|
|
Cliffg37 Inner circle Long Beach, CA 2491 Posts |
Does anyone remember a story about Ajax the elephant having a birthday party and going out to play? My teacher read it to us in 5th grade (1972 or so). The story is miserably unsubtle, ending unfinished with mom warning the kid not to play on the rockpile. Students must then finish the story. Sorry if this is vague, it is all I remember. I would love to find the story again if I could. At 11 years old I was sent to a psychiatrist for how I answered it.
Magic is like Science,
Both are fun if you do it right! |
tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
Go on, tell us, tell us how you answered it.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
Cliffg37 Inner circle Long Beach, CA 2491 Posts |
The story goes like this....
Ajax the Elephant was having a birthday. He asked his mother if he could have a birthday party, invite all his freinds and have ice cream and cake. His mother said yes. So Ajax had a birthday party and all his freinds came. Ajax opened his first present. It was a book. He askled his mother if she would teach him to read. His Mother said yes. His next present was a violin. He asked his mother if she would teach him to play the violin. His mother said yes. Then they had ice cream and cake. After that Ajax asked his mother if they could go out and play. His mother said "yes you may, but don't go play on the rockpile." That is the end of the story and the students are asked to finish it. Not one student in the class wrote that Ajax and his freind went to the park and played ball till it was time to go home. Everyone sent Ajax and his freinds to the rockpile. I mean, how could you not? Almost everyone had some sort of accident happen, usually it was Ajax who got hurt and in most cases his mom came to the rescue. In all cases mom forgave him for disobaying her. My answer was a bit different, and the poor teacher who was reading them out loud certainly wished she had read mine to herself first. But she didn't. My answer was three sentences long and I remember it verbatim. Here it is. Of course Ajax and his freinds went to the rockpile. While they were playing ajax fell down, hit his head and died. His mother was glad becasue she didn't really want to teach him how to read. Truthfully, as a teacher myself I think that would ring all kinds of warning bells if a student of mine wrote something like that.
Magic is like Science,
Both are fun if you do it right! |
tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
LOL
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
Magnus Eisengrim Inner circle Sulla placed heads on 1053 Posts |
You are probably looking for The Story of Little Ajax by Herbert Mayer. As it turns out, you can get a used copy for $14 via ABE books.
Is this the right book? John
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.--Yeats |
Tom Jorgenson Inner circle LOOSE ANGLES, CALIFORNIA 4451 Posts |
I would have assumed that you had a great sense of humor at an early age. It was a good structure for the joke, and the call-back was perfect. The sardonic attitude finish...too funny to be dangerous.
We dance an invisible dance to music they cannot hear.
|
Cliffg37 Inner circle Long Beach, CA 2491 Posts |
I don't know about little Ajax, but thanks, I will check it out and get back to you.
Magic is like Science,
Both are fun if you do it right! |
Cliffg37 Inner circle Long Beach, CA 2491 Posts |
Thanks John, it looks like it might be the right one, so I ordered it... Much thanks!
Magic is like Science,
Both are fun if you do it right! |
Magnus Eisengrim Inner circle Sulla placed heads on 1053 Posts |
Glad to help Cliff. Thanks for sharing the memory. abebooks.com has brought me much pleasure!
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.--Yeats |
arthur stead Inner circle When I played soccer, I hit 1773 Posts |
Hey Magnus, I second your vote of confidence for abebooks. They are GREAT for finding unusual items at discount prices. When you find a book you like, there will usually be several copies available. Go down the list until you find one that will be mailed from whatever country you reside in (for example USA instead of UK or Australia). That can save money you on shipping costs.
|
Magnus Eisengrim Inner circle Sulla placed heads on 1053 Posts |
Indeed. I've had harcover books sent from the UK for around $10 INCLUDING POSTAGE. It's sometimes just nuts.
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.--Yeats |
Cliffg37 Inner circle Long Beach, CA 2491 Posts |
I just got the book. Not bad given when I ordered it. It was indeed the story I remembered. My 5th grade teacher, Ms. Roberts truncated the story a bit, and left it as a cliff hanger for us, but it is the same book.
Thanks.
Magic is like Science,
Both are fun if you do it right! |
Magnus Eisengrim Inner circle Sulla placed heads on 1053 Posts |
Cliff-hanger!
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.--Yeats |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Not very magical, still... » » Ajax the elephant (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |