both the noon, stars and the sun were not from the reach of men and animals alike.
Heavens was almost on earth for both animals and man to have and enjoyed to the fullest. Life everywhere was splendid and superbly peaceful unlike now. Life went smoothly then. The worries of people was almost null. The experiences of life at that period was without any odd or minus at all!
Continually, both the amazing animals and man were living together inside Igbo-Aye: the forest of life. The wonderful birds of various kinds or gangs have their habitants with man in the same location.
The forest was the best place life at that time. It was like the Garden of Eden. The land was not parched or weary.
According to history, some demons and strange spirits and fairy have their habitats inside the big trees at the forest of life. But when most of the big trees were cut-down; the demons and strange spirits vacated Igbo-Aye and migrated to have their homes inside the rocks and mountains that surrounded Igbo-Aye: the forest of life at that time. They left the animals and birds to enjoy life with man alone to stay and partner.
At this period, the accord and relationship between the animals and man was extremely cordial, friendly, sincere and safe. Both the animals and man acted like the rock, rescuer, defense and fortress to each other inside the forest of life with loving kindness.
Man was never the food of Jackals or Birds in any doom. There was no killings or shelving of blood. Both the animals, birds and man followed strictly the laws and rules of nature. Lions never kill or eat any animal for food. It was a forbidden act entirely. The animals play and flock together inside the forest of life in harmony and full satisfaction day and night.
The animals serve each other without any discrimination, harm or havoc. Everything was intact and performing rightly without tottering. It was a life experience totally devour of fear or troubles. Peace and tranquility reigned!
Man dole awake at mid-night or rejoice the evenings and beneath the protecting shadow of God’s wings. There was no extortion and robbery inside the forest of life.
With dread deeds and awesome power. Everything everywhere went completely well as proposed by nature.
Wonderfully, each habitant inside the forest of life was going about performing various functions as slated or ordained.
Amazingly, in the forest of life, animals sleep or rest peacefully in different places. Some had their stay inside deep holes or caves. The lion that was regarded as the king of animals stayed in his well carved den. The beautiful birds choose to sleep in nests. Animals like Monkey, Leopard and Chimpanzee preferred to harbor on the top of trees with the squires.
However, man did something different since he could not sleep on the top of tree or hide inside the hole. Either could he stay in the den with lion to sleep or lay his head at night.
However, man thought and built a moderate hut for himself using burnt bricks with woven rattles. The hut was the first of its kind that would protect him against the sun and the rain.
Notably, the only model and unique hut inside the forest of life at that prime time owned by man who performed well like an architect and builder.
The life inside the forest was both conducive, conservative and pleasant to man and the assorted animals.
‘’Wealth and great abundance resides inside the forest of life for those who can do the discovery!’’
Foods, herbs and the vegetables from fertile lands are profitable.
Those who make the best use of the forest would never lack the means to regular livelihood.
The life and experience inside the forest of life to the reagent. Inside the forest, life to man was like staying in Paradise on earth.
The forest of life continued to be in existence with interesting forms, shapes, shades and happiness with full cheerfulness until the unusual began to unfold by nature.
One day, the unexpected happened. It all started like a child’s play. There was a strong wild-wind that forcefully spread across the forest. Everywhere was in disarray. Tall trees were bending left and right like a masquerade dancing at the village courtyard during ‘’Egungun Festival’’.
Surprisingly, the wicked storm was strange, brave and uncontrollable. It blew off various objects like scoff. The top several palm trees inside the forest were found cut off as if a sharp saw-chain machine was employed.
Trees such as Iroko, Oak and Mahogany had their branches broken or uprooted mercilessly without any pity or consideration. It was a destructive and terrible scenario.
Invariably, due to the strange storm of calamity, both the birds and the animals were scurrying here and there in disarray; seeking and searching for a place of refuge or somewhere in particular safe enough to hide within the forest of life on that terrible day. It was like a riot spree. Almost everywhere became rowdy and unsettled.
There was a serious babel-noise from the animals that frightened man. Equally, the birds on air were crying with tears like babies!
The havoc-proven storm did not only caused harms but dismantled a lot of valuable resources with the pent-up fury of explosion inside the forest of life.
The value of peace and harmony can never be known, appreciated or perceived correctly until there was a riot or an uproar that kills a peaceful atmosphere!
