Once the campsite had been cleared, Rachel and Bryan got to work. Rachel suggested they split up. The camp was sizeable but not so big they were out of shouting distance. At the center of the camp, Rachel went left, Bryan went right and made a wide arc around the perimeter. Then they came back to the center and each went the other way, picking up what the other may have missed, altogether creating a big figure-eight.

This place certainly did have a Heartless problem. One popped up behind every barrel, every crate and in every tent. Rachel and Bryan had to make the "8" three times before they didn't find anymore. Then they went around the train. Bryan started at the engine, Rachel at the caboose then circled it. Once again it took several rounds before no more Heartless could be found. They still made another round or two around the train and camp before finding the Ringmaster and telling him all was clear. The man broke down in tears of joy when they delivered the good news.

A great cheer from human and animal alike erupted from the train when the Ringmaster relayed the message. A great clamor thundered like an avalanche as the occupants of the train got off. Heavily muscled men led elephants and camels to the tent site and put them to work.

When the set up was in progress, the Ringmaster came to them, walking on air.

"This is wonderful! Absolutely stupendous! My men will have to work extra hard but the tent will be up by this evening! Everyone can prepare for the show and tomorrow morning's parade! This is spectacular! You saved my reputation and the children will be so happy. I cannot possibly thank you enough. If there is anything I can d-d-d-oh! Oh!" He danced about as an idea came to him.

He called for someone named Joe. A tall, gangly man with fuzzy, curly hair answered. The Ringmaster told him something and sent him off again. He skipped about excitedly while they waited. But whatever he had in mind he wasn't sharing. He had an awful lot of energy for a small, round man. Joe returned with something in his hand that the Ringmaster took .

"As a token of my apprrreciation and on behalf of the WDP Circus, it is my grrrreat honor and privilege to prrresent to you this marrrvelous gift."

He flourished something gold before them. Two, large golden tickets. In the center, the image of a circus tent. In the corners, an elephant on its hind legs.

"With these you will be welcome to any and all perrrrformances put on by this circus for life. You saved my circus so it is only fitting that you should be welcome to it for all time. Please, please, you are welcome anywhere at any time. Now, I have matters to attend to. Enjoy yourselves and I expect to see you at the show tomorrow! I have planned something very special that will be seen for the first time tomorrow evening!"

Marveling at how much someone could talk with so much flourish, and how just doing what they were destined to do once again granted them unexpected rewards, Rachel and Bryan explored the circus as it was being set up. Everyone wanted to shake their hand and thank them. If there was anyone who loved the circus more than children, it was the performers and the workers.

Rachel went to the holding pens first. She always loved animals and here she could see more than she ever had back home. Giraffes bent over their long necks to say hello and receive a pat. The pair had a baby who was taller than Rachel. It gave many kisses with its big lips in gratitude for the affection.

Nearly every animal pen she visited had a baby. A camel baby stood next to its mother, lazily chewing something. Tiger cubs tried to stick their heads through the bars of their cage to be the first one to get their ears scratched. The bear cub twins wanted attention too, but their mother was not going to let their bath time schedule be interrupted. The hippo baby was shy and wouldn't come out of the water.

Within an hour the big top was up. Its yellow color and domed shape kinda made it look like a gigantic loaf of bread. Rachel hadn't gotten a closer look at the elephants because they had been working. She'd heard of the world's largest animal before, but had never seen one and was excited to. But most of all Rachel wanted to see if there was an elephant baby too. Just about everything else did. And she bet an elephant calf would be really cute.

Rachel entered the tent where the eight elephant cows were resting from the labor of raising the big top. She stood at the entrance, just looking in awe at the great beasts. None of them had noticed her yet. These things weren't violent, right? Even the tigers acted more like pussy cats than fierce masters of the jungle. They were all eating at a large pile of hay. Then, one noticed her. The others turned to see what had gotten their herd mates attention. The one that had seen her came in Rachel's direction. The elephant had a cloth maroon headpiece with tassels and matching blanket across her back. She held her head high and looked down on Rachel with a gaze of authority. This must be the herd's matriarch.

A puff of whimsy floated through Rachel's brain and made her think that if Master Yen Sid had a wife, and that wife was an elephant, this is exactly what she'd look like. Old and in charge. Why this thought made it all the way to completion was a mystery but amusing all the same. She did stop herself before she began imagining what Master Yen Sid would look like as an elephant. She'd never be able to get rid of that one if she hadn't .

Rachel tried an elegant, respectful bow. The elephant liked that. She in return and allowed Rachel to enter. Rachel was ecstatic. The elephants allowed her to stroke their trunks and scratch behind their ears. They liked getting spoiled. Rachel glanced around their ankles. None of them appeared to have a baby. Disappointing, but there was nothing she could do about it. She said good-bye and left the tent, looking for where Bryan went. A few tents down, a thwump! sort of sound got her attention.

"Don'cha worry about that one! You'll get it down flat in now time. Ready to try again?"

A tiny voice was talking to someone inside a storage tent. Rachel heard a scurry of footsteps then a spreek sound, like the protesting groans of a big spring. Curious, Rachel pulled the tent flap back a bit. At first she didn't see anything so she went in.

