Little Dong
by Cleveland W Gibson
The Greek watched the two pigeons playing on top of the newly erected sign saying ‘Zorba’s Flying Circus.’ He glanced past the cars in the queue for fuel, then at the new Hilly-Billy cabin and the lake surrounded by high fencing. Inside the enclosure a crocodile moved across the lake, a Stars and Stripes flag stuck in its wooden snout. On the grass around the lake, a marvellous collection of zebra, deer, giraffe,a dragon and even an elephant, all carved in wood, and scattered in the long grass.
For a long moment he concentrated on the minature donkey nibbling the grass around the wooden zebra. Dong won over Zorba the moment the Greek spotted him in the donkey market of Khwaja-Bahauddin in Takhar, Afghanistan. The deep scars on Dong’s back made Zorba’s heart melt; immediately he bought the miniature donkey. Behind the scars lay a sad story but who would whip such a friendly, loving animal? Dong was the very first animal the Greek bought as a pet.
Dong, the black miniature donkey with a white face and white belly, became an instant hit with children and their parents. It was just the attraction Zorba needed in those early days when he wanted people to stop by his garage. As the number of animals grew, so did the garage business; Zorba got very wealthy and famous..
A bright brown pygmy goat called Nizami was also feeding on the grass alongside Dong the donkey. The goat , a contented creature was also popular with visitors. Zorba recalled how he’d bought the goat from a breeder in Baltimore a few years ago. It was something he’d done in an effort to remember those farmyard days back in distant Crete. Glorious days on a farm, so different to city life.
***
Zorba’s face suddenly saddened; once more he was looking at the empty monkey cage. Memories of old Chippo the white faced monkey cascaded inside his mind. Chippo was always such a character. He smiled, knowing nobody ever jumped higher than Chippo for a peanut and it was those antics that endeared him to the children who came with their parents to the garage.
A clicking sound drew Zorba’s attention. He turned in time to see a cripple hobble by on crutches, a banjo slung across his back. Suddenly the Greek remembered the TV crew visiting in the afternoon. Quickly he grabbed a T-shirt from the shop and ran.
Lucy Alice Chang, the svelte Chinese girl with fire-red hair, looked at Bibo, the strange white Persian cat with blue eyes and the striped legs of a zebra. Sultry alien Lucy relaxed in her Xinchang home as she calmed the exotic looking cat, a new arrival from a different galaxy to her own.
“Of course, I’ll help you,” Lucy cooed. Her inky-pool eyes sparkled and her red pouty lips quivered as she addressed Bibo.“ I know they eat cats in this part of the world. So how do you fancy joining ‘Zorba’s Flying Circus’? Zorba loves animals, so let me send you to America. Zorba is soft on donkeys, especially miniature ones. He’s got a cute Chinese one called Dong. Now you are in luck because he also likes cats. Bon Voyage.”
***
Joe Banjo Hemingway, the cripple, bobbled down the road with a crutch under each arm. The war happened many years ago but it left its brutal legacy; a mine claimed his left leg. As he passed the busy garage Joe took in the empty monkey cage, the cabin and the ‘jungle’ with all the animals. The miniature donkey and the white goat made Joe smile, as he remembered an old children’s story involving animals and robbers. The garage, ‘Zorba’s Flying Circus,’ certainly lived up to its name.
As Joe reached his destination he sat down on a brick wall and looked down at his leg for a moment. ‘Perhaps I’ll be lucky with my busking today’, he thought. He plucked his banjo strings.
“Come on stop moping and give me a smile,” Bibo the cat said, winking at him.
“You talk?” Joe returned in surprise. The banjo went silent.
“Too true, Chinese as well. I’ve spoken to Dong the donkey; apparently he comes from a little pretty farm place in China called Xinchang. I like your face. Got any food ‘cause I’m hungry?”
Joe offered an apple.
“It’ll do. Watch this,” the cat said as it took the apple. In seconds Bibo was holding three apples and juggling with them. “I cloned them.”
“You are odd,” Joe admitted. Bibo cocked his head at Joe as a newcomer arrived on the scene.
“100 bucks for your cat. I’m the owner of ‘Zorba’s Flying Circus’”
“Take the money,” the cat advised, in a stage whisper.
“What’s your name?”
“Joe Banjo”
“Banjo?”
“I play the banjo.”
“Good. But your real name, soldier. Just for my payroll.”
“Corporal Joe Hemmingway.”
“You’re hired, Corporal. Can you play your banjo in ‘that’ log cabin of mine? Just put this T-shirt on and sink into the rocking chair. I’ve some TV guys coming today and your banjo playing could save my hide. I pay well. You could have a look at the animals in the “jungle” see how I could do ‘something’ with them for the camera men.”
Joe shook hands on the deal and took the T-shirt with the legend ‘Ere’ printed across the front about a mile high. “So how come I got this ‘Erle’ T-shirt?” Joe questioned. “And what exactly are the TV guys filming today?”
The Greek frowned, then his face relaxed.
”That was clever of you; I’ve only got RD Larson coming this afternoon to officially open the new ‘Zorba’s Flying Circus,’ but keep it under your hat. OK. RD is scared of dragons and lizards but I’ve heard she has a soft spot for miniature donkeys, especially ones looking as sweet as our little Dong. Any chance you could do ‘something’ with the donkey for the TV guys? I’ll leave you with the problem.
