“I went on down to dee Audubon Zoo an day all axed fuh you, duh monkeys axed, duh tiguhs axed, duh elephant axed me too”…
Felicia, Erin and Chris sang the Audubon Zoo song as they traveled the beautiful, tree lined streets of the Garden District through Uptown.
It’s an infectious, feel good, silly song that’s often heard blasting from bars and gift shops across the city. You cant help but to feel happy, and a little childish, when hearing this little Zydeco tune, even more so when you sing it.
As they strolled through Audubon zoo, Chris smiled at Felicia. Her eyes were wide with amazement at the tiger exhibit. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon; part two of Erin and Chris’ date, a date that was, unwittingly, chaperoned by a precarious little 7-year old.
They stood in front of the monkey exhibit taking in the antics of these agile creatures who were hard at play, swinging from limb to limb. Occasionally, these almost human-like primates paused from their antics to watch the crowd. When watching the monkeys it’s hard to decipher WHO is more entertained, the monkeys or the spectators.
As these things go, monkeys can be as playful as they can be...inappropriate. Off to the side, a pair of amorous monkeys certainly caught Felicia’s attention.
"...What are they doin??" She asked with innocent inquisitiveness.
Chris and Erin noticed that these two particular monkeys were doing, well, what monkeys are prone to do. With utter disregard to onlookers, no matter what the age. These two were engaged in, monkey play, if you will.
"Oh my God!" Erin laughed. "You wanna answer that one for Felicia?" she looked to Chris, who was completely red faced.
"Who knows? Might be a good opportunity to test your fathering skills," she continued, desperately trying to hold back laughter.
"Uh, well," Chris began explaining to Felicia, "they’re trying to keep each other warm," Chris dismissively explained, wishing that he could be ANYWHERE but HERE, at this moment in time.
Erin stood to the side, smiling at Chris, enjoying his improv performance in the hot seat with Felicia.
"But, it’s hot outside," Felicia logically replied.
"Yes, yes it is...but, they’re cold natured," Chris quickly quipped, hoping to bring this conversation to a rapid conclusion.
"...um, Mister Chris?" Erin chimed in.
Chris shot a frustrated glare toward Erin. "...Yes, Erin?" He snapped. "...Aren't primates warm blooded?" Erin poked, trying not to laugh.
Chris glared, motionless to Erin.
"...Have you ever tried to keep someone warm like that, Mr. Chris?" Felicia asked with unspoiled innocence in her voice.
"Well, no...at least not in a long while, unfortunately," Chris deadpanned, shooting an evil glare to Erin. "...But, I can STILL count on my fingers how many people that I have kept warm that way; I even have fingers left over in the tally," he joked, with a straight face, glancing to Erin with a nervous smile.
Erin finally erupted into full blown laughter. "Nicely done," Erin complimented as she took Felicia’s hand