The Elephants Tour England Read online

  “And only elephants could use it as a calendar.” said Mrs. Elephant.

  “I wish we could visit other places here,” said Mr. Elephant.

  “Yes,” said Mrs. Elephant. “Penelope and Harold are interested in archaeology. They would both like to see the burial mounds.”

  “Maybe Harold will decide to be an archaeologist. Instead of an astronaut,” said Mr. Elephant.

  “He always gets good grades in history,” added Mrs. Elephant. “His toy soldiers have taught him a lot.”

  They reached their tour coach. Mrs. Elephant stopped to speak to Colin the driver.

  “Please, could you stop at a chemist’s before we go to Salisbury Cathedral? My children both have tummy aches. And I want to buy some medicine for them.”

  “Certainly, Mrs. Elefant,” said Colin. “But, where are your children?” he asked.

  “Why, they are on the coach. They are taking a nap,” said Mrs. Elephant.

  “That is not possible,” said Colin. “While everyone was at Stonehenge, I took the coach to buy petrol. There is no one on the coach now.”

  “Oh, no,” cried Mrs. Elephant, “That is not possible!” She squeezed onto the coach. And tiptoed quickly to the back. She looked everywhere for Harold and Penelope.

  “They are missing,” said Mrs. Elephant when she returned. “But we sent them back here to take a nap.”

  Colin removed his cap and scratched his head, “Maybe they got on another coach by mistake,” he said.

  “Yes,” said Mr. Elephant, “Let’s look on the other coaches here. Maybe Harold and Penelope are on one of them.”

  Miss Abigail joined Mr. and Mrs. Elephant and Colin. They went to the other coaches in the parking lot. They looked for Harold and Penelope and spoke to the drivers. But none of the other drivers had seen their children.

  Then they spoke to the driver of the very last coach. He asked them, “Hmmm, what did your children look like?”

  “Er, um,” said Mr. Elephant. He knew he could not say his children looked like elephants. “They had rather large noses, and rather large ears.”

  “They were both wearing school uniforms,” said Mrs. Elephant. She wept into her large handkerchief.

  “Hmmm, I saw two children get onto a coach. It was from the same tour company as your coach. They were wearing school uniforms.”

  “A larger group of children got on the same coach later. I wondered why the first two children had come back so much earlier.”

  “That must be Harold and Penelope!” cried Mr. and Mrs. Elephant.

  “Which coach did they get on?” asked Mr. Elephant.

  “It has already left with all the children,” said the driver.

  “Oh, no,” cried Mrs. Elephant, “I will never see my babies again!”

  “Do not worry, Mrs. Elefant,” said Colin. “We know they got on a coach from our company. We will drive to Salisbury and call the tour company. They will tell us where your children are.”

  So Colin drove to Salisbury. He took Miss Abigail and the group to Salisbury Cathedral. He then drove Mr. and Mrs. Elephant to the coach center. Then he telephoned the tour company.

  “Do not worry Mrs. Elefant,” said Colin. “The company thinks your children are with a group of French students. They are visiting from Paris. Their coach left while your group was visiting Stonehenge.”

  “But where are they now?” asked Mr. Elephant.

  “The French students are at Salisbury Cathedral right now,” said Colin. “We will just drive back there and find them.”

  “Oh, thank goodness!” said Mrs. Elephant. She felt much better.

  Parlez-vous français?

  Harold opened his eyes. His tummy felt much better after his nap. He sat up and stretched. Then he looked around for his mother. He did not need any tummy medicine any more.

  But Harold did not see his parents. Instead, he saw two boys he did not know. They were looking at him and Penelope.

  “Bonjour,” said one of the boys. “Parlez-vous français?”

  Harold was confused. He reached over to Penelope and shook her awake. “Penelope,” said Harold. “I don’t think we are in England any more.”

  Penelope sat up, rubbed her eyes, and stretched. “Oh, Harold, why did you wake me up?” asked Penelope. “I was having such a lovely dream. I was dancing around Stonehenge in a beautiful white dress.”

