Horses, cows, monkeys, foxes, zebras, goats, birds ... so many creatures were already milling around chatting, waiting to see if the exuberant announcements of the little leopard cub could really be true. Had the gifts really taken on such a tremendous weight that Miraclenanada's crew could not lift them? And, if so, how were some little cubs going to be able to heave them along to the spot where the leopard cub had told the animals to gather?
"Look!" said a chestnut horse. "That little leopard was telling the truth!"
The creatures turned and saw the cubs and children coming along with some chests. They were carrying them so easily the creatures thought for a moment that the chests must be empty, but then they remembered the leopard cub had said the trunks' grew heavy when Arunchala-Siva wanted them to ... presumably they could also turn very light if He wanted this.
As each creature reached the front of the line, the little boy who had been a witness at the prosperity puja and similar events would name the gift to the cubs, who would hand the item back.
Some of the creatures took their gift back and said they were going to donate it to the ashram so it could be sold and the money used for food or printing books. "I never expected to see this again," said a zebra. "It would bring me more joy to feed some sadhus with this than take it home ... I got along fine without it these last few weeks." Other badly needed their money back, and rushed off to pay recent debts. Some wanted their treasures turned into medicines for the new hospital.
Only one false claim was made. Tirucub's ears began twitching when he saw the hippos in the line. "They never went to Miracleananda!" whispered Arunacub. "Let alone gave him a gift."
When Crumple and Rumple's cousin Dodo reached the front of the line, he said in a very important voice, "I donated Rs 100,000, and a diamond necklace, and 50 gold bangles," unlike the others who had quietly waited to see what was being returned to them.
The little witness-boy looked at Dodo carefully. The cubs held their breath.
"When did you donate those things?" asked the little boy. He looked puzzled. Indeed, he was racking his brain to remember this young hippo ... thinking back to the prosperity puja, and other events when Miracleananda had promised all sorts of things in exchange for gifts, including stopping sulking and coming out of his room. How glad I am I only pretended to drink that awful drink Miracleananada's closest devotees kept giving people, thought the little boy. But even though my memory feels so crisp and clear, I cannot remember this hippo!
"I donated them in a private interview I had with Miracleananda," said the hippo.
The little boy remembered how Miracleananada was always shouting that people were deceiving him, and letting him down. The boy could not bear to say the suggest the hippo was being dishonest. He saw the cubs were not moving a paw toward the chests, so he dipped his own hand in and took out the only diamond necklace left, hoping it did not really belong to someone further back in the line.
At first he thought the necklace had somehow bonded with the bottom of the chest. Then he realised it had grown so heavy he could not lift it. He tried to pick up some bangles ... thin as they looked, they might have weighed 300 kilos each! The money was just as immovable.
All four cubs buried their faces in their paws and turned away, trying not to iksplode with laughter.
Seeing what was happening, Dodo turned around and waddled off in a huff, his aunt close behind him, saying, "Oh Dodo! Imagine that boy not giving you back your treasures! The nerve! Life can be so unfair!"
Soon all the items were returned to their rightful owners.
Tiru looked up at the sun and shouted, "Uncle Annamalai's lunch!" and carrying the empty chests, the cubs and children rushed back to the cave.
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