Once upon a time, in a dusty savanna, an elephant named Ella roamed with her herd. It was the hottest summer ever, and no rain fell for many months. The grass had turned brown, and the trees wilted under the scorching sun. All the animals in the savanna felt the terrible heat.
Each day, Ella walked with her herd to the waterhole, but it was dry. It seemed the sun drank every last drop. “What will we do?” cried Ella’s friend Elda, a little elephant. “My tummy hurts from being so thirsty,” said a gazelle.
Ella felt sad for all her animal friends. “I wish I could help,” she said. “Maybe I’ll go off on my own and find water.” After saying goodbye to her herd, she walked a long way.
Finally, she saw something lying in the road. “What is this?” she wondered, and walked closer. A thorn was stuck in an animal’s foot, and he hobbled about in great pain. It was Horsey the Horse! Ella knelt down next to her friend.
“Don’t worry, Horsey,” she said. “This will hurt a little, but I’ll pull out the thorn.” As Horsey closed his eyes, Ella pulled out the thorn with her trunk. In came Elda the little elephant. “What are you doing, Ella?” she asked. “Don’t worry, Elda,” said Ella.
Ella turned to Horsey. “Try to walk now.” And he did! Horsey was overjoyed, and with a happy whinny, he galloped off.
Suddenly Ella heard a bubbling sound. “What is that?” she asked. She moved forward and saw a big pond reflecting the blue sky and happy clouds all around. Ella put her trunk in the water and drank and drank.
“Oh,” she said, laughing, “now I know where Horsey was going!” For far off in the distance, Ella could see the big green pasture where Horsey and his friend, Cow, lived.
Ella quickly filled up her trunk with water. “How happy all my friends will be to drink this fine water,” she thought. Elda was there, and she filled her trunk, too.
“I can’t waste all this water by walking back,” said Ella. “I have an idea.” Off walked the two elephants. Soon they met some more birds and animals. “Follow me, everyone!” shouted Ella, and all came running behind her. The two elephants marched on until they passed Horsey in the pasture.
When Horsey saw the elephants with all the creatures following behind, he whinnied, “Where are you going?”
“Ella has found a pond of fresh water, and we are all going there,” Elda shouted.
“Please, may I come along, too?” asked Horsey. “That’s the way I was heading!”
So along he went, and soon they met Cow, who thought there must be a stampede because she heard such a noise! “No stampede,” called out Horsey. “Ella and Elda have found water for all the animals in the savanna.”
“May I come along, too?” mooed Cow. “Of course,” said Ella, and they all marched off to the pond.
The animals made a long queue, and one by one came to drink the sweet water, filling their tummies. “Thank you, Ella!” cried all. Now Ella daily filled her trunk and brought water to all the animals in need. Because of her kindness, she won the love of all who lived in the savanna.
And one must remember: One act of kindness brings far-reaching changes.