Every morning, promptly at ten o’clock, Amira, wife of co-owner, Raj, waves her pastel, pink and green feather duster over the merchandise. These feather dusters, fabricated in Bali, are currently on sale for two dollars. Just to the right of the entrance door stands a four-foot tall brass elephant, weighing close to a hundred pounds. Ears spread and trunk raised, it is an imposing animal. The elephant is positioned so that it diagonally faces the counter on which the cash register rests. This glistening animal is not for sale, and Amira takes great care to see that not a mote of dust takes residence on it.

One early morning, minutes after opening, a man entered the store and immediately drew a pistol from his jacket pocket. Waving the weapon in the air and yelling at Raj and Amira to stand still where they were, he moved to the register and hit the “no sale” key. The drawer sprung open and he reached across the counter to fill his fist with money. Raj was standing about three feet away, with his back to the counter drawer in which his own revolver was kept. Amira was nearby, folding striped cotton towels in the first aisle.

The agitated thief began to back away from the register, intent on leaving the store. His eyes were glazed and unfocused. Tremors caused his pistol to vibrate dangerously. He muttered incoherent phrases to himself as he moved toward the door. It was clear to Raj that the man was on drugs, and this made the thief even more of a threat. Raj turned sideways, putting the drawer by his right hand. Amira had hardly moved a muscle since the robber entered the store. Then, the unexpected happened.

The thief backed into the outstretched trunk of the large elephant. He froze. Raj, at once grasped the situation and ordered, “Don’t shoot!” Then to the robber he said, “Just drop the gun, sir, and he will not shoot you.” He calmly opened the drawer and withdrew his own weapon. Since that day, the brass elephant has been a revered member of the family.