  Harold pointed at the two children sitting in front of him. Penelope then noticed that there were more children.

  “Ah, bonjour,” said a girl in front of Penelope. She had a thick French accent. “You are awake, non?”

  “Uh, oui,” said Penelope, uncertainly.

  “It is so nice to meet you,” continued the girl. “Je m’appelle Thérèse-Anne. Et vous êtes éléphants.”

  Harold and Penelope had just begun to study French. So they understood enough to know Thérèse-Anne realized they were elephants.

  “Ah, non,” said Harold. “Nous ne sommes pas éléphants. Je…je…je just have a very big nose.”

  “And big ears, aussi,” piped up Penelope.

  “Ah, non,” said a boy who sat in front of Harold. “I know what an elephant looks like. And you two are elephants.”

  “You are not afraid that we are elephants?” asked Harold.

  “You are not going to panic?” asked Penelope.

  “Do not be so silly. Panic, pourquoi? Je m’appelle Jean-Claude. What is your name?” asked the boy.

  “Uh, je m’appelle Harold. Et c’est ma soeur Penelope,” said Harold. He was trying to remember enough French to introduce himself and his sister.

  “My name is Marie,” said another girl. “I must remind my classmates that we are here to practice our English. And our teacher wants us to speak only English.”

  “That’s good,” said Harold. “I can never remember if things are le or la.”

  “Il est très stupide,” said Penelope. She was showing off. The other children laughed. Harold scowled at her.

  “But you weren’t in our tour group from London,” said Harold.

  “You must have gotten onto our autobus by mistake,” said Jean-Claude.

  “You must have boarded while we were visiting Stonehenge,” said Thérèse-Anne.

  “Yes, that is where we went back to the coach,” said Penelope. “But where are our parents?”

  “They must be on the right autobus, back at Stonehenge,” said Marie.

  “Oh, no!” cried Harold. “We must go back! Our parents will think we have wandered off. We will be in so much trouble!”

  At that moment the coach stopped. A tall lady stood up and said, “Now, children. We have arrived at Salisbury Cathedral. We will spend the afternoon here. Remember to always stay together with the group. And ask me if you need any English words explained.”

  “That is our teacher, Mademoiselle Linnet,” said Jean-Claude. “She planned this trip through England to practice our English.”

  “Maybe she can help you to find your parents,” said Marie.

  Salisbury Cathedral

  Harold and Penelope followed their new friends off the coach. They went into Salisbury Cathedral. They were careful to tiptoe. So no one would realize there were elephants in the Cathedral.

  Mademoiselle Linnet was busy explaining English phrases. She clearly knew a lot about Salisbury Cathedral. So Harold and Penelope waited quietly to speak to her.

  “Look at this clock, Penelope,” said Harold. “It is the oldest working clock in Europe! It was built back in 1386.”

  “Wow,” said Penelope. “Nothing in Elephas is that old!”

  “Except for your dinosaurs,” said Harold.

  “We will now visit the Chapter House,” said Mademoiselle Linnet. “The Cathedral has a copy of the Magna Carta. It is one of only four left from 1215!”

&nbs
p; “What is the Magna Carta?” Harold whispered to Penelope.

  “Weren’t you listening in class last week?” asked Penelope. “Or were you playing with your toy soldiers?”

  “It is a very important piece of law,” said Mademoiselle Linnet. “The constitutions of many countries are based on the Magna Carta. Such as the United States.”

  “And Elephas,” whispered Penelope to Harold.

  Mademoiselle Linnet noticed Harold and Penelope whispering.

  “Wait a minute,” said Mademoiselle Linnet. “I do not recognize you two. You are not students of mine, non?”

  “No, Mademoiselle Linnet,” said Harold. “We got on your coach by mistake at Stonehenge. We should be with another tour group.”

  “We do not want our parents to be worried,” said Penelope.

  “Mon dieu,” said Mademoiselle Linnet. “We must find your parents, immediatement!”

