The Cameo Necklace. Evelyn Coleman

“Only joking with you. We have a Lost and Found, but no one turned in your necklace. Hope you find it.”

      Cécile thanked him again and scanned the wharf, looking for the spot where she had fallen. Yes, there it was—not far from the showboat’s gangplank, off to the right where the marchands had stood. Cécile walked toward the spot, slowing her pace as she neared it. She surveyed the wharf with each step, but she didn’t see the necklace. She didn’t even see crumbs from the fallen orange buns. Birds or rats had probably cleaned them up.

      Thunder rumbled in the distance. Cécile heard Armand calling her. She looked up to see an astonishing sight. Across the wharf, a young man was leading an elephant out of a warehouse—and Armand was walking beside them!

      “Come here, Cécile,” he shouted. “I have a surprise for you.”

      Cécile hurried to her brother, staring in amazement at the elephant.

      Armand’s face was lit up with satisfaction. “Pierre here is going to let you ride the elephant!”

      The huge animal stopped walking. Cécile was almost close enough to touch its side. The elephant was so much bigger than she had ever imagined. She felt like a small insect standing beside it.

      “Ride the elephant?” Cécile’s stomach lurched. She didn’t want to ride an elephant. She only wanted to find her necklace!

      “I saw a handbill advertising elephant rides,” Armand explained. “Pierre says they don’t give rides on Sundays—but for a generous tip, he’ll make an exception for you.” Armand winked.

      Pierre said, “You can touch her if you want.”

      Cécile didn’t want to touch her. The elephant wouldn’t bring her aunt’s necklace back.

      “Her name is Bella,” Pierre said. “She’s very gentle. Go ahead.”

      Cécile remembered Grand-père telling her once that circus people considered it good luck to rub the neck of a giraffe. An elephant was even bigger. Maybe it would bring her luck, and she’d find the necklace.

      Cécile reached out and touched the elephant’s rough skin. “She has hair,” Cécile said, surprised. She let her fingers glide along the ruffled, tough skin. Bella had folds near her knees, as if her skin were a bolt of cloth. The elephant moved her trunk slowly from side to side. Her tail swatted the air occasionally.

      “Ready to ride?” Pierre asked, holding up a rope attached to Bella’s harness.

      Cécile shook her head. She needed to find the necklace.

      “Come on, Cécé,” Armand said. “This is the chance of a lifetime.”

      Cécile could see that her brother was proud to have gotten her this opportunity. She backed up a few steps. Did she dare ride an elephant? Maman would be horrified, but maybe Papa and Grand-père would think Cécile brave. Armand always said that he thought she was very brave.

      Her heart pounded. She had to admit, this would be quite a story to tell Monette and Marie-Grace. She’d bet even the Metoyer sisters had never ridden an elephant.

      Cécile said, “Oui, I will get on, but only for a moment.” Then, she promised herself, she would get back to searching for the necklace as soon as she got off.

      Pierre picked up a bale of hay and set it next to Bella. The elephant got down on her knees. Armand held Cécile’s hand as she put one foot on the bale. Her stomach did a somersault. Could she actually do this?

      “Swing your leg over her back. I’ll help you up,” Pierre said. Cécile got on and grabbed the harness in front of her.

      Pierre tapped Bella’s side two times, and slowly the elephant rose. Her trunk swayed back and forth, along with her massive body. Cécile felt as if she were on top of the world. She had never been so high in the air. Maybe this was how the circus performers felt! The elephant’s step jarred her body up and down, and her heartbeat raced. She wanted to scream in fear and cry out with joy. A chilly wind brought a spatter of raindrops, but Cécile didn’t even notice.

      Armand shouted, “You’re doing it, Cécé! You’re riding an elephant all by yourself.”

      Cécile grinned at her brother, lifted one hand from the harness, and gave him a tiny wave. She was so excited that she had no thought for anything except the elephant ride.

      Then, a short distance beyond Armand, Cécile caught sight of two small figures. She leaned forward, squinting. Was it possible? Yes, the two cloaked children from the night before were walking along the wharf toward her and the elephant. She recognized their thin faces, slanting eyes, and flowing dark hair.