So, I've been pushing around an idea for a story series about two lizards (when ChaCha was younger, she claimed there were two lizards who lived in her head) who travel to different locations/historical areas. I've started a very rough first draft. Suggestions, comments, etc?
Rosabelle and Bonus are lizards. Medium sized green lizards. They are neither too big nor too small. They are neither too green nor too not green. In fact, they are just right lizards. They live in a cracker box in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Their cracker box is in the house of an unconventional lady named Madam. many ladies would mind having two lizards living in their house (or in a cracker box in their house) but not Madam. Madam has very tolerant views of lizards as roommates. As long as Rosabelle and Bonus keep their laundry out of floor and don’t listen to their music too loud, Madam enjoys their company.
Most days Rosabelle and Bonus dart around the French quarter eating the powdered sugar that drops off of people’s beignets and licking up drops of café au lait. They also listen. They listen to all the tourists, or people who are visiting New Orleans on vacation, talk about the places they’re from and all the wonderful things that can be found in those places. Occasionally, if the tourist’s homes sound very interesting, Rosabelle and Bonus will hop in the vacationers’ pockets and go home with them. The people don’t usually know the lizards are with them. Rosabelle and Bonus can be very discreet.
In this way, Rosabelle and Bonus, or R & B, as Madam calls them, have had many adventures. They have seen the Grand Canyon (which is both deep and wide), visited the horse farms of Kentucky (the grass isn’t really blue), been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in France (a very long climb for little lizard legs), and seen countless other marvels of the world (both foreign and domestic). After they’ve visited these exotic locales for a few days, they usually meander to the airport and find a person headed to Louisiana (that’s where New Orleans is) and hop in the traveler’s carry-on bags or pockets. When R & B get back to their cracker box, they have a nap and then spend time in their house. No matter how much they enjoy their travels, there’s no place like home.
On this particular day, R & B will not have to leave New Orleans to have a great adventure. It is the beginning of Mardi Gras, or the three day Carnival celebration, that leads up to Ash Wednesday, a religious observance that commences the Lenten season. Before Louisiana, and New Orleans within it, was part of the United States, it was settled by people from France. The French brought their traditions and festivities to the new territory with them. Rosabelle and Bonus have good reason to be excited; one of the most popular and most fun traditions the French introduced was Mardi Gras.
Imagine, if you can, the biggest, loudest, sparkliest, foodiest, most fantastic party you have ever been to. Then, combine that with parades, dancers, and lots and lots of music. If you do that, then imagine it ten times bigger, you might be able to dream of the adventure R & B are having.
As our lizard friends roam through the French Quarter, they are amazed by all the green, gold, and purple decorations. These are the traditional colors of Mardi Gras and stand for faith, power, and justice; three very important things.
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