"'And we talk too', I like it! You are secretly funny." I said accusingly. Who would've guessed? I liked the surprise all the better that way.

She giggled appreciatively. "Not a stick-in-the-mud?" Her attitude was coolly amused. It threw me off a bit.

"Well, I wouldn't…"

"Say it…say it" it was playfully encouraging.

"Alright, you're not exactly…" I was grumbling in resentence.

"I can't hear you. I'm sorry, what?" Putting a hand to her earless head.

"A complete stick deep in the mud…" I made it sound painful to say. She giggled again and we smiled.

"ARRGH!" in shock, we turned to see Louis, on his stomach, having Ray get those prickly things off his rear.

"Easy! EASY!" the unhappy gator was in pain, holding back curses and tears.

Ray looked apologetic." oh, cher, I know we got to get to Mama Odie's lickety split but this particular extratification gonna take some time, ya."

Tiana went to stroke the trumpeter's huge nose."Oh, poor Louis."

"Ya know what would make me feel better? MERCY! Crawfished smothered in at uefa -HOLY-! With banana foster, sprinkled in pralines –oh MAMA!"

Tiana found a pumpkin while Louis placed his order.

Tiana- "How bout a swamp gumbo?"

Louis was more than supportive. Hey, if she was in the cooking mood then it would be bad manners of me to ignore her. I laid back; not wanting to get in her way, of course.

"Sounds delicious, I'll have a cocktail and something to nibble on (I laid back, and placed my feet on a nearby mushroom) while I wait, thanks".

"Oh no, no, no, no. Your Royal Highness, (she pulled my feet up and gave me a little sharp object)you are going to mince these mushrooms."

"Do what what now?" She couldn't be serious! She hopped up a bush and left me to…mince….

"Hop to it!" She demanded in the most demeaning way. I mumbled a protested but there was no result in it. Frustrated, I poked at the mushroom. Mince- what a vicious word. While it took time, mental, personal , and inner strength I cut half way through the mushroom. Wiping away the sweat, I cut the while bottom off. "One."

I heard a phoosh, and turned to see Tiana had craved the top out of the pumpkin and started a neat fire. "Step aside, mister"

She pushed me aside, "Watch. And learn." She chopped the mushrooms sixty times faster than I imagined possible. And with her pretty brown eyes closed. It was astonishing. She grabbed my arms from the back. Holding my arms and synchronizing the chopping in a slower but efficient way. Her hands were firm but comforting. I continued even when she let me go. "There ya go".

It was awkward doing this, a little embarrassing. Not that mincing was shameful, me doing it feebly- I felt out of my element. "You know, I've- I've never done anything like this before."

Tiana gathered up the mushrooms bits, smiled and said "Really?" sarcastic but not harsh. We were on a peaceful compromise now.

"oh alright. But when you live in a palace everything is done for you (remembering my days of pampering were bittersweet) they feed you, they clothe you, drive you (everything for years- incredible) brush your teeth".

She was stirring the pumpkin and gave me an ironic pity look."Aww, poor baby."

"I admit it was charmed life (I finished the mushroom; I did nothing for years and enjoyed it…) until the day my parents cut me off and I realized…I don't know how to do anything".

it was the most depressing day of my life. I guess I was what Tiana had accused me of. She was never wrong, just a little too quick to see through me than I was use to. Tiana had chopping, Louis had his Trumpet and Ray had his quirky good-heart.

"Well hey (she said in a more hopeful than smug tone), you got the making of a decent mushroom-mincer." She smiled and threw a single chop at me. She was showing her sympathetic side again.

"Oh, you think so?" it was optimistic idea. Better than where I was a week ago.

"Keep it up and I just might hire you." She meant for her future restaraunt.

If she kept being funny that wouldn't be so bad. Maybe even fun. " Really?"

"No." she laughed.

"Ohh, now what was that? That was below the froggy belt" Yes, she could be very fun.

…………………….

My taste-buds went through a spiral of spiced flavors then a side-trip to paradise. Louisiana had momentous, original, tasty food- nothing I tried compared to Tiana's gumbo. She had talent….magical, fabulous talent…it was like she knew how to symphonize herbs and spices to reach their full potential. You could taste all her care, imagination and effort. It was almost like a religious experience- the flavor revealed and erased all sins of the world.

I was thinking this in my dazzled mind, half aware of the others. Ray was telling the other a story about his uncle's neighbor's cousin twice removed and her trip to somewhere or other. Hearing the laughter I assumed it was funny. It probably was, but the joke could not compare with the very yummy gumbo. Louis agreed with my ponderings, subconsciously, as he licked his sharp claws.

"Who wants seconds?" Tiana asked, enjoying the share of her heavenly stew.

"That was magifnicant (giving her my bowl) you truly have a gift" I said honestly.

She looked surpirsed, flattered then sheepish that I gave her a compliment. Maybe just a compliment at all. "Why, thank you." She said while pouring her own bowl into mine.

Ray gasped; we turned to see him ascending, looking dizzy.

"There she is the sweetest firefly in all creation…"

"Evangline?" Tiana asked eagerly.

Tiana and I hopped closer to the pound that Ray was heading. I didn't see anything, though I honestly wanted to see the little bug to win dear Ray's sanity.

