The Elephant Vanishes

I think the story represents a man going through adulthood and watching the elephant was his only way to escape. In the beginning we learn that at breakfast he enjoys reading a newspaper. This simple routine is more or less a sign of being a grown up as it shows that adults are occupy with the news, something that is factual (in most cases) and not always fun to read. For some reason, he revealed that he keeps all the clippings about the missing elephant. Later on, we understand the reason for collecting stories of the elephant: he has a special attachment to it. He use to observe the elephant during the elephant's private time and saw how different it was compared to when it was spectacle for people to look at. In his intimate moments, the elephant doesn't have the blank stare the narrator spoke of but he's rather affectionate towards his keeper. Maybe one reason why the narrator likes to see these moments is because he lacks that relationship in his "pragmatic life." His life based on logic and reason. (One example is how he clearly lists the problems the town has with having the elephant and the benefits, as if the elephant is like those "kit-chin" products he sells). His life is also lonely which can be a symptom of adulthood. He lacks that "e the special warmth" and "sense of trust" the keeper and the elephant displayed. The mundane activities of going to work and finding entertainment in newspapers can be pretty boring. Moreover, he doesn't seem to have a wife or companion. He finds a potential one at work but it fails and afterwards he seems to be even more pragmatic as it makes him successful at work. Instead of approaching life in an adventurous and somewhat naive way, he sticks to what sells which is unity. In adulthood and moreover the business-world unity is important. People must wear basic attire to be professional, aka, no special colors that stand out, nothing that expresses individuality. People hide their true emotions (just as the keeper and the elephant did when in the public eye) via professional language and conduct. You are forced to do things even if it's in vain and holds no true meaning, as when the lady was writing down things as the narrator spoke about his company's product but she showed little interest. She nodded and scribbled things in a small notebook, but it was obvious that she had little interest. As he said, "Both of us were doing our jobs."

The elephant as mentioned before represents the narrator's escape from adulthood and therefore the pragmatism that follows. However, it's vanishment represents why the world is pragmatic. The world would rather deal with issues that can be solved rather than have an incomplete problem. When the elephant's disappearance occurred, it was all over the news. It's mysterious vanishment confused people as there were many unexplained things such as the steel trap being locked and the keys being in its place. But as time passed and as it never showed up, people seemed to either get bored or tired with the fact that it was unsolved. Therefore, the story wasn't as popular for it to be printed. Since the mystery did not have desired results piled with the fact that it's disappearance did not make sense, remembering the story wasn't pragmatic. As the narrator plunges more into adulthood he no longer feels comforted by elephant but by what makes sense. 

Question: Towards the middle of the story, the narrator mentions that the old keeper enjoyed the presence of the children, but they never seemed to warmed to him. The only living thing that did was the elephant. Why do you think that is?