"Dat one was much betta! Keep your head up so your ears don't get in the way. C'mon! One more time!"

Rachel stared silently, barely believing what she was seeing. There was a baby elephant after all! Astoundingly, a mouse standing on a barrel was instructing it! Not until she was looking right at it and it spoke again did she believe what she was hearing, even then it was a stretch. The mouse was actually talking! She was so flabbergasted by the miracle she laughed out loud. The elephant calf skidded to a stop in the middle of its charge to a flat piece of wood with a spring under it. The mouse dove behind the barrel.

"No, no, no! I'm sorry! Please, you don't need to be scared! Come back!"

The baby elephant watched her, not sure what to do. It had to be the cutest thing she'd ever seen. Carefully she got closer and dropped to her knees when she got as close as she dared. She didn't want to frighten the baby. The calf looked over its shoulder for the mouse, still not certain what it should do.

"It's ok," Rachel said kindly. She offered a gentle hand. "You can trust me, I won't hurt you."

The baby took several slow, curios steps toward her, its trunk outstretched. At last it was practically in her lap, sniffing with its trunk and happy to get petted. Rachel felt like she could explode any second with sheer giddiness.

"You have got to be the cutest thing in the world." She ran both her hands across the little head. The elephant shrugged bashfully. She giggled. "And just look at these ears! They're-"

The calf pulled back and covered his face with his ears. A look of shame recognizable by anybody.

"Oh no! No, no, I'm sorry. I mean they're cute!"

The baby parted his ears just a little.

"I mean it," Rachel spread his ears wide. "They're like a great big kite and make you look adorable."

The baby elephant looked up at her with a very clear smile. Those sparkling blue eyes and face alight with a smile, Rachel couldn't take it and snuggled him close in a big hug.

"You are just too sweet!"

"You really tink so?"

Rachel looked up from her snuggling. That was the same voice from before. The mouse had come out from his hiding place. He dressed a lot like a drum major. She wasn't going crazy. The little guy was actually talking.

"I keep tellin' 'em he shouldn't listen ta what people say about those ears. Hear that, pal? She likes your ears too."

Rachel stared at the mouse that had re-emerged on the barrel.

"So I'm not going crazy. You really can talk."

"Course! Most animals can. Just most peoples don't knows how to listen."

Rachel cataloged that for the future. Maybe she could understand all animals from now on now she knew she had to pay attention.

"So what are your names?"

"My name's Timothy. Timothy Mouse and this here is my pal Dumbo."

"He doesn't talk?"

"Nah, but he's still liddle."

"So is one of the elephants in the tent his momma?"

The atmosphere suddenly became still. Dumbo looked very sad, sad enough to the point of tears. Rachel realized she'd stepped on a mine without meaning to.

"What did I say?"

"None of dose odda elephants want anything to do with 'im. Dey tink, even for an elephant his ears aren't normal. Ye, see," Timothy said with a sad sigh. "A little while ago some kids teased Dumbo cuz of those big ears and that made his mudda angry. She went a little crazy tryin' to keep him safe and everybody thought she was mad and dangerous. She's not dangerous. Mrs. Jumbo is just a great mudda who can't make people undastand how special her baby is."

"That's awful. Where is she now?"

"Dey keep her in a special train car away from everyone. Dreary place with 'mad elephant' signs all around."

Dumbo sniffed and his eyes got very misty. Rachel's heart broke. A poor little baby who couldn't be with his mother. Rachel wrapped herself around Dumbo, trying to offer as much mother-like warmth and comfort as she could. She was afraid to ask how long Mrs. Jumbo had been locked up and Dumbo had been without the warmth of someone who loved him. It was great Timothy was his friend but a mouse couldn't give an elephant a very good comforting hug. Dumbo snuggled himself into her embrace and wrapped his little trunk around her upper arm as best he could. He sniffled and shed a few fat tears. It took all her strength for Rachel to not look at him for fear she'd break down and start crying to. If it was one thing her compassionate heart couldn't stand was someone looking miserable. Especially when that someone was an adorable baby elephant without a mother.

"Hey," Rachel said gently. "I think I might be able to help."

Dumbo looked up at her. His eyes were still moist but it was hope that made his eyes sparkle, not tears.

"My brother and I just got on the good side of the Ringmaster in a big way. When his mind isn't so focused on preparations for the big show, I'll talk to him about your momma. Kay?"

Dumbo pushed away from her and bounded in circles around the tent, trumpeting with joy all the while.

"You'd really do that!" Timothy was just as thrilled by the good news as Dumbo. Timothy tossed is hat in the air. "That's really swell of ya!"

"Helping people is what I love doing."

Dumbo bounced on the spring pad and went soaring across the tent. Timothy cheered.

"Your mudda's gonna be a free elephant soon and you're going te be colossal at the show tomorrow!"

"Dumbo's in the show? Isn't a little young?"

"Oh ho ho! You just watch! Dumbo here is gonna be the climax of the new act! Come to the show tomorrow night! You'll see!"

"I wouldn't miss it."