“Sure Boss,” returned Joe, as he got onto his crutches. “ I’ll think about it. Right now I’d best get some practice on my banjo, ‘cause I know she likes a good bit of the ole music from down South.”
Zorba picked up the cat and followed Joe back to the garage.
From within the old monkey’s cage Bibo, the cat, gave Joe such a sly wink.
“Don’t worry about Dong,” the cat Bibo said sweetly. ”Dong’s Chinese and I’ve told him what to do this afternoon with our other friend Nizame, the goat, when RD Larson comes visiting.”
As the banjo came to life in Joe’s hands, the strange looking cat started juggling the apples. Immediately children crossed the street, tumbled out of cars and dragged their parents along to gaze at the strangest looking Persian cat in Warwick.
As Joe relaxed and his fingers zipped across the chords he thought about his change of fortune. For once in the last ten years, good fortune smiled on a cripple. He’d money in his pocket and a job, a new boss, not forgetting the cat who was the weirdest friend a guy could have.
Every so often the cat stuck its tongue out at him as it juggled. Joe grinned back and played faster still. It was while he was getting up to speed with his banjo playing, his wife Cilla walked by. Joe stopped and explained. He passed over the 100 dollars. Her wide –open smile said it all.
”I just met Zorba, your boss too,” Cilla returned. “He says he wants us to move into this log cabin and make it our own. So push over Joe and let me sit alongside you.” Joe suddenly noticed the “Stumpy” T-shirt she was wearing as she sank into the second rocking chair.
“Welcome to our new home, Joe. There’s a full sized kitchen back there, so I’ll fix us something to eat later,” Cilla continued.
Joe smiled back without saying anything. His smile betrayed his inner happiness as he looked at the crowds wandering past, the children gazing at the animals in the safari at ‘Zorba’s Flying Circus’ in wonder. Dong and Nizame were playing to the audience , keeping them entertained. Up in the trees the birds twittered away. When Joe stopped playing for a moment he heard the clapping. He felt elated, so he leant across to give his wife a kiss, and this time it was ‘he’ who winked …at the cat.
***
Cilla baked an apple pie in the kitchen of the log cabin. The smell of cooking drew in the animals. Joe sat in the kitchen, a large slice of apple pie on his plate when the door opened and Dong and Nizame trotted in.
“See we’ve got visitors,” Cilla announced and looked for some food in the cupboards to feed Dong and Nizame. Joe smiled back at her as he watched the animals. A slight sound drew his attention and then to his surprise Bibo stalked in.
“My favourite,” Bibo said with a very loud purr. Cilla looked astonished as Joe made the introductions.
“Pleased to meet you, Cilla,” Bibo said. ”More pleased when you cut me some of that southern country apple pie, just so I can see if I like it.
Cilla laughed back. So many strange things happened that day; a talking Persian cat with blue eyes and the striped legs of a zebra seemed the least of her worries.
Eventually all the apple pie got eaten and the ‘gang’ returned to their work. But not before Bibo confided to Joe about plans for the TV shoot that very afternoon.
“I’ve decided we’re going put on a display for the TV guys,” Bibo said. You play your banjo, strum something like the song that has ‘riding on a donkey” in its title. You know the one I mean. Joe did and let fly with some clever finger work.
“Excellent,” Bibo congratulated. “Now just when you start playing Dong will come out and do three laps around the area in front of the cabin. When Dong stops Nizame will whip out of the safari area and jump on his back. And then I’ll jump up on Nizame’s back. Should look quite spectacular. A donkey, a goat and a cat all working together.”
Later on in the afternoon the camera team arrived, and the filming started. Zoba strutted around welcoming his guests to the opening of his new garage. He delight at having a celebrity like RD Larson at the opening ceremony knew no bounds. With one hand he passed her a pair of large scissors to cut the red ribbon and with the other hand he passed her a glass of champagne. As she finished the champagne and started on a piece of golden crusted apple pie made by Cilla, the display by the animals started.
Dong, the miniature donkey, trotted into the area in front of the cabin where Joe sat looking so relaxed, with his clean face and a fresh shirt. He held the banjo and started playing as Dong began doing his circles, circus style. The onlooker clapped with delight and the children watching gasped with excitement, enjoying every moment.
Suddenly the goat Nizame skipped into the arena and quickly leapt onto Dong’s back. The strong little donkey carried on trotting. But the excitement wasn’t over. Bibo the cat strutted in, tail in the air with a smile so wide it could have taken a small car. Bibo stopped, bowed to the audience even as Joe cranked up the tempo. Then like a trained acrobat Bibo leapt up to land on the goat’s back. Bibo waved to his fans and started juggling the apples again.
Then out of nowhere a large fat pigeon fluttered down off the sign saying “Zorba’s Flying Circus” and landed on Bibo’s head.
As Joe finished playing and the animals lined up for a curtain call the audience clapped quite loudly.
Just as the clapping died away Joe heard RD Larson say: ”Wonderful. Wonderful. Now Zorba, dear I must buy your cute Dong the donkey from you. My daughter is in love with the adorable rascal. Can we arrange something? And Cilla, when they deliver Dong to me make sure you send me at least half a dozen of your apple pies.”
Joe picked up the banjo and played again. He was happy and so was Cilla with her firm orders for more apple pies. Bibo was now in good company and dear Dong was going to be spoilt by a real loving ffamily.
All the animals felt tearful but maybe now the scars on Dong’s back could truly heal, even if he never flew again with ‘Zorba’s Flying Circus’.
The End