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Dumbo: An Acrobat's Tale Chapter 12

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Chapter 12: Baby Mine

After an hour of walking she returned to the circus, along with her brothers and they avoided from getting seen by the clowns and the workers. James and Robert escorted the middle sister to her tent and she looked back at them.

"Get some sleep sis," James said as he held her hands. "You're exhausted. We'll deal with Uncle Harold."

"We promise that things will get better," Robert added.

"Thank you James and Robert," Sandy agreed and gave them one more hug. "Good night."

"Good night sis," they said and once they were out of sight, she did not go straight back to her tent, she went to look for Dumbo and Timothy. All of the crying and anger left her physically and emotionally exhausted. She could see stars in her vision as she took every step.

"Sandy!" the girl looked down to see Timothy and Dumbo coming towards her with worried expressions. Dumbo was wearing a red clown collar with yellow lining and a yellow hat. "There ya are, everyone's been lookin' fer ya. I was afraid we'd lost you, you put on quite a show in the tent."

"I know Timothy," she sighed. "I'm sorry, I just had to let it out, and I shouldn't have lost my temper back there. I stood up for myself and mostly for you Dumbo, but I changed my mind about leaving, after some convincing from my brothers."

"Your brothers are here?" Timothy exclaimed.

"Yeah, it was a surprise and they're going to talk to Uncle Harold. Things are going to be all right."

"I don't blame ya honey," he said. "By the way, I was wonderin' if we could visit Mrs. Jumbo for a lil' while."

The girl gasped in surprise.

"Mrs. Jumbo! I almost forgot about her, but yes, let's see her! Follow me, I'll show you where she is."

The three friends walked together through the maze of tents and they came out from the corner to see the mad elephant wagon. Sandy remembered going to visit Mrs. Jumbo the night she got locked up. She shook the memory out and walked towards it with Dumbo and Timothy.

"There we are, cozy little place ain't it?" Timothy said sarcastically.

Sandy took a quick look around to make sure no one was near. "The coast is clear, let's go."

Dumbo walked underneath the cord as Sandy climbed over it. The calf stood up on his hind legs as he leaned up against the wagon. Timothy climbed up on the trunk and came up to the barred window.

"Mrs. Jumbo!" he called and then murmured to himself. "I hope she's in." He whistled to the mother elephant standing in forlorn and depression.

"Mrs. Jumbo, we have someone who's here to see you," Sandy said.

Mrs. Jumbo looked up and she saw her baby's tiny trunk reaching into the barred window, Sandy wrapped her arms around the calf's barrel and lifted him up to help him see his mother through the window.

Harriet gasped in surprise and smiled to see her son again in clear view.

"Dumbo! Oh my little son!" she cried and tried to reach over to the window, but the heavy shackles dragged her legs down.

"Try to reach out to him ma'am," Sandy encouraged her. The mother elephant reached her trunk out towards her baby and patted his head. As soon as their trunks intertwined, Dumbo forgot all about the abuse and bullying he was put in and was surrounded by the warmth from his mother as she rubbed his head softly. The soft feeling of her proboscis comforted him as tears leaked out from his baby blue eyes. He clutched onto his mother's trunk so close, he buried his head and face into her trunk and began to sob uncontrollably.

Mrs. Jumbo felt her son's emotions getting released and with her motherly instincts, she made a sling for her son and he climbed in. Slowly, the mother elephant began to swing her baby back and forth gently and sang a soothing lullaby.

Baby mine, don't you cry

Baby mine, dry your eyes,

Rest your head close to my heart

Never to part, baby of mine

As Sandy watched the beautiful moment between mother and son, tears began to form in her eyes once more, giving her another memory of when her mother would comfort her when she would run home from school crying after being taunted by bullies. She noticed Timothy swaying back and forth, falling in love with Mrs. Jumbo's nurturing singing voice. The girl and the mouse looked over to see all the mother animals with their babies. A zebra nuzzled her foal close for comfort and warmth. A mother giraffe lies her head against a bale of hay as her calf laid against her neck snoring softly, tiger cubs were huddled near their mother, and a monkey swung her babies in hold as she held them close.