"I wanna meet this girl" Louis said between slurs of licking the remains of his bowl. "Where she at?"

"How ya can miss her? She's glowin right up there in fronta ya?" he was aimed towards the sky. there was a very bright single light but it wasn't a bug of Louisiana. Ray was looking towards the brightest star in the whole sky. he started singing a devoted song to the bright dot. It couldn't be true but….looking at Tiana's stunned expression confirmed my thoughts. Singular-infatuation made good men fools.

"Ha! (Louis noticed the truth too, couldn't let Ray know that) that ain't no fire- ( smack/ the acorn I threw)". He looked down at me. I shushed him. Ray was too decent a guy to crush.

As Tiana looked at for help, I shrugged at her. All men in love were fools so why would this situation any sillier? He seemed happy singing to his silent beloved; isn't that the point of life? Indulgencing even if it's misplaced?

" J'adore." Ray said fervently.

"I adore you." I told Tiana, keeping her updated.

"Je t'aime."

"I love you," I told her equaling Ray's enthusiasm. She gave me a reproached look.

She was assuming the worst! "Just translating." I explained virtuously.

"You're my queen of the night (he kissed the pound's reflection) so still, so bright (it was tender little song) someone as beautiful as she, could love someone like me…"

Tiana looked affectionately at Ray's tune. She looked tender. And lovely…the whole situation was, really. It was the type of atmosphere for a waltz. I thrived on women in that mood- it was a delicious feeling from time to time.

Me were sitting a frog pose on a lily pad, I took her by the hand to put us in standing position. I placed her hand on my arm and grabbed her waist, in the most modest way. She pulled away- insulting, but we were past confrontation- I pulled her closer.

"Oh no, I don't dance"

Excuses, I pulled her close again. She jumped away to another lily pad. Turned away from me, curled and defensive, she whispered "I've never danced before".

She really didn't get fun. Her helplessness was endearing. I grabbed the vine connecting to her lily pad and pulled her to me again. "If I can mince (putting her in a dance position again) you can dance."

She was wiggly, twisting this amateur was fun. Louis started playing his trumpet, improving the mood. Dancing on water (well a lily pad on water) was new. It was rather cool. Seeing her smile and twist was…nice.

Ray flew round the pink blossoms, illuminating them. It was nice, but I wanted something freer. I jumped into the water, pulling tiana with me gently, and we danced underwater.

It was weightless. Easy. Tiana was an amateur dancer but she had a flow to her. A rhythm while I twirled her. Her essence was purely exquisite. The lights and shades of the water changed. Soft , sweet pink to respectable jade. Jade resembled Tiana's coloring more than mine. Green was starting to be my favorite color.

We twirled; I tugged her closer then danced to the bottom then ricochet high; practically jumping to the moon. My partner was buoyant so it was possible. Descending back to earth, we gently slide down a plaid of grass, not breaking our harmony.

I dipped her, she look at me with glistening eyes. She did look lovely. This was usually the time during my wooing I'd kiss my pretty partner. Tiana; anarchistic attitude, righteous principles and adorable determination….a kiss wouldn't offend our dear friendship. She held my face in her tiny hand- encouragement that she wanted it too. We leaned in, into a blissful moment.

She was making the moment linger, how whimsical of her....then I heard a nervous laugh. Felt her hands on my chest, opened my eyes to see a sheepish Tiana.

She laughed awkwardly, thinking this was inappropriate for friends. I laughed on her behalf; this flet nice for friends. Friends seemed like deviant word...

"Lottie's getting herself one heck of a dance partner," Tiana reminding me of my betrothed was depressing. Marrying Ms. La Bouf wasn't squashing my freedom, more like my insides. Tiana took my hands off her body, they stung. He inched away from me, it stung harder. "We best be pressin' on"

Towards the boring married-life I didn't want; really didn't want Tiana rejecting me. It wasn't that is hurt my pride, it hurt....something. She hopped away. I tried to protest...protest what?

Protest a wealthy life I was destined for? My human form again? A woman rejecting to kiss me? Just one woman; a friend...that word made me depressed again. I looked down at my feet, confused at this insecurity of not winning the affection of one pretty woman. I was losing my hold on reality; even saw a shadow move. Then felt a hard tug.

The invisible force pulled me hard- a shadow! It was dragging me by the leg away fast. "Tiana!"

I was too panicked to think of why I called her instead of Louis, who was probably stronger. I grabbed on a large root but the force was stronger. I did notice Tiana (and the others) chasing after me but they were getting smaller-

SWOOPSH!

I dropped into the water. Sitting up I saw the shadow monsters getting zapped- by light? The shadows disintegrated in the instant. Catching my breathe I looked up at the huge figure in the fog. Long arms were coming from the shoulders of the tall square.

The fog shifted to show a small, wrinkled woman with a white turban, white dress and shining club.

"Not bad for a hundred-and-seventy-year-old blind lady" the sunglass-wearing woman said while twirling her sunny club. She blew out the light (it glowed like fire but didn't leave the club black).

"Now which one of you naught children been messin' with the Shadow man?" She asked :in an all-knowing, annoyed tone: as her glasses flickered light.

I knew somebody in behind was pointing at me. So I smiled my most beautiful, guilty smile.