It was morning, at around 10.00 o’clock. The forest was a hive of activity, just like any other day.

The sky, peeping through the leaves and branches of the tall trees that made up the forest, was a bright blue.

The sun started rising in the east in the wee hours, just like how it did, every morning. By this time of the day, it was pretty high up in the sky, its rays, dodging the same leaves and branches of the tall trees that the bright blue sky did. It provided light to the forest that otherwise would have kept the forest dark and perhaps, gloomy. In fact. one could see the countless straight lines of rays, reaching the ground. Looking at them, you could imagine them dancing, – line dancing.

Somewhere, deep in this forest, there was a rope, about 10 meters in length, latched on to a sort of wooden peg which was embedded in the ground. The rope had a name – Ropey, so did the wooden peg – Constantinople. Ropey had the gift of the gab. From the time the sun rises each day, to the time it sets; Ropey would be chatting. He was the Mister Know-it-all. While all the animals and other living things of the forest could escape the constant chatting, one could throw in “boasting” as a description for good measure; Constantinople was stuck with him and had to endure the chattering of Ropey.

Makizama was taking a walk on this fine day, through the forest. Weighing 4,380kg, Makizama was a proud adult elephant, rippling its muscles as it glided (more like stomped) through the forest. It was health conscious and quite the vain pot. The walk, usually long walks, with short bursts of sprint, dash-like runs at times; were meant to keep him in shape.

On this day, Makizama took a different route, one that it had not used before. From a distance, Ropey and Constantinople felt the ground move. “Thump, thump, thump”; at times “tha-ta-thump, tha-ta-thump” was the rhythm the ground was moving. They noticed this huge, monstrous, beast approaching them.

Ropey, being the sly fox…er…rope that it was; thought up of a plan and coerced Constantinople to go along with it. Ropey announced to all the living creatures around that he was going to capture this huge beast and hold it captive.

Before long Makizama reached and saw Ropey and Constantinople. They introduced themselves to each other. Makizama was full of confidence, proud of his physique and general knowledge of the forest, through his daily exercise.

Ropey said to Makizama, “Anyone that I wrap myself around will get completely rested, fast. Do you want a good rest, Makizama?”

Makizama thought this was a good deal, and agreed.

Ropey wrapped itself around the hind leg of Makizama. As soon as it wrapped itself around the leg of the elephant, did it mention that Makizama would lose all his strength and physique if he decided to break loose from Ropey, the rope; on his own.

Minutes went by, soon days, too went by, turning into weeks. By this time, Ropey had convinced Makizama that it could not even break free, even if he wanted to. That it, Ropey the rope; had magical powers that even Makizama could not match in strength.

Ropey was quite the trickster, using its intelligence to outsmart Makizama. Often it tricks and manipulates visitors of the forest that go by, for payment and reward.
Constantinople, with no ambition, is usually stuck in one place, no goals or plans, often leaving decision making to others, Artificial Intelligence (A. I.) or ChatGBT. It feels “safe” around Ropey because Ropey makes the decisions, and it, Constantinople; just abides. Rightly or wrongly, he won’t know for sure.
Makizama, though keeping abreast with everything modern; can be easily misled, more of a herd follower. It lacks confidence.

The rope and wooden peg are so small and weak that the elephant can easily break free from it. But it does not see that, and hence is tied to the small wooden peg.

How many of us see ourselves in one or more of the characters above?
How many of us are out-maneuvered by characters like Ropey? Have we been tricked? Or have we willingly passed the baton of thinking for ourselves to others? Then, find that we can’t move like Constantinople. Now, find that our situation seems bleak.

We have to always believe that there is a “tomorrow” and work towards regaining our self-composure…our freedom….Whatever the situation may be.
You can write in to leatherpotato188@gmail.com to discuss your predicament. Please state if it is to be Private and Confidential. Let’s see if a solution / solutions can be found…maybe…just maybe…

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It was in the wee hours of this morning that I wrote this essay. Completed it about 5.15am. Just thought it up.