Arlo the Alligator Boy

- -

- -Hey, what's drifting over there?

You guys seeing this?

- -

- -

- -

- -

Who dat?

- -Well, rickety biscuit.

Arlo, don't you go too far!

- -Don't you go messing around

-near those riverboats again. -

Come on, Jeromio.

Hoo!

Hup!

How's everybody doing on this fine, swampy day?

- -

Must be shedding season.

Do any of you care to join me in a song?

- -

Well, you're about to.

-Oh! -

You hear that, Jeromio? Let's go take a peek.

Well, I know I'm not supposed to,

but what old Edmee doesn't know won't hurt her.

Fine. Suit yourself.

- -

Whoo!

- -Oh, yeah!

Mama! Mama! There's a little green boy in the swamp over there!

-He's right over there! -

Now, Sansavelt,

-don't you go telling tales again. -

The world out there must be something, hey, Jeromio?

- Arlo! - Uh-oh.

-Bye, Jeromio! -

Got it!

Oh, snap!

Arlo!

Arlo!

-Now, where can that little gator boy be? -

- -Ah, there's my little chef.

-Now, what'd you find for tonight's stew? -

Only the best.

Snails, huh? I thought you hated snails.

Escargot. I'm trying to be, um…

more Cajun.

Mmm.

Nice and plump.

Yeah. I spent all afternoon tracking that fella.

Of course you did. Did you make sure this one's ripe?

What do you mean?

Well, you gotta taste his underbelly. Every swamp chef knows that.

- -

Oh…

- -

Go on now.

A Frenchman would bite your hand off for that ripe fella.

- -

Mm-hmm!

Tastes like all the things it's been sliding around on.

I have to give it to you, Arlo.

You are committed.

So, tell me. How many riverboats did you see today?

Just one.

Mm-hmm.

A little boy saw me, though.

I mean, I wasn't trying to cause a fuss or anything like that. I just…

- -Is something wrong with me?

- -Arlo, there is everything right with you.

And if anybody ever says otherwise, well…

But still,

I've been in this swamp my whole life,

and the animals don't ever seem to take to me.

And then, I'm not supposed to be out there near those boats and…

Don't get me wrong. I love the swamp. I do. But…

You were just doing what comes natural to anybody your age.

-You want to see what's out there. -

Yeah, I guess so.

It's just, sometimes I wonder how I fit into the big old picture.

Well, now,

go ahead and set this old snail loose.

There's something I've been meaning to give you for a while.

Now, I know I put that somewhere

around here.

No. That's not it. Nope. What the heck.

Could have sworn I put--

Aha!

-Well, what is it? -A gift.

I shouldn't.

Sure you can. I'm gifting it to you.

You know I can't accept gifts unless it's my birthday.

It wouldn't be proper.

Maybe I'll just hold on to this

-till next year. -

Seriously?

You gonna make me do this?

Please?

Okay.

- -You shouldn't have.

Oh, yeah!

Forty-two!

Ah!

-Cajun life! -

-Whoo-hoo! Whoo! -

Happy birthday, darling baby boy.

I love that! Okay, I'm ready for my gift.