When Randall went looking for food the next night, he passed by a second hand store and saw some toys in there that looked good for Jo to have to play with. It was getting close to closing. He cloaked himself and knocked.
The store keeper heard a knock at the door and went to see who it was. When she didn't see anyone, she stepped out. "Hello, anyone there?"
The door was open and Randall snuck inside. He went to the back and snatched up some dolls, a funny pair of glasses with a human nose, and a pillow and snuck to the back, where he found a way to get out again.
The store keeper went back inside. She had no idea she had been duped.
Randall went back to where he had stashed his backpack. He stuffed them inside. He was just trying to get the child he cared for some stuff she needed, other than food. She needed a good pillow and some stuff to entertain herself while he had to go venture out without her.
Then he went back to the restaurant again where he had gotten food the night before. He snuck inside cautiously. He looked around and saw no one in the kitchen and he went to go grab another tray when a chef came into the room.
"AHH!" She screamed in fear.
Randall jumped and held his ears at the scream. But he knew his luck was out. He made himself vanish.
"Help! There's a gator in here!" The woman screamed.
'Great! Not again! I'm not a gator!' Randall said to himself. He ran out of the building.
He tried another place. He knew that sneaking into restaurants was too risky now. With the best places, he began going through the dumpsters. He waited for some fresh stuff to be dumped out.
When someone did finally dump the trash, Randall quickly went over and got a tray. Then he set to work going through the trash for the food he needed. It wasn't the best pickings, but this is what he had to work with. At least for tonight. He also came across a newspaper too and took that back as well.
When he got back to Joanna, she was so hungry. "I know it's not the best food, but it's fresh. And I got you some more dolls and a pillow. Brand new ones." He said.
Joanna liked the gifts. "Thank you, Randall, but where did you get them?"
"A store. You need something to entertain yourself and something better to rest your head on. I don't need a pillow. I can manage fine without one." Randall said.
Randall now took a look at the newspaper he had taken from the trash too while Jo started to eat. She glanced at the paper too and saw some horses on the cover.
"What's that say on the front of it? There's some horses being ridden in that picture." Jo said.
Randall looked at it. "Horse race to be held on Mardi Gra."
"I'd love to see the horses!"
Randall had never seen horses before. He knew his disguise would come in handy for this. They were moving on tomorrow.
…..
A couple of days later, humans began getting dressed up and ready for a party out in the streets. There was a parade.
Randall and Jo had moved away from that warehouse. They had gotten closer to some stables. Jo was grateful for the gifts Randall had gotten her. She wore the backpack while Randall had his new coat on to disguise himself. But then, he got an idea.
He knew this was risky, in just about everything he did.
"Jo, put the backpack over there. We can go out together from here without worrying about it. And I want you to climb onto my back."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'll help ya." He said.
Jo went to hide the backpack in a feeding area real well. They both could smell scents that were unfamiliar to them. It must have been the horses.
Randall let the kid get onto his upper back. "Just don't grab my fronds." He said.
"I won't."
Using his arms to support her weight, she sat on his upper shoulders. The coat was taken off of him and she was to put it on over her. Jo caught on quick. This was a disguise. Randall had also found a hat on the way to the stables too. Jo now put the hat on over her head.
"Can you walk on your very back legs, Randall? Humans only have two legs." Jo pointed out.
"Yes, I can." He raised himself up, making Jo feel it too. "See?"
"Wow! Cool!" She laughed.
His tail helped to balance him on two legs. He tried walking. It was a little awkward, as he wasn't used to this style of walking, but he was going to do this.
They walked into the stables and since the coat was using buttons, Randall could see out of it. He was cautious though. He could make out some other humans around. They didn't look at the new human come in, so they thought it was. They would only see Jo's face under the hat.
Randall could see some big animals in stalls. This made him nervous.
"Can I go over and pet the horses, Randall?" Jo asked him.
"I suppose. But wait a little bit. I have to put you down first. You're getting heavy." He said.
They went back outside and behind the barn, they took the coat off and he let her loose. It was a relief on his shoulders. He had stuffed the funny glasses and nose in the coat pocket.
Jo was allowed to go in and see the horses now. Randall put the coat back on and the hat and the funny glasses, so people would think he was human. He walked in on four legs however. But luckily, Jo saw him first.
"Two legs, Randall." She said, chuckling.
"Right." He raised himself up again.
"And your tail."
"Huh?"
"Humans don't have tails." She giggled.
He frowned. He looked behind himself. His tail was sticking out.
"It's okay, I could just say it's part of my costume. Since we saw some others out there with costumes on." Randall said.
"Ok."
Randall needed his tail for balance on two legs.
"Let's go place our bets now." A man across from them said.
Randall looked at him. Bets? He knew he would need money for this. He let Jo pet some horses for a little bit. This was an idea.
"We might be able to get some money, Jo. I know a way to do that." He said. "We need to go do that."
"Okay. Got to go, horsy." Jo said, petting a bay horse and saying goodbye. "I love horses."
