As usual, it was a scorching summer day in southern India. Hastin wiped the sweat from his forehead and wished for a cool breeze. He reached into his bag and pulled out a mango. He tore into the fleshy orange fruit with his teeth and wiped the juice from his chin. Sandos, his elephant, wandered over to Hastin. The elephant tried to swipe the mango from Hastin’s hand with his trunk. Hastin laughed and tore off a piece for his playful friend.

Hastin had a deep affection for his elephant. The two had been together since Hastin was eight years old and Sandos was two years old. In the five years they had been together, Sandos had grown to be one of the strongest elephants living in the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. Yet the elephant was always gentle with Hastin. Hastin had become very fond of his giant friend.

As Hastin and Sandos rested, they watched Hastin’s father clear a road with the mahouts, or elephant trainers, who worked on clearing the roads. The mahouts were working with their elephants to remove some trees that had been knocked into the road by wild elephants. The sanctuary where the mahouts and elephants worked and lived had many visitors. The roads needed to be clear so the visitors could drive safely through the park.

Hastin watched as the elephants moved the trees with their tusks. As he watched, he thought about becoming a mahout one day. However, there were few positions available. It would be difficult to become a mahout and get a job at the sanctuary. Hastin would have to prove to the head mahout that he could control an elephant before he would be considered for a position.

As a mahout, Hastin would work with the elephants, doing many jobs for the sanctuary. Besides moving trees, the mahouts and the trained elephants also worked to control wild elephants. The wild elephants sometimes wandered out of the sanctuary. They would go into the surrounding fields where the farmers had planted their crops. The farmers often called on the mahouts to take the wild elephants back to the sanctuary.

After Hastin had rested awhile, he heard several yells from the mahouts. “Hastin! Come quickly! I need you!” his father shouted to him. His call sounded urgent.

Hastin jumped up. “Dray, Sandos!” The elephant acknowledged the command by holding out its front foot. Hastin climbed the foot like a ladder and grabbed the chain collar around Sandos’s neck to pull himself up. “Hut!” Hastin said. As the elephant began moving forward, Hastin tucked his feet under the chain collar to keep from falling.

Hastin rode toward his father and immediately saw what the problem was. A jeep carrying food and supplies had hit a tree in the road. The jeep had rolled onto its side and was blocking the road. Nearby, other trained elephants, not quite strong enough to move the jeep, began to eat the spilled food as the confused driver walked to safety.

Hastin’s father looked at him. “Your elephant is one of the strongest. Now is the time to prove that you can be a mahout.”

Hastin knew that his father was right. Hastin took a deep breath. “Hut!” he said to Sandos with confidence in his voice. He led Sandos to the jeep. As Hastin gave the commands, the large elephant leaned its head against the side of the jeep and pushed. The jeep moved but not enough. Again Hastin gave the orders, and Sandos followed his commands. As the elephant pushed, the jeep slowly rolled back onto all four wheels.

 The other mahouts congratulated Hastin on a great job. The head mahout walked over to Hastin. “You have proved to me that you and Sandos are ready. Your training is complete. Beginning tomorrow, you will work with the other mahouts and elephants.”

Hastin smiled, feeling great joy in his heart. He and Sandos would finally be able to work alongside his father and the other mahouts. Hastin lay his body over Sandos’s head. He felt the strength of the leathery creature beneath him. He was glad that Sandos had followed his commands. He was also thankful for the friendship he had with Sandos. As Hastin and Sandos made their way back, they moved as one, elephant and mahout.