top of page
Search

Excerpted Inspirations #231

  • Writer: Linda Odhner, with photos by Liz Kufs
    Linda Odhner, with photos by Liz Kufs
  • 15 minutes ago
  • 0 min read
[Continued from last week.] The first bear was quite near Philip, his head close to the ground as he sniffed about for more treacle. Philip put his hand into the jar he held, and took it out, waving it slowly in the air so that the bear could get the full scent of it. The bear raised his head and saw Philip. He backed away a little and gave an angry grunt. Who was that sitting there on the ground? His eyes gleamed an angry red in the light from a nearby lamp. A little sigh of fear went through the anxious crowd. And then Philip spoke. He spoke in what Jack called his “special” voice – the voice he always kept for animals. It was a low, monotonous voice, a gentle, kindly voice, but somehow it was a voice that had to be listened to. “A sort of hypnotizing voice,” thought Jack, as he stood watching. The bear listened. He grunted again, and backed away, bumping into the second bear. But still Philip’s voice went on. What was he saying? Jack couldn’t hear. How did he know how to talk to animals like this? And why did they all listen? The watching circus-folk knew that most animal trainers used a special tone of voice when they petted their animals – but here was a strange boy talking to frightened and suspicious bears – and yet they listened. The second bear came a little nearer, his ears pricked. He sniffed. He sniffed not only the treacle, but Philip’s own particular smell. It was a friendly smell. The bears always sorted out people into two kinds – those whose smell they like, and those they didn’t. He lumbered right up to Philip and sniffed at him, ready to strike if the boy moved. A little scream came from someone in the crowd, but the bear took no notice. Philip went on talking, and now his voice was so honeyed and persuasive that even the crowd began to feel his spell. The bear licked Philip’s hand, which was covered in treacle. Philip did not move. The bear went on licking, quite unafraid. The other bear came up, and, seeing how unafraid his brother was, he took a quick lick at Philip’s other hand. In two or three seconds both bears were grunting in delight at so much treacle. This boy was a friend! They didn’t know who he was, but they were quite sure he was a friend. Philip talked all the time, monotonously and kindly. He thought he could now dare to move, so he lifted one hand slowly, put it into the jar beside him, and then took it out covered with treacle again. One bear lay down beside him to lick in comfort. Another sigh at once went through the tense crowd. Philip gave the jar to the other bear, and then with his free hand began to fondle the bear lying beside him. It grunted in pleasure. Now the bears were happy and at peace. They had found someone they liked and trusted. Philip knew that he had them under control – if only the crowd didn’t do something silly – make a sudden noise, or come surging towards him. But the circus folk knew better than that. They were used to animals. Philip stood up, doing nothing quickly – all his movements were smooth and slow. He picked up the jar, and with his other hand on one bear’s neck, began to walk to the cage. The bears followed, shambling along quietly, licking their lips. Philip took them right to the cage, undid the door and let them shuffle in. He put the treacle jar inside, shut the door, and went quietly outside. And then how the people cheered! “He’s a wonder! Who is he? Tell Fank the bears are safe. Who IS this boy?” Enid Blyton, The Circus of Adventure (1952), pp. 236-242

 
 
 

Comments

  • Black YouTube Icon
  • Black Facebook Icon

The views expressed on this website are the opinions of their authors, and may not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other author, agency, or organization, including Deborah's Tree.


©2020 by DEBORAH'S TREE. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page