Page 31 - The Gluckman Occasional Number Four

Talking quickly but calmly,
and in a very cultured voice,
the rodent told Arturo that he
was the distinguished stage
actor, Basil Ratbone. Basil
said that he had been
following the elephant’s career
from Hollywood, where he
was making television
commercials for processed
cheese spread. He loved
classical music, and was very
sad to see the brilliant young
maestro disappear from the
podium. On his return to New York, he happened to see an
elephant skulking through the alleys toward the Bowery. Basil
recognized Arturo from photographs in the newspaper, and decided
to follow the obviously disheartened pachyderm. When he realized
Arturo intended to commit suicide, he had run to the rescue.

But Arturo didn’t want to be rescued. He ordered Basil to climb
down and stand aside—unless he wanted to end up drowning, too.
The rat wouldn’t budge. “They say we rats will jump from a ship
that’s going to sink,” said Basil. “And it’s quite true. I just don’t
think you’re going to kill yourself over a little identity crisis.” And
Arturo did stop moving, for he had no desire to take the rat with
him into the East River.