Almost there...
She was almost there, almost there back to her mama's house in her swap-like gown with her husband who happens to be a prince, she was riding on the back of a vastly large alligator, who she could still understand despite the spell put on her lover dissolved. She was thinking she had to go back to her old life, her life in the 1920s, her life working, her life with her mama, and her life with these laws that held her back for so long. It was sunny out and pretty quiet in the bayou, "Going down the bayou", made her think of Ray. She smiled thinking of the catching song the little bug sang to them. She began to hum the tones and Naveen immediately recognized the tone and smiled and looked at the bright sky, sighing remembering it was bright out. Soon land was ahead and the newlyweds stepped off of the alligators and onto land. "We'll see you around Louis," Tiana yelled and the couple waved the alligator.
"I'll see yall, Be careful now, you know how it is around here." His tones were worrisome but Tiana understood, they were human again and with that, the human problem would return as soon as they walked back into civilization. Tiana takes Naveen's hand and they begin to walk back into her hometown. They would have taken the Trolley but they would have been forced to the back, especially if no one recognized Naveen since his hair was ruffled up and not in the usually slicked back style he had it in. It was different and made a difference because no one noticed him since he had enough hair to cover his memorizing hazel eyes. His voice was very unique too, his accent, the grunts he made when he talked, the usual 'eh' 'yes' 'hm' here and there were unique to him. Naveen was aware of how this country operated and was disappointed his father sent him here to the south but the music was a distraction and was one of the best parts of the state. They walked through the richer part of the city and eventually made it back to Eudora's house. Tiana knocked on her mothers' door and she heard heavy and quick footsteps, the door opened and her mothers gasped, "Tiana Juda Brown. Where in the hell have you been and why are you dressed all fancy?" Her mother pulled the girl in for a tight hug, Eudora wasn't one to yell and fuss much but she did overthink and worry. "Mama."
"Yes, Baby?"
Tiana looks to her left at Naveen, in Eudora's POV she couldn't see him, Tiana reached out for his hand, Eudora looked at her daughter's hand, she watched a hand 4 times bigger than her baby girl hand place itself on hers. Tiana pulls the man into her mother's view. "Mama, this is Naveen, we are engaged." Silence. Then suddenly a cheerful yelp echoed through the neighborhood. Eudora pulls the couple in for a hug, "Come in, come in," They walk into the house. Tiana's smile was wide and so was Naveen's; he was just a little nervous, not of Eudora but Tiana's father. Tiana had told him that her father had changed in the past decade. He gave up his dream, after the war, he said he had outgrown it. Mama divorced him when Tiana turned 10 because of an affair and then he left for New York and brought home a foreigner from Cuba who was pale, had green eyes, and dark brown hair who spoke Spanish. Tiana also told him that James prefers for his baby girl to date within her community and on top of that didn't like men who dated Tiana anyway, he simply isn't trusting any male with his daughter. Tiana didn't see her dad the same after she caught him with that lady, it was Mrs.Parker who lived on the other side of down, she had a slender body olive skin and platinum blonde hair, she knew if anyone knew he was with her, they would have had his head. Mr. Parker isn't the one to be played with and his son was an asshole who Tiana made sure to avoid.
Charlotte hummed as she looked over her favorite brand of makeup, "Well Well Well look who it is, it this Mrs. Charlotte." His voice was familiar, his name was Isiah and Charlotte wanted nothing to do with him. She signed and turned to face him with a smile. "Hi Isiah, how are you, hope you are doing well.." her southern belle accent was strong when she chose to be sarcastic.
"I'm doing mighty fine, I've been looking around for you, you know how I feel about you." He steps closer to the blonde woman. Charlotte signed in frustration she had had this conversation with this man hundreds of times since they met in high school," Look, Isiah, You know I'm not looking for a man now, since the whole prince thing has blown over I want to focus on myself." Isiah begins to laugh at the girl
" I have no idea why you wasted your time on that prince when you have southern delicacy right here in front of you."
Charlotte ignored him and began to search once again, he kept talking and talking trying to get a reaction out of her until he smirked and said, "How's your little colored friend, Tiana doing, I haven't seen her in a while." He continued to press on.
"Tiana is a fine little colored girl, one of the finest I've ever seen, and you know me and the Klan are very interested in her, especially Frank, you know, Frank Parker, from high school. He has been looking for her and hasn't seen her in a while. Her mamas are a pretty one too for her age." Charlotte turned around and glared at him, his back was turned and he began to walk to the check-out counter. She chased him until he suddenly stopped and turned to her, " Leave Tiana and Mama Brown alone, they good people and don't bother anybody."
"The ones who don't bother anybody are always the best to 'mess' with, Frank wants Tiana, and you know how obsessive he is, and how much he likes breeding. IF you see Tiana, tell her the Klan says hey." The bell on the see-through door rings as the man leaves. But Lottie signed in relief remembering that Tiana was still a frog so she thought.