Little one when you play,

Don't you mind what they say,

Let those eyes sparkle and shine

Never a tear, baby of mine

A mother hyena and her babies laughed in their sleep as they curled up together. A hippo and her baby slept under the water together with bubbles flowing to the surface. Three ostriches huddled together with their heads in the ground, and a kangaroo rocked herself back and forth with her joey sleeping in her pouch. Timothy was moved with emotion that tears came out from his eyes.

Calm your head to your toes

You're so sweet, goodness knows

You are so precious to me

Cute as can be

Baby of mine

Baby mine

Baby mine.

As the lullaby ended, Dumbo was getting more comfortable as he snuggled against his mother's trunk as she rocked him gently. Sandy remembered that the circus workers would be out at night and looked at Timothy and gave her a nod. She came up to the calf and tapped his shoulder.

"Forgive me Dumbo, I'm afraid we have to leave."

Dumbo squealed sadly as Timothy gently pulled on his tail.

"I know you don't want to leave, but we'll be in trouble if we don't."

Dumbo nodded in understanding, as the blonde helped him down, while his trunk was intertwined with his mother's as they slowly pulled apart. Sandy came up to the wagon and took Mrs. Jumbo's proboscis in her hand.

"Have faith Mrs. Jumbo, you'll be free soon."

"Thank you my friend," Harriet smiled. "Take care of my son."

"I will," the girl said as she came to where Dumbo was waving back to his mother and she in return waved back to him. The girl, mouse, and calf walked back to the circus grounds to turn in for the night. The blonde knelt next to Dumbo and stroked his back tenderly.

"Don't worry Dumbo, you'll be back with your mother soon, I promise." She said giving a nod.


Mrs. Jumbo sighed sadly as she waved to her calf and the girl as they walked back to the circus grounds. The heavy shackles pulled down her thick legs as the tiny wagon enclosed her. Suddenly, a cool, but warm breeze suddenly blew into the wagon, as a spirit of a gazelle leapt gracefully around her, sending chills down the elephant's spine. The gazelle landed on its' feet and in a bright flash transformed into a woman.

"You are almost close to freedom," she said giving a kind smile to the elephant. Mrs. Jumbo cowered in fear, afraid that this human ghost would hurt her.

"Don't be afraid, I mean you no harm," she said.

"Who are you?" Mrs. Jumbo asked finding her voice.

"You have been such a wonderful friend to my daughter, and filled in my role."

"Wait, are you Sandy's mother?"

Katherine came towards the elephant and stroked her trunk gently. She looked up and smiled. "That, I am."

"Oh my, I never thought I would meet you, Sandy mentioned a little bit about you. How did you come into this cage?"

"I'm actually a spirit. After I died, my spirit went to the afterlife and sooner or later, I will comeback reborn as a gazelle."

She looked down at the elephant's deep cuts and scars on her legs, and came towards her.

"Oh no, it's nothing really," Mrs. Jumbo said flinching her legs as the heavy chains dragged her down.

"Now, now, I insist," the woman placed her hand on each of the cuts and created a bright warm glow. As a few seconds passed, Katherine pulled back her hand and the cuts on the elephant's legs vanished, Mrs. Jumbo's eyes widened in surprise.

"My cuts are gone! Thank you!"

"You're welcome, it was all I can do to repay you for being friends with my daughter."

"Oh please, it was nothing, your daughter is very special. I'm sorry I had to put her through so much, if I hadn't lose my temper for protecting my son, this wouldn't have happened."

"I don't blame you for what happened. When you defended your son from the bullies, my brother-in-law, and the workers, it reminded me off the elephants back in Africa and Asia on how they protect their children from predators, hunters, and poachers. I saw the fear in my daughter's eyes as it brought back the memories of the day I sacrificed my life to save her from a poacher."

"Forgive me for asking, you were killed by a poacher?"

"Yes my daughter and I freed a baby elephant that was caught in the snare and the poacher who caught it, appeared. He tried to kill Sandy, but I took the shots and give up my life to save her. As a mother, she knows when to risk her life to protect her child." She gave a pause. "You know what's surprising Mrs. Jumbo?"

"No what?" the elephant raised her eyebrows.

"My daughter and your son are the same, in their own unique and sad ways."

"What do you mean by sad?"

"When your son was picked on and got bullied by others at the circus, my daughter too was bullied and taunted in her childhood. It was all because other children mock her Wiccan heritage and love for animals. Almost every day, she would come home crying to my husband and I, as we did everything to comfort her. We tried to help her find few friends, but somehow, she's always alone. As soon as she got older, she started to make some friends that were Wiccans too."

"Oh I'm sorry to hear that, but now that you mentioned it, I noticed that Sandy has never shown her broken side. She always holds her head up high and protects my son from danger. I just wish Dumbo could be accepted and no one notices his ears."

"No matter what, your son will soon be accepted."

Katherine smiled and gently wrapped her arms around the elephant's trunk. Mrs. Jumbo smiled and hugged back the woman as tears leaked from her eyes.

"Thank you Katherine, I promise I will be there for your daughter."

"You're welcome Mrs. Jumbo, and may the God and Goddess look down upon you."

Katherine stepped back gracefully as she floated through the bars and transformed into stars once more and was at rest. Harriet sighed and had another ounce of hope that she's close to freedom.


James and Robert made their way through the maze of tents, and found their way to the ringmaster's tent. They entered and found him sitting at his desk with a bottle of whiskey and a small glass, along with a small book in his hands.

"Hello Uncle Harold," James said with a stern voice.

Harold snapped from his thoughts as he looked up to see the two young men, and his eyes widened in shock. He immediately hid the book behind his back.

"James? Robert? What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Well, before you ask us more questions, we're here to talk to you."

"Oh, of course, where are my manners? Want to have a drink?" Harold pulled out two glasses to offer to his nephews.

"Oh no thanks," James said. "And none for Robert too, he's not at the legal age to drink yet."

"Of course, have a seat."

Both the young man and the boy sat in the chairs and kept their gazes firm at the ringmaster.

"So what brings you boys here? How did you manage to find my circus?"

"Well, we were on a camping trip and went for a hike. We discovered our sister in the woods and she was very upset. She told us what happened about the humiliation and the confrontation with you and those blokes. What is the matter with you? Why didn't you stop this humiliation?" James demanded.

The ringmaster flinched back at the eldest boy's firm voice.

"She told you everything?"

"Everything," Robert agreed. "Why didn't you save our sis?"

"It… it… it… was because… well I'm gonna be honest… I admit, I was in my office planning out my performances and I heard laughing over in the big top. I went over to see what was going on and found Sandy running past me all covered in food, glue, and garbage. I wanted to follow her, but the clowns dragged me and I had to put Dumbo on in the clown act. Soon after, Sandra snapped and attacked my clowns and it brought me back to when I locked that 'Mad Elephant' in solitary confinement. I came in to see what the entire ruckus was, and she then starts blaming me on everything for ruining her life, Dumbo's, my way of treating the animals and her pride and decided to leave the circus. I guess she'll never forgive me for what I did. She's right, I was never there for her."

"Look Uncle Harold," James said. "Sandy may have a hard heart and a ferocious temper, but it's not too late. We encountered her and gave her some convincing and along with our ancestor's and our mother's spirit, she changed her mind."

Harold's eyes widened in surprise at the mention of his niece not quitting. "She did?"

"Yes, she decided she will not run away and she'll face her fears and the clowns."

"Well, I'm glad she's not going down a wrong path. But I have a little secret to tell you, why I was harsh around your sister." Harold said.

"What is it?" James asked.

"I was…. I love…. I can't say it."

"Come on Uncle Harold! Spit it out!" Robert snapped.

"Robert!" the eldest boy elbowed his youngest brother with a glare and looked back at the Ringmster.

"I was in love with your mother."

"WHAT?" the brothers exclaimed. Their eyes widened in horror and color drained from their faces.

"You loved Momma?" James asked.

"How come you've never told us or Poppa?" Robert added.

"Because, when Gregory and I were young lads in 1916, we spend a lot of time together. When we came to a festival, we both spotted a young woman dancing in a circle. She was filled with grace, as she never toppled over in her dance. Greg and I fell head over heels for her, and after her dance we introduced ourselves to her. She was warm and kind and beautiful. Birds and woodland animals always surrounded her and my brother and I were very skeptical that she can speak to them. Eventually, Greg believed her and she showed him the ways of how her people lived, and he showed her our ways too. I did admit my love to Katherine, however she said that she always sees me as a friend and knows that we may not make it out. I accepted her choice to marry your father and knew that I want her to be happy."

