February 10, 2013
6-6:20
Water for Elephants
Pages: 113-121

Back to the past, the train has finally reached Joliet. Kinko still acts coldly towards him and the rest of the workmen aren't doing much because the Fox Brothers circus is up. Uncle Al goes to greet two suited men who pull up and talks to them. August comes and tells Jacob that the men are city officials. He invites Jacob to come into town for breakfast with him and Marlena because the food won't come until tomorrow. Marlena is still upset about her horse getting fed to the cats. He gets mad the waitress but she says she is going as fast as she can. August thinks women are moody and it must be a full moon. They go back to the circus and the cookhouse flag is up but they're only cooking fried dough. Uncle Al is interviewing all the people from the Fox brothers circus to see if there's anyone he wants to hire. After Uncle Al has hired a few oddities, the men start to take down the other people's tents. The city officials have not taken inventory yet in the Fox Brother's baggage stock so uncle Al takes a few of their horses. Jacob sees that some farmers have the same idea. Jacob gets permission to use some water from a hydrant to water the horses and August gets mad but leaves. Later, trucks with lots of good appear and the cook can start cooking real food. They also bring good and supplies for the animals. Jacob shares a moment with an orangutan. August invites Jacob for a drink but Jacob says he needs to check in the other animals first. August says no because uncle Al might get mad and Jacob thinks this is ridiculous as it is so hot and they need water but August gets really mad and has a moment. Jacob finally gives in and August leaves. This one guy from the other circus asks Marlena for food but August tells her to keep moving. She gets up from the table and gives some food to the guy and August gets really mad and everybody turns to stare at him but they all applaud Marlena for her actions and August leaves. Jacob notices the differences in climate and the surroundings and sees kinko's dog queenie taking little dumps. He walks over and investigates and tells kinko to get her some honey to fix it which he agrees to.

It's sad how cruelly they treat the animals just so they get can keep their jobs and not anger uncle al. It's not right that people get fired for doing the right thing or just because the boss doesn't like something. However that's just the way things were/are. They are improving but some places are still really bad.

I was slightly distracted with tempus and therefore did not read as well as I could.