Elephants Do Cry

Innocence it is said, is a naïve and idealistic view of the world naturally occurring from a lack of experience. This was certainly true for Hugo, a young African forest elephant. He loved his family and the uncomplicated life he had as part of the herd into which he was born. Sheltered from the evil, pain and suffering taking place in the fragile environment in which the herd lived, he was free to be curious and pursue his passion for all the beautiful things surrounding him.

The herd’s seasonal pilgrimage in search of food and water had Hugo full of anticipation. Unaware of the dangers that lurked outside his immediate environment, he saw the trek as one big adventure full of new and exciting experiences. This year he hoped would be no exception.

Poaching was rife across the area the herd was travelling and it had placed the forest elephant populations under serious threat. The adult elephants in the herd were well aware of what they faced on their trek as they had completed it so many times before. This year however they were not alone and the journey’s end was not a guarantee.

The first legs of the venture were fairly uneventful. However, a lack of worldliness and inexperience would soon see Hugo’s life take a turn for the worst in the unfamiliar territory.

How did a butterfly start a sequence of events that has dire consequences for Hugo and his family? What is a wildebeest doing in an elephant herd? And why will this year’s migration be remembered as the most challenging one the herd has ever undertaken?

Pauline is known for her quick wit and quirky sense of humour which is reflected in everything she does including her writing. She is passionate about many things; most importantly her daughter Georgia. She enjoys a close circle of friends, loves her animals and the odd glass or five of red wine.

She has a very impressive and eclectic range of creative and artistic talents which she uses to positively inspire others. She is practical and realistic about life and knows what it is like to “do it tough” having grown up in a housing commission area where she was the only member of her family to graduate from secondary school and go on to study a university degree becoming a teacher and later an educational administrator.

Writing has always been one of Pauline’s key interests so she took the opportunity to follow that passion when a forced sabbatical saw her temporarily cease full-time employment two years ago. She has since written several stories, Kiki being the first to be published.