"So that's why you were cold-hearted around Sandy almost all the time, all because she makes you think about Momma." Robert concluded.

"Yes, every time I look at Sandy, she reminds me so much of Katherine." The Ringmaster confessed. "I have heartache whenever I look at her. I didn't want to get in the way of my brother's marriage. I came to realize if your mother never married your father, you two and your sister would have never been born. I guess it was the way it was meant to be."

"It seems that way Uncle, but you can't let the memory and love for Momma to cloud your mind. You have to clear it up and think of our sister as a good thing, and after all she is following our mother's footsteps to continue our family legacy. You have to make things right with her and put the pain in the fire," James explained.

"For Heaven's sake, you're right. I have to see her," the Ringmaster got up and was about to leave, but James grabbed his hand to stop him.

"Not tonight, see Sandy tomorrow. She's exhausted, and let her sleep."

"I guess so," the Ringmaster said. The book he hid behind his back, fell out from his hiding spot and landed on the ground. Robert noticed the book and swore it look familiar.

"Uncle Harold, is that Black Beauty?" he asked.

The ringmaster's eyes widened in embarrassment and tried to snatch the book away, but the blond boy grabbed it and looked at it.

"Where did you get this book?"

"Oh well, it was from Sandy," the man said blushing. "We had a bit of an argument and I felt guilty for acting harsh at Sandra. I saw this book and it looked so interesting. I couldn't help myself, so I decided to borrow it for a while. It's really good." 

"Well, I'm glad you decided to work up the chance to read Black Beauty, it was Momma's favorite too. Other than that, others should read this book," James said.

"Don't worry Uncle, everything's going to work out in the end, and you'll two make peace." Robert said giving a small smile. 

Update on Dumbo An Acrobat's Tale. In this chapter, James and Robert escorted Sandy back to her private tent and they tell her to rest and they'll deal with the Ringmaster. Exhausted, Yawn  but not ready for sleep, Sandy walks around the circus to find Timothy and Dumbo, she explains to them where she was and tells them she changed her mind about leaving. Timothy tells her that he was planning to take Dumbo to visit Mrs. Jumbo and she agrees and comes with them to the wagon.

While Mrs. Jumbo sings and comforts her son in "Baby Mine" Sandy gets emotional again as a memory of her childhood when she was bullied. Waaaah! After a little while, Sandy and Timothy had to take Dumbo back with them before they were caught. After saying good-bye to Mrs. Jumbo, Katherine's spirit visits the elephant and heals her wounds. They had a conversation about how their children are a lot alike since they have unique gifts that makes them easy targets from bullies. Katherine tells Mrs. Jumbo that when Sandy was a child, she was picked on because of her Wiccan heritage and ability to speak to animals, and tried to help her daughter find friends. Mrs. Jumbo felt sorry for the girl and knows what a strong young lady Sandy is, and wishes that her son could be accepted. Katherine gives her words of encouragement and give the elephant a hug and leaves giving Mrs. Jumbo hope.

At the same time, James and Robert visit the Ringmaster who tries to get drunk after the tantrum from his niece. He was surprised to see his nephews and they gave him a firm talking, and he admits his remorse and struggles with Sandy and admits the clowns distracted him when the girl got humiliated and gets blamed by her for ruining everything. He fears that she will never forgive him that she quits. James and Robert encouraged Harold to look through the girl's soul and get the heat off. He also admits another secret he kept. He tells them that he was in love with their mother!:o (Eek) I think I've fainted.   The reason why he was harsh at Sandy was because, she reminds him so much of Katherine and how his love for her was turned down when she married his brother, Greg. Every time he looks at his niece, it gave him heartache. He comes to realize that his niece and nephews would have never been born if Katherine married Greg.
 
The Ringmaster realized his own mistakes and wants to make things right with Sandy, and James tells him to see her tomorrow. Robert also encourages that everything will be fine.

Dumbo is owned by Walt Disney

Sandy, James, Katherine, and Robert are owned by me.

P.S. I was feeling emotional when I was writing the Baby Mine scene.
© 2017 - 2024 LoverofUnicorns96
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You know, despite his harsh decisions and silly mistakes throughout the story, Harold is actually one of my favourite characters. I like the fact you gave the Ringmaster a name and added depth to his story and character. I'm happy that he reforms at the end and finally accepts Sandy as a Wiccan. :)