To live in peace and complete tranquility by far the best experience in life; either inside the forest of life or elsewhere.
Factually, there was nothing bad in having the rain to fall at that of the year. Whenever it rains, the heat and harsh breezes often seized to exists. Green leaves will spring up for the animals as fresh diet.
Both the rivers, ponds, dams and the water-well would have more than enough water to enjoy. If not for the cold weather and its side effects; it nice to have the rain all the time if possible because of the few comforts attached.
Actually, people almost everywhere refer it rains without any whirl wind or storm like tornado attached. Storms are destructive. If the storm of life is not made to stand still, disaster would become inevitable.
The storm, whether on the sea or in the land is never palatable or conducive to experience at all. Only those facing the storm of life would be able to account the rigor attached.
‘’If it will rain, let it be softly without the storm’’ –cried all the creatures inside the forest of life!
Nobody wanted a rain with storm attached. The reason been that; rain may not be destructive but when accomplished by storm, the outcome often result into disaster and distress with both the loss of lives and properties.
With the storm, whatever is hidden would be exposed completely.
Like the red-hot eyes of an angry man that is usually unpleasant to behold. Likewise, the storm of life are never suitable to the habitants inside the forest.
As at that time, the forest of life was besieged and faced with troubles from nature.
When the heavy storm was about going down gradually and peace with harmony began to surface slowly and softly. The animals were breathing a relief. Man inside the forest of life was wide awake and equally grateful to God and his star that the storm did not blow off his little hut or render him homeless.
But thereafter, another incident began again in earnest. It was like frying pan to fire experience. A terrible sound of thunder with lightening began. The sky and clouds were seriously troubled as if the gods are hungry and angry! But who will adore them?
Suddenly, the busy and boisterous state of affairs in the forest changed as apprehension took over the land. The animals kept running here and there. They fled for their lives. They all searched for a better and more secure location to hide within the forest of life. The weak among the animals never had it well when the storm waxed stronger and stronger non-stop.
Afraid of what they have seen and experienced. Both the animals and man were filled with panic like a woman in travail.
There was total darkness everywhere inside the forest as if God enshrouded himself with darkness. Veiling his approach with dense clouds dark as murky waters. Many of the innocent creatures including man thought the end of life had come finally. However, ‘’No storm can flush away the water inside coconut!’’ –says a Yoruba adage.
Almost immediately, brilliance of the supreme broke through the thick clouds with strong lightning brighter than the stars and a mighty storm of hail surpassed the second time, making them to face death threats.
Yes, the Lord thundered in the heavens. The supreme God above appeared to be talking to the creatures inside the forest of life. He flashed his fearful arrows of lightning that caused a scare. The enemies must definitely dodged the hailstones of destruction fast.
It was hectic and full of panic. What a whiff of terror and horror!
Everywhere for hours within the forest of life appeared to be in great and severe troubles. It feared and trembled to its depths. Later, the clouds forcefully poured down their rain. The thunder continued to rolled and cracked in the sky. Variety of lightning flashed repeatedly. There was thunder in the whirl-wind.
For a while, the forest of life trembled and shook! As a result, there was unrest and panic everywhere inside the forest. But man maintained his superiority and boldness with the strong believe that: ‘’ there’s nothing coming or falling from the above that the earth cannot accommodate exempt the honor and greatness of God almighty!’’
‘’Nothing to panic about, for the storm of life would soon be over’’ –confessed man authoritatively. Tough times never last, but tough people do!
After the rowdy experience, it began to rain heavily that doused the tensions. Everywhere inside the forest became watered and flooded. As it turned out to be.
Eventually, the windows of heaven were widely opened and it rained, rained and rained non-stop for few days.
The animals with good location to hide does not feel the impact too much at all. Man was happy to have a shelter to hide himself. The leopard that failed to have a permanent place to lay its head was highly troubled and busy going up and down inside the forest like others under the heavy down-pour. ‘’As you lay your bed so you will lie on it’’ says a Yoruba adage.
When the rain failed to stop on time as expected, the elephant began to search here and there for a good spot of protection that would prevent its body from the drops of rain-water striking like splash of thick rod. But would there be a space big enough to occupy the big elephant? The big size of great elephant cannot be ignored!