"I bet." He said. They left the barn and went to the main area. There were other humans wearing costumes here as part of Mardi Gra. Randall was in perfect company.
Then Jo got a feeling. "Randall, I have to use the bathroom."
There was nothing more annoying than that feeling. "One or two?"
"Two."
"Oh great. Let's go." He said. He helped her to find the bathroom area, and she went into the girl's side. It would take her a little bit.
Randall was going to do something while she was in there. He went behind the building and took off the disguise for a moment. He vanished and went into the crowd on all four legs. He looked around for a good prospect.
He looked at some young guy with brown hair who had just placed a bet. He looked like a good one. He snuck up behind him and without making a noise, or running into anyone, he gently snuck the wallet out of his back pocket.
He still didn't like to steal, but he needed the money. He put it into his mouth so he could sneak back to the outhouse and wait on Jo before she got out. He put his disguise back on and put the wallet in his pocket. He took the cash out first. There was enough here to place a bet.
Jo soon came out and they resumed wandering the grounds. Randall got her an ice cream cone and they walked up to the betting stand.
"Who's the favorite?" Randall asked.
"A horse called Velvet Rose, number 8." The bookkeeper said.
"What are the odds?"
"Three to one. She's a winner."
"I'll give you this to bet on her to win." Randall said. He gave him a bill.
"Fifty dollars?"
"Yes."
"Okay." He said, and he got him a ticket.
"Where do I go to cash it if I win?" Randall asked.
The bookie told him where to go after the next race.
"We have to go now, Jo."
The bookie saw the child next to the 'man.' She looked rather dirty.
Jo followed Randall. They made it to the grandstand. They sat way in the back.
The glasses from the funny glasses let Randall see a bit better, but he was going to rely on the announcer and Jo's eyes to see what was happening.
"I can't see all that well far distance, Jo. You'll have to tell me if number 8 gets close to winning." He said.
"Ok."
The trumpet sounded and the soon the bell rang after the horses were ready. Randall was so hoping his choice would win.
The announcer kept saying that the favorite horse was doing well and getting closer all the time to winning and in the end, she did.
"Velvet Rose won the race, Randall!" Jo cheered.
Randall smiled. That was $50 right there for them! They went to go cash in on the prize money.
If Randall knew more about this, forget working. He could do this for a living, if he had real good money. But this wasn't going to become a day to day thing. It was just for today.
Randall got his money he bet where it was said to be. He was asked about his costume.
"Good costume. What is it?" The man asked curiously.
"Lizard. I like lizards." Randall said. He got the money and off they went for other festivities.
While they were in the crowd, Jo spotted a lovely looking human couple. "Wait, over there, Randall, they're perfect!" Jo pointed.
"For what?"
"They could be my new mommy and daddy."
Randall looked. "You know, Kid, I think you're right. But the hard part is, trying to convince them to take you in."
"Yeah. I can go talk to them." Jo said.
"You can try."
Jo went over to try to talk to them. Randall stood back and watched.
"Hi." Jo greeted.
The couple, a thin, blonde woman and a thin man with light brown hair looked down at her. The woman had blue eyes and a blue dress on. Her hair was in a bun. The man had khaki pants and a white shirt on. He had brown eyes.
"Oh, hi there, little girl." The woman said. "What's your name?"
"Joanna. Pleased to meet you."
"Where are your parents?" The woman asked.
Little did they know that Randall was sneaking money again, but from the man. He just took the cash and put the wallet back in again. Randall had taken off his disguise in some of the gardens nearby.
"I'm just staying with a guy over there for awhile."
"What guy?" The man asked.
Jo looked over and didn't see Randall. She knew he could be anywhere.
"I know he's here somewhere." She said. She went back to where she last saw him. "Randall!"
Randall knew he needed to get back. He hurried back to the bushes.
The couple followed Jo. They were going to make sure she found her parent or guardian first. She looked like she needed a bath.
Randall got back where his disguise was and put it back on.
"Jo! Over here!" He shouted to her.
Jo saw him. "Are you this little girl's father?" The man asked.
"Uh, no. Just a guardian." Randall said.
"You should take her home. She looks like she needs some new clothes and a bath."
"Yeah. She likes to play in the mud." Randall lied, making it up.
"Okay, well, we need to go now." The man said.
"It was nice meeting you." Jo said.
"You too, dear." The woman said. The couple left after that.
"So what did you think?" Randall asked.
"They seemed nice." Jo said.
Now they had some money and they could leave these grounds. They left the grounds and Randall was glad to be able to walk on four legs again. It had stressed his back somewhat to just walk on two legs.
Randall's stealing money was just for the better food to get things for Jo and himself. He was tired of stealing. He would look at the money later.
They found a new place in the stables hayloft and stayed there for the night.
The humans that Randall had stolen from did report to the police that their money and wallets had been stolen. They had seen a certain little girl around, but weren't sure it was her. Police said they would try to track her down.
