Campus Field - Afternoon
It was a normal afternoon at the campus field. Students were scattered across the grass, studying, chatting, and enjoying the sunshine. Naila was lying on a blanket, doing what she did best: absolutely nothing.
Alice was bouncing around. "This is such a beautiful day! I feel like something amazing is going to happen!"
Chima rolled her eyes. "Please don't jinx it."
"I'm not jinxing it! I'm manifesting!"
"That's the same thing!"
"It's not!"
Suddenly, a loud trumpet sound echoed across the field.
Everyone froze.
"What was that?" Fatimah asked, looking around.
Another trumpet sound. Louder this time.
And then, from behind the trees, emerged a large, grey figure.
An elephant.
A real, live elephant.
Alice's jaw dropped. "I MANIFESTED AN ELEPHANT!"
"YOU MANIFESTED WHAT?!" Chima screamed.
The elephant wandered onto the field, looking confused. It was clearly lost—probably from a nearby circus or sanctuary.
Students started screaming and running.
But Naila didn't move. She was still lying on her blanket, completely unaware.
"Naila!" Wony shouted. "Get up! There's an elephant!"
Naila opened one eye. "Hmm? An elephant?"
"YES! A REAL ELEPHANT!"
"That's nice." She closed her eye again.
"NAILA! IT'S COMING TOWARD YOU!"
Naila waved her hand lazily. "It's fine. Elephants are gentle. They won't hurt me."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaPQSs55gK
The elephant wandered closer. It looked tired. It looked like it needed a rest.
It looked at Naila.
Naila looked at it.
"Hi," Naila said. "You look tired. Want to sit down?"
The elephant seemed to understand. It lowered its large body.
And sat down.
Directly on Naila's legs.
"NAILA!" Fatimah screamed.
Naila's eyes went wide. "Oh. That's... heavy."
The elephant was now comfortably seated on Naila's lower body. Naila was completely pinned.
"Can you... move?" Naila asked the elephant.
The elephant didn't move.
"Okay," Naila said calmly. "This is fine. I'm fine. Just... trapped under an elephant."
Chima was running toward her. "NAILA! ARE YOU OKAY?!"
"I can't feel my legs."
"THAT'S BAD!"
"I know. But I'm too tired to panic."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IzTK721bR
Everyone gathered around. The elephant was still sitting on Naila.
"Okay," Fatimah said, trying to stay calm. "We need to get the elephant off her."
"How?!" Alice asked. "It's an ELEPHANT!"
"Maybe we can lure it away with food!"
Wony looked around. "What food?"
"I don't know! Bananas or peanuts?"
"WE DON'T HAVE BANANAS!"
Chima tried pushing the elephant. "Come on, move!"
But the elephant didn't move.
"Move, you big—"
"Chima, don't insult the elephant," Fatimah warned. "It might get angry."
"It's already sitting on our friend!"
Naila's voice came from underneath. "It's okay. I'm comfortable. Sort of."
"NAILA! YOU'RE TRAPPED!"
"I know. But panicking takes effort."
Alice had an idea. "I'll call animal control!"
"Do that!"
***
Campus Field - 30 Minutes Later
Animal control was on its way. But for now, Naila was still trapped.
"How are you feeling?" Wony asked.
Naila thought about it. "I can't feel my legs. But the elephant is warm. So that's nice."
"You're literally under an elephant!"
"It's a warm elephant."
Chima was pacing. "I can't believe this. An elephant just wandered onto campus and sat on Naila."
"That's very on-brand," Alice said.
"On-brand?! How is this on-brand?!"
"Naila is always lying down. Now she's lying down with an elephant on her. It's consistent."
"That's not how consistency works!"
Naila spoke up. "Alice has a point. I am always horizontal."
"THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING!"
"It's my thing."
The elephant let out a low rumble. It seemed content.
"See?" Naila said. "It's happy."
"You're being squashed!"
"I'm being sat on. There's a difference."
***
Campus Field - 45 Minutes Later
Animal control finally arrived. They had bananas. Lots of bananas.
"Okay, ma'am," one of them said to Naila. "We're going to lure the elephant away. Just stay calm."
"I'm calm," Naila said. "I'm always calm."
"Good. On the count of three."
They held out the bananas.
The elephant's ears perked up.
"One... two... three!"
The elephant stood up and lumbered toward the bananas.
Naila was free.
Her legs were completely numb.
"I can't feel anything," she announced.
Chima rushed to her side. "Are you okay?!"
"I think so. But I can't walk."
"Of course you can't walk! You had an elephant on you!"
"That's a valid point."
The animal control team led the elephant away. Students started to emerge from hiding.
Naila was sitting on the grass, rubbing her legs.
"This is the weirdest day of my life," she said.
"Same," Chima agreed.
***
Campus Clinic - Evening
Naila was lying on a bed at the clinic. The doctor had checked her legs.
"Nothing broken," the doctor said. "But you have temporary numbness. It should wear off in a few hours."
"Thank you, Doctor."
The doctor left.
Chima was sitting beside her. "I can't believe an elephant sat on you."
"I can't believe it either."
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Naila thought about it. "My legs are numb. But other than that, I'm fine. Tired. But fine."
Alice bounced in. "I GOT IT ON VIDEO!"
"Alice, no," Fatimah said.
"ALICE, YES! This is going to be HUGE!"
Chima grabbed her phone. "Delete that!"
"NEVER!"
"Alice, I swear to God."
Naila watched them argue. Then she smiled.
"You know," she said, "this is the most interesting thing that's happened to me all week."
"Interesting?!" Chima repeated. "You were sat on by an ELEPHANT!"
"I know. It was kind of nice, actually. He was warm."
Chima stared at her. "You're insane."
"I know. That's my charm."
***
Naila's Apartment - Night
Naila was back home, lying on her couch. Her legs had finally regained feeling.
Chima was still with her. "I'm staying here tonight. To make sure you're okay."
"I'm fine, Chima."
"You were sat on by an elephant!"
"I know. But I'm fine."
Chima sighed. "You're impossible."
"I know."
They sat in comfortable silence.
Then Naila spoke. "Chima?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for worrying about me."
Chima's expression softened. "Of course. You're my best friend."
"I know. But still. Thanks."
Chima smiled. "Anytime, Naila."
Naila closed her eyes. "I'm going to sleep now. Wake me if another elephant shows up."
"That's not funny."
"It's a little funny."
Chima laughed. "Yeah. It's a little funny."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoD7qKWt55
and then Add to home screen.