The Elephant In The Room

Sila's parents, Alp and Oya, moved from Turkey to the United States 15 years ago. Alp is Kurdish, a minority group in Turkey, and was once involved in political activism which led to his imprisonment. In Turkey, he worked as a mechanical engineer, but in the US, he works as a mechanic. Alp is known for his considerate nature and often presents his thoughts as questions.

After Oya's departure, Alp struggles to navigate the challenges of raising Sila alone. Sila notices a shift in her father's demeanor as he becomes more preoccupied with potential disasters. However, as the story progresses, Alp works on overcoming his worries, eventually allowing Sila to take on a job at Gio's farm over the summer despite his initial concerns.

While Oya is not frequently seen in the story, her presence is deeply felt by her husband and daughter. She worked as a housekeeper at The Grand Hotel for 14 years until she was fired for speaking up about unequal pay between men and women. Despite being apart from her family, Oya expresses her love by knitting numerous sweaters for Alp and Sila while in Turkey. Upon her return to the US, she takes on a new role as an advisor on employee rights at the Bureau of Labor and Industries.

Together, Oya and Alp serve as the pillars of support for Sila. Their support and courage shape Sila into the intelligent and considerate person she becomes throughout the story.

Giovanni (Gio) Gardino, nearing 70 years old, has mostly gray hair, a full white beard, and a fondness for bright, often clashing, colors. Formerly a carpenter at Chinook Modular Housing, Gio's life changed dramatically when he and 24 coworkers won the lottery. Using his winnings, Gio purchased a sprawling 2,000-acre farm. Despite his newfound wealth and security, Gio struggles with profound loneliness, especially since the passing of his wife, Lillian, over four years ago. He played the lottery and bought the farm as a tribute to Lillian, fulfilling her wishes even after her death.

Despite his own struggles, Gio is remarkably empathetic, immediately recognizing Sila's sadness and loneliness. This empathy gives him a renewed sense of purpose, motivating him to reach out and help Sila. Purchasing Veda, the circus elephant, is one way Gio tries to impact Sila's life positively, but he also finds solace in caring for the animal and helping others. Throughout the story, Gio shifts from a lonely, isolated man to part of a larger community. In caring for Veda, Gio establishes new business ventures and connections. He changes from a man who does not feel needed to one that several people depend on. 

Lillian Gardino, Gio's late wife, was a beloved second-grade teacher known for her deep care for her students. She kept a binder of student work for each year she taught, including the last year, which included Sila and Mateo's class. Though Lillian has passed away before the story begins, her memory influences the characters profoundly. Gio is mainly motivated by thoughts of Lillian, finding purpose and inspiration in fulfilling her wishes. Lillian's impact extends beyond Gio, as her kind words comfort Sila during her lowest moments, guiding and influencing the actions of those around her even after her death.

Mateo Lopez, Sila's classmate and neighbor, has lived just a few blocks away from her since kindergarten. Despite attending the same school for years, Sila knows little about him beyond the fact that he is "the quietest kid in the whole school" (61). However, she remembers that Mateo used to be more talkative before third grade. Sila learns that Mateo has autism, which makes it challenging for him to connect with his peers and engage in social interactions.

While Mateo struggles with communication, he excels in his interactions with animals, showing great affection toward his dog, Waffles. Despite his difficulties with social interactions, Mateo demonstrates a strong sense of justice, standing up for Sila when she faces pressure from a teacher about her choice to wear a sweater despite the warm weather.

Highly intelligent, Mateo has a keen interest in specific topics like animals and gravity, often conducting in-depth research on subjects that fascinate him. He works hard to hide certain behaviors associated with autism to make things easier for those around him, but he yearns for connection and understanding: “Mateo had feelings and thoughts and ideas about everything. In the past he had found that they were often ignored or treated as meaningless by people who didn’t understand how he expressed himself” (178). Mateo finds a safe space with Sila to express himself without fear of judgment. This friendship allows Mateo to finally speak and share his thoughts and ideas, providing space for him to be himself. 

Mateo's mother, Rosa Lopez, is a labor attorney who is fiercely protective of her son. She advocates for his needs at school while encouraging him to engage more with the world around him. Rosa plays multiple roles in the narrative, emphasizing the themes of family and community support. Additionally, her profession allows her to aid the Tekin family, highlighting the interconnectedness of the characters' lives and the ripple effect's impact. As a mother figure, Rosa, along with other maternal characters like Oya and Mahdi, underscores the significant role of motherhood throughout the story.

Chester Briot, the ringleader of the Briot Family Circus, is a cunning con man seeking to unload his problems at a profit. Despite his flashy appearance and charismatic demeanor, Chester's actions reveal his disregard for the well-being of the animals under his care. He sells Veda to Gio for a hefty sum without ensuring proper facilities for her and dumps the problematic bear, Mr. Pickles, on Gio as well. Chester's callousness toward the animals is evident in his failure to provide routine veterinary care and his forged documents indicating otherwise. His swift departure after selling Veda underscores his selfish motives and lack of genuine concern for the animals' welfare.

Chester's character represents the systemic issues within traveling circuses and zoos, where owners often exploit animals for profit without regard for their physical and emotional needs. Despite claiming to treat his animals with kindness, Chester's actions demonstrate the harsh reality of many captive animals subjected to constant movement and inadequate care: "He and his circus believed that they were kind enough to the four-legged members of the troupe, but they still needed a metal hook and electric prods or whips when running their show" (50). 

Ultimately, the author's portrayal of Chester Briot serves as a commentary on the ethical dilemmas surrounding animal exploitation and the consequences faced by those prioritizing profit over compassion. Chester's eventual downfall and haunting nightmares about his mistreatment of Veda serve as a reminder of the lasting impact of cruelty and exploitation.

Veda, the 22-year-old Asian elephant, is depicted as a graceful and intelligent creature with dark brown eyes adorned with long lashes. Despite her petite stature, weighing just over 5,000 pounds while Asian elephants average between 6,000 to 12,0000 pounds, Veda's small size belies her resilient spirit and inner strength. However, her diminutive stature may be attributed to inadequate nutrition and her early separation from her mother at the tender age of 20 months—a time when Asian elephant calves typically rely on their mothers for nourishment and guidance. Asian elephants typically nurse until they are at least four and do not leave their mothers until they are at least eight, though most female Asian elephants never leave their mother's herd. 

Raised in captivity and sold to the Briot Family Circus at a young age, Veda's early years are marked by deprivation and hardship. The oppressive environment of the circus, characterized by constant travel and unnatural performances, took a toll on Veda's physical and emotional well-being. Forced to perform painful and unnatural stunts at the persuasion of a bullhook or electric cattle prod, Veda harbored a deep-seated mistrust of her circus handlers, yearning for freedom and a sense of belonging.

Veda's arrival at Gio's farm marks a turning point—a sanctuary where she finds solace and companionship. Initially timid and wary, Veda follows Gio everywhere after she first arrives. Veda gradually acclimates to her new surroundings, forging a bond with Gio and Sila, who offer her kindness and understanding. As she explores her newfound freedom, Veda reclaims her autonomy, creating her own oasis with a pond and embracing her role as a beloved farm member. As she learns about her new environment, Veda realizes, "[T]he most important things were the wise man making decisions about her life and the young girl who came to visit […] she had been released from prison into a world of kindness" (169). Veda's journey toward healing reaches its pinnacle when her mother, Mahdi, arrives. The long-awaited reunion with her maternal figure brings Veda a sense of closure and reaffirms the enduring power of love and connection.