Page 10 of Smoky Mountain K-9
When dinner was over, Alyssa came back and ushered them all back outside and down the concourse to the elephant enclosure. She led them to the staff entrance and through a set of short hallways to the indoor pens. The sounds made by the big animals reached Mara’s ears before she saw them. Several short trumpets met their group as they went through the doorway to the stalls. Then she saw them. One elephant was off by itself in a stall with a heavy white sheet attached to the wall. In another pen, two other elephants watched. Behind them, the door was open to the outside. Heaters blasted overhead, but Mara still shivered. The breeze coming in was chilly.
“Everyone, find an easel.” Alyssa motioned to the double line of easels set up in the open area in front of the stalls.
Carter led her to a set of easels in the far corner.
“Is this okay?” He gestured to their spot.
She nodded. “It’s fine.” The room was small, so any of the easels offered a decent vantage point to watch Thelma create her masterpiece.
When everyone was settled, Alyssa introduced the elephant, as well as the trainer working with her. Mara watched, fascinated, as Thelma picked up a brush with her trunk and dipped it into a can of paint, then swirled it over the sheet hanging on the wall. To her astonishment, the animal drew several shapes.
“How do they get her to do that?” Carter wondered aloud. He looked at Mara. “Do you know?”
She shook her head, just as amazed as he was. They weren’t the only ones wondering, though. A woman in the front asked Alyssa that question.
“That’s a very good question. Thelma’s trainers are always in search of activities to keep her and the other elephants engaged. One of them saw a video on the internet of an elephant painting and decided to try it with a few of ours. Thelma loved it and would mimic shapes and lines her trainers drew. Now, she paints almost every day—at her discretion. If she’s not interested, the trainers don’t push. Her artwork has helped fund improvements to the elephant enclosure here at the zoo, as well as enrichment activities for her herd.”
The trainer in with Thelma stepped forward, but stayed in the pen with her. “We’ve been working with Thelma to paint scenery. As you can see, she’s working on a forest.” The woman motioned to the trees taking shape on the canvas. “You all are going to paint your version of a forest on the canvases we’ve had her mark with her signature. When you’re done, you’ll all have your own piece of elephant art.”
“I’m not sure I thought this through,” Carter muttered, leaning toward her.
Mara gave him a curious frown. “What do you mean?”
“What am I going to do with this?” He gestured to the canvas on his easel with its blue trunk/nose print in the lower righthand corner.
Mara giggled. “Hang it in your house.” She was planning to give hers to one of her nieces. Desi loved elephants and would love the piece.
He rolled his eyes. “It’ll go so well with my décor.”
She chuckled. “You could always try to sell it. Or donate it.”
Carter sighed and picked up a paintbrush. “I’ll figure something out. What are you going to do with yours?”
“Give it to my niece. She’ll think it’s cool.”
“Does she want two?” He dipped his brush in the brown paint.
“She has a sister. I can ask.”
His head bobbed. “Do that. I hope they’re really young and not picky.” He smeared brown paint on the canvas, making a tree trunk. “A masterpiece this won’t be.”
“They’re four and two, so you’re good.”
A quick laugh burst free of his chest. “Good.”
Giggling softly, Mara dipped her paintbrush in the brown paint and started on her own tree trunks. She actually quite liked to draw, so she had high hopes for her painting. Tongue poking between her teeth, she concentrated on her art. Once she had the trunks painted, she grabbed the green to start on the foliage. Cleaning off her brush, she glanced at Carter’s canvas and couldn’t hold back the chuckle.
“Don’t laugh. I know it’s terrible. I never claimed to be an artist.” He dabbed some green on top of a branch.
Her laughter increased. “It’s not that bad.”
“Liar.”
“Addie will love it.”
“Yeah, because it’ll look like something she did.”
Mara let out a snort, then covered her mouth, her cheeks turning red. She laughed harder, and Carter joined her.