Ending clarification?

[Carly]

Can someone set the story straight about what happened during the elephant trampling?

[Bobby]

**MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!! DO NOT READ UNTIL YOU FINISH THE BOOK!!**

So I'm assuming you finished the book and really know the truth of the big twist in the ending. In that case, I'm going to be as vague as possible in case someone who hasn't read the book or reached the ending yet, and would like to, won't be spoiled as much.

The elephant trampling never happened back on the night of the tragedy. The tragedy was not Nevvie's death from an elephant trampling her. It was because of Alice who did 'that' to her because Nevvie did you know what. Nevvie did the you know what because of what Alice has done in the first place. To me, it all circles back to revenge for a number of reasons (that are also spoilers). An elephant however was present during the massacre, which is why one of the last scenes is present and the symbol and theme of elephants are present.

I hope this makes sense!

[The Lotus Readers]

I thought maybe the elephant did something because of what had been said earlier about them recognising Jenna as non-threatening when she was a baby and I vaguely remember a bit where it said elephants reacted emotionally in other stressful situations. So, if Alice was responding in anger and grief I thought the elephant might have picked up on that.