I Dreamed of Elephants

Summary

The narrator dreams of an elaborate wedding for their brother, featuring elephants, swans, and leopards, only to be told no wild animals will be included.

Abstract

In a whimsical dream sequence, the narrator is thrilled to read a wedding manual suggesting the use of elephants in various roles for their brother's wedding. Despite their excitement and inquiries about elephants, swans, and leopards, the brother insists on no wild animals at the ceremony. The narrator humorously persists, even suggesting domesticated elephants as a compromise.

Opinions

The narrator is amused and possibly intrigued by the idea of incorporating exotic animals into the wedding ceremony.
The brother appears to be practical and uninterested in including animals in the wedding, regardless of how unique or grand the ideas may be.
The narrator is determined and creative, attempting to find a loophole by suggesting domesticated elephants after wild animals were ruled out.

No wonder I write

I dreamed my brother was getting married. As I read the manual he’d been given for arranging his wedding, I was very excited to see there were multiple places for elephants in the ceremony.

“Are you renting an elephant?”

“No.”

“Are you arriving by elephant? Leaving by elephant? Proceeding down the aisle on an elephant?”

“No. We’re not having an elephant.”

I flipped to the next page in the manual.

“It says if you don’t use an elephant, you can arrive in a boat drawn by two white swans. Are you getting swans?”

“No.”

I turned the page.

“Well, if you’re not using an elephant or swans, you can have a chariot pulled by a pair of leopards. Are you — ?”

“No! There will be no wild animals at our wedding!”

Pause. Think.

“What about domesticated elephants?”