Chapter 1
nce upon a time, on the outer banks of the Carolinas, there lived a little baby alligator. Now this baby alligator was very curious, and no matter how many times he was warned to stay close to his mother and brother and sisters, he would run off exploring every chance he got.
Early one morning he set off in a new direction and before long he found himself in a place he'd never been before. It was a funny place, with not many trees but all kinds of other interesting things that he'd never seen before. "Wow!" he thought, staring about him, "A whole new world...." Just then he heard a sound and, startled, dashed under a bush and waited to see what kind of creatures lived here.
Along the path came a man carrying a large box, which he put into the trunk of his car. Vacation was over, and he and his family (wife, three little boys and a girl) were leaving for home that day.
"Humans!!!" the little 'gator breathed to himself. He'd heard stories about them.....about how his great-grandfather had been turned into luggage, and how his third cousin had become famous wrestling humans, and many other things that made him very curious indeed to see them up close.
Very slowly he crept from under the bush and started down the path following the man. If he could just.....Suddenly he froze in his tracks. Back towards him came the man....followed by a woman and four kids. He looked around, then, spotting an open box, darted inside.
"Just a few more things...." he heard the man say, "then we'll be on the road." The woman was saying something, but the little alligator didn't hear, because at that instant, he felt his box move, and a moment later there was a thump as it was deposited in the trunk of the car. He heard a thud and a few moments later, a few more, followed by a roar....and suddenly the whole world seemed to be rushing forward.
"What is this?" he wondered, frightened out of his reptilian wits. "What have I gotten myself into?" And all those stories about wallets, and handbags....and zoos...ran through his mind as, burrowing down into the clothing that filled the box, he sat and waited.
It must have been a very long wait, for the next thing he remembered was opening his eyes and staring into those of one of the boys he'd seen earlier. They stared at each other for what seemed like ages, then, very gently, the boy took the little alligator in his hands and picked him up.
"How did you get in there?" the boy asked, examining the little animal. "You're a very long way from home now....so I guess I'll have to keep you. If mom and dad let me that is...." The boy gently stroked the alligator's scaly little head, making him feel much better about things. "Come on," the boy said suddenly, "Let's go ask...."
Now the boy's parents had promised him that if he made his bed and did the dishes they'd let him have a pet. He'd been very good about doing those things---even on vacation---so he was SURE they'd let him keep Alvin, for that was the name he'd decided to give his new little friend.
The two of them went downstairs, and, while the boy stated his case, the little alligator sat perched on his shoulder watching everything with his bright eyes.
"Thank you!" he heard the boy say suddenly, "I'll take very good care of Alvin, I promise!"
The baby 'gator looked around. "Alvin? What's an Alvin? And what about ME???" He gave a squeak of indignation that made the boy laugh.
"Silly alligator," he said, patting the little head affectionately. "YOU are Alvin!! That's your name now. Do you like it?"
The little alligator was beside himself. A name!!! He had a NAME!! He sat up straight, his little chest swelling with pride. None of the others had names.....Oh how special he must be, how wonderful...how great!! "Alvin..." he thought to himself...."What a magnificent name for a magnificent me!!!"
And that night he dreamed dreams filled with the wonder of being Alvin.
Text © 1995 by Eva Frizzi. Used with permission.