  “Speak English only, Mademoiselle Linnet!” reminded her students.

  Mademoiselle Linnet led everyone back to the tour coach. The driver took them to the coach center.

  The coach driver telephoned the tour company. He explained the situation.

  He then turned to Mademoiselle Linnet. He said, “Their parents have already spoken to the company. They were sent to Salisbury Cathedral to look for you there!”

  “Oo, la la,” said Mademoiselle Linnet. “We must have missed your parents at the Cathedral. We must return there, immediatement!”

  So, the coach driver drove back to Salisbury Cathedral.

  “Do you have a convertible?”

  Mr. and Mrs. Elephant rode to Salisbury Cathedral in the coach. When they arrived, they went to the ticket desk.

  “Have you seen a group of French students?” asked Mr. Elephant.

  “Why yes,” said the desk clerk, “They came in a little while ago. They went that direction with their teacher,” he pointed.

  “Oh, thank you,” said Mrs. Elephant.

  Mr. and Mrs. Elephant tiptoed quickly through the Cathedral. They stopped often to ask if anyone had seen the French students. And the attendants helpfully pointed them in the right direction.

  Mr. and Mrs. Elephant entered the Chapter House. Mr. Elephant asked an attendant about the French students.

  “Oh, yes,” said the attendant. “They went out that door. I think they drove away in a coach.”

  “Oh, no!” cried Mrs. Elephant. “We have missed them! Whatever will happen to my babies?”

  “Now, now, my dear,” said Mr. Elephant. “They must be driving to their next stop. Our driver knows where they were going to next.”

  “Hmmm,” said Colin as he studied his notes. “The company said the French group drives to Bristol tonight. Then they spend tomorrow in Glastonbury and Avebury.”

  “Then we must go to Bristol,” said Mr. Elephant.

  “I am afraid that I cannot take you there,” said Colin.

  “Why not?” asked Mrs. Elephant. She began to cry.

  “I would like to help you find your children,” said Colin. “But I have to take this tour group to Portsmouth tonight. And Bristol is in the wrong direction.”

  “Oh, no, what shall we do?” sobbed Mrs. Elephant. Mr. Elephant patted her shoulder.

  “I saw a place where you can hire a car. You could drive to Bristol and find your children,” said Colin.

  Mr. and Mrs. Elephant agreed this was a good idea. Colin took them to the car hire agency. “I know you will find your children,” he said. “And I am sorry that I cannot help you any more.”

  “Thank you so much for all of your help. I do not know what we would have done,” said Mrs. Elephant.

  Mr. and Mrs. Elephant went into the car hire agency. “I would like to hire a car to drive to Bristol. The name is Elefant. E-L-E-F-A-N-T,” said Mr. Elephant.

  “Certainly, Mr. Elefant,” said the car hire agent. “Hmmm…Elefant…Elefant… That is an unusual name. Is it French?”

  “No,” said Mr. Elephant, in a tired voice.

  “Now, then, Mr. Elefant. What sort of car would you like?” asked the agent.

  Mr. Elephant considered this for a moment. “A large one,” he said.

  “I am sorry, Mr. Elefant,” said the car hire agent. “I have just checked our computer. The only cars we have today are Mini Coopers. Would one of those be okay?”

  Mr. Elephant looked at Mrs. Elephant. He saw how worried she was. “Do you have a convertible Mini?” asked Mr. Elephant.

  “We have one with a sunroof,” said the car hire agent.

  “We will take it,” said Mr. Elephant. He hoped that they could squeeze into the Mini.

  The car hire agent gave the Elephants a map. And he wrote down directions to Bristol. Mr. and Mrs. Elephant squeezed into the Mini, and drove away. (They were both very glad for the sunroof.)

  Bristol

  The French tour group arrived back at Salisbury Cathedral on the coach. Mademoiselle Linnet told her students to stay on the coach. She went inside with Harold and Penelope.

  The three of them rushed up to the desk attendant. “Have you seen our parents?” asked Harold.

