The figurines had not failed, and bore no connection to his troubles. Others could keep their superstitious beliefs about pachyderm statues. He simply liked elephants.
For instance, he had not placed trumpeting elephants by the bed to ensure passion and fertility. No, they just complemented the wood. Factors outside the bedroom had ruined their love life and prevented the reconciling balm of a child.
Nor had he clustered pachyderm statues near his desk to guarantee flowing wealth. His management position at the local Toys “R” Us should have handled that. He did, however, find the pachyderms calming during the holiday retail rush. Not that he would face that problem this year. (Maybe he should have tried giraffe statues.)
And he certainly had not put his favorite tusker near the door to make sure only good fortune passed through. He wished that figurine could have helped, or at least warned him before his wife’s rich ex had snuck back in. Had he placed the big elephant facing the wrong direction?
Now, sadly, both he and the elephants were headed out that same door. Superstition had nothing to do with it, though he wondered if he’d missed the signs. Surely not. How did that old saying go? That’s right. Elephants never portend.