At last, the elephant reached the little hut constructed by man right inside the forest of life. While the rest of the animals were panic and running up and down for safety inside the heavy rain, man was found inside the hut resting without any hassles. It was a big surprise to the big elephant despite the troubles of rapid rainfall for days that beget the animals in the forest, man had his peace unhampered with as a result of the accommodation.
On that marvelous day, elephant became envious of man and also realized the importance of building a place of harbor. Meanwhile, man was appreciative and grateful to God that came him the ability and privilege of owning a house in life. Having a house has nothing to do with the body size at all. As big as the elephant was, without a place of his own like man with a small body status.
Meanwhile, it kept raining non-stop. Yes, rain is better than storm or fire outbreak inside the forest of life. Fire consumes outright, however, whenever it rains, the water makes the earth to fertile. The rivers inside the forest of life will not run dry. Also when the furrows had abundant rain, the showers soften the earth, melting the clods and causing seeds to spout across the land. It crowns it all with green pastures in the wilderness.
‘’Really, I may not be as big as the big elephant, but I have a hut to hide myself’’- proudly thought and said by man when he sighted the big for nothing elephant inside the open space very soaked with water and shelving seriously due to the severe cold weather.
On seen man inside the mud hut staying safe and well protected from the merciless rain. The elephant became envious and implored man severally for a space to stay for a while.
However, man at first refused and turned down the odd request from the elephant.
‘’ How come! Mr. Elephant. You’re too big for my little hut !’’ Man replied.
He shun the elephant and horribly closed the windows of the hut to continue his sound sleep despite the serious rain outside. The rhymes and pitter pita of the heavy rainfall kept landing on the body of elephant like a big splash!
As it persisted to rain furiously non-stop, man began to flash back at the time of Noah when God destroyed the earth with flood.
The elephant was bitter, battered and baffled when the request was turned down by man and started to weep bitterly like a baby.
At a point, man had sympathy and out of sheer love permitted elephant to have part of his body inside.
‘’Since your body is too big for my hut, you can put your trunk alone inside’’!
Joyfully, the elephant acted as granted by man by strengthen its trunk inside the hut with man while the rest part of the body was outside inside the rain.
‘’Little out of another man’s portion is enough’’ Says a common Yoruba adage.
The elephant comfortably had its trunk inside the hut with the rest body outside facing the furious heavy down pour of rain that seized to stop as expected for days and still counting.
Not to be ungrateful, the elephant simply express thanks to man thereafter for the kind gesture extended on that day.
Even though not convenient, man endured the situation on ground. After all, no tough times last forever!
Man was happy for the privilege and grace being enjoyed and shared.
However, after some period. The elephant made another request of penetrating the trunk inside the more inside the small hut.
Really, when you allow people of the world a inch, they will thereafter go for a mile. Man was highly surprised that the elephant could still make such a silly demand from him after all consideration earlier. To man, it was as if the elephant was selfish and inconsiderate.
But unfortunately. After several appeals, crying and weeping’s with disturbing wailings from the elephant, man reconsidered the request again.
‘’ Where love exists, enough space will be made available to accommodate each other’’
-was the understanding of man at that moment.
Surprisingly, something terrible happened immediately elephant put the trunk further into the hut with some part of its body. Man, the bonfire owner of the hut was almost got squeezed to death against the wall of the hut.
To escape an untimely of being choked to death, man quickly forced himself out of the hut and jumped like a toad inside the rain speedily!
However, the elephant felt unconsented and failed to reverse back or grant any pity for man.
Those who saw what occurred scoff at man for the foolishness and how he became a laughing stock inside the forest of life.
Invariably, man regretted ever allowing the elephant a little chance inside his hut.
‘’ Give them an inch, they’ll go for a mile’’- man sadly concluded!
Really, ‘’the troubles you permitted will stay and grow with you eventually.’’
Conclusion:
In life, various experiences does exist for us to learn from. It is the person that had a case, palaba or troubles that can explain precisely the vigor of the shocked experienced.
Painfully, the pitch hits deeper in the foot of the man that steps on sharp nail unknowingly.
The taste of life experiences are in varieties. Nobody can escape passing through one thing or the other in the journey of life. The eyes before getting old or peak inside the sockets have seen a lot.
And if the eyes decided to report or account for all that have been seen. Troubles would emerge. Therefore, it is commonly said by the Yorubas:
‘’ Not all that the eyes have seen should be told by the mouth’’ The sleeping dog should be allowed to lay!