  “They have rather large noses, and large ears,” said Penelope.

  “And they were wearing raincoats and carrying umbrellas,” added Harold.

  “Why yes,” said the attendant. “They went that direction. I think they were looking for you.”

  “Thank you, thank you!” said Penelope.

  Mademoiselle Linnet, Harold, and Penelope dashed through the Cathedral.

  They arrived back at the Chapter House. They asked the attendant if he had seen their parents.

  “Why yes,” said the attendant. “I told them that I saw you drive away. They were going to follow you to your next stop.”

  “Oh, that is good to hear,” said Mademoiselle Linnet. “Your parents will be waiting for us in Bristol. We will drive to our hotel and meet them there.”

  Mademoiselle Linnet, Harold, and Penelope got back on the coach. The driver took them to their hotel in Bristol.

  The children all had fun on the drive. Harold asked his new friends many questions about French food. “Comment dit-on en français ice cream?” asked Harold.

  “La crème glacée!” said Pierre.

  They arrived at their hotel in Bristol. But Mr. and Mrs. Elephant were not there.

  It was time for dinner. Mademoiselle Linnet asked Harold and Penelope to join her students. They all went to the hotel café.

  “Now, children,” said Mademoiselle Linnet as their dinners were served. “We will eat the traditional English meal we have read about. Fish and chips!”

  “Yay!” cheered all the children.

  “I have never eaten Fish and Chips before,” said Marie. “Is it, how you say, yummy?”

  “Very yummy!” said Penelope. Penelope and Harold were pleased that their meals were served with peas. Because (as most everyone knows by now) elephants are very fond of peas.

  The children were all very tired after their adventures that day. Mademoiselle Linnet led them to the extra large bedroom. It was lined on both sides with beds. The girls would all sleep on one side of the room. And the boys would all sleep on the other side.

  Mademoiselle Linnet found extra pajamas and toothbrushes for Harold and Penelope. The children each took a bath. They changed into their pajamas, and brushed their teeth.

  Then Mademoiselle Linnet tucked each child into bed. And kissed them all goodnight.

  Mademoiselle Linnet tucked in Harold and Penelope. She said, “Sleep well tonight. I know your parents will be here in the morning.”

  Harold and Penelope both fell asleep. They dreamed of finding their parents.

  Mademoiselle Linnet’s Plan

  Mr. and Mrs. Elephant arrived in Bristol that evening. Mrs. Elephant said, “Oh, no!
We forgot to ask for the name of the hotel! How will we ever find Harold and Penelope now?”

  Mr. Elephant thought for a moment. “We must go to every hotel. We will ask if French students are staying there.”

  Mr. and Mrs. Elephant walked into the first hotel. They asked if French students were staying there. The desk clerk told them no.

  They then went to the second hotel. They asked if French students were staying there. The desk clerk told them no. So they went to the third hotel.

  They kept looking for their children until it was very late. And they still had not found Harold and Penelope.

  Mr. Elephant looked at his watch. “Harold and Penelope must be in bed by now,” he said. “Let’s spend the night at this hotel. We will continue looking in the morning.”

  Mrs. Elephant was still very worried about her children. “I hate to be parted from my babies. Even if it is just for one night. But I am certain the teacher will take good care of them.”

  “Yes,” said Mr. Elephant. “I am certain Harold and Penelope will not be too much trouble. And we will find them in the morning.”

  “Oh, I certainly hope so,” said Mrs. Elephant. “I miss them so much!”

  Mr. and Mrs. Elephant both took a bath. They changed into their pajamas, and brushed their teeth. They both missed being able to kiss Harold and Penelope goodnight. They went to sleep. And dreamed about finding their children in the morning.

  The next morning, Harold and Penelope woke up with the French students. “Bon matin, mes amis!” called out Thérèse-Anne.

  “English only,” reminded Mademoiselle Linnet.

  “Good morning to you, too,” called Penelope to Thérèse-Anne.