With the bitter experience of man and the elephant inside the forest of life.
Nobody could be trusted with an opportunity at all.
Give then just an inch, they will forcefully go for a mile. Instead of limiting it to the common understanding that:
‘’A little is enough to enjoy from another person’s portion’’
Anyway, to the greedy and selfish individuals; they are often less concerned about others or weigh the side-effects of their horrible actions against another creature.
Meanwhile, you have your life to live. But always remember and have the understanding vividly that:
‘’Only the troubles that you voluntarily allowed to enter your dear life that would definitely stayed with you permanently!’’
Funny enough, the troubles you permitted to enter your precious life would struggle to stay with you or get rid of you! Therefore, be careful and vigilant.
Books by the same Author:
The Sealed Secret
The Love Seal
Too Timid To Confess Love And Other Short Stories
The Tricky Tortoise
The Sweet Roasted Hen [The Amazing Story On How Man Started To Eat Birds’ Meat]
Bye, Bye To A Companion
The Prostitute
Adesewa: the paragon of Beauty
Odebunmi: The Brave Woman Hunter from Ajia Village
Chief Bojuri And The Devil
A Ride With The Beggar’s Money
The Strange Night Visitor
The King Oyato And The Wise Fool
The Hatched Evil
Cry Of Life
Bleeding Heart [Poems]
The Supper African Jokes For Banquet
Evils That Men Do
Bundle Of Trauma
The Consequence [Play]
Once Upon A Bush Rat
The Open Confession Of a Harlot
About this Book:
Here is one of the uncommon African tales or fiction about nature and the creatures.
There was a forest in Africa in those days known as Igbo-Aye: the forest of life.
Man and The elephant inside ‘’Igbo-Aye’’-the forest of life is a tale for both the young and old to enjoy and learn from.
It is an interesting story of how man stayed together with various animals and birds inside the forest living together in peace and harmony until the unexpected happened.
Unknowingly, it began strangely to rain heavily non-stop for days. Troubles and unrest occupied the forest. Animals and the birds were in search of safety and a peaceful place to hide.
Man managed to escape the hectic and panic conditions because he had a little hut built for his accommodation.
The elephant envious of man wanted to stay inside the small hut! What a big drama? Could it be possible?
Anyway, the outcome of granting the elephant a shared space with man that ended up in regrets and bloody disaster.
Find out more about the teeth gnashing experience inside….
About the Author
Elder (Dr.) Oyedotun Oyejide is an award winning author and writer who started writing at a prime age of nine years old.
A highly successful Journalist and a well trained Professional writer. He is an Editor of Editors born in the Ancient City of Ibadan, Nigeria.
An amazingly prolific Christian writer, playwright, dramatist cartoonist and author! He is also a prominent member of Nigerian Association of Authors [ANA].
One time Lecturer in Cultural and Creative Arts at National Teachers Institute [N.T.I] Kaduna, Institute of Education, University of Ibadan and Ondo State College of Education, Ikere- Ekiti [N.C.E Sandwich Program, Ibadan Study Centre]
The pioneer Editor of the Students ‘Forum newspaper & The Creator Magazine of Department of Fine Arts, The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
Most of his poems and short stories were published inside: Sunday New Nigeria newspaper, The Entertainer, National Concord, Nigeria magazine, The Pupil magazine, etc.
He featured regularly on Radio-OYO [BCOS] Youth Rendezvous program in the 80’s as guest poet.
A notable preacher of the Plain Truth, Financial Advisor of our time recognized worldwide for his contributions in the field of Success Psychology.
He captures the rules and secrets of financial success in most of his publications.
Oyedotun Oyejide offers practical instructions and inspirational words on success that will thrill and challenge readers. It provided nurture and guidance. New books from his gifted pen were awaited with great eagerness throughout the world!
The best seller author of Unlimited Wealth Books who is also the Chairman/CEO of Solid Brothers Nigeria Limited-a team of Christian investors; Dotson StockWell Group, Dotson Creative Publishers and 10kProject Loan Scheme.
With more than 35years experience in the media industry, he is considered one of the country's foremost experts in wealth building insights and personal finance development for greater feats.
He is married with successful children. He is on the board of some companies in Africa and other continents of the world. To God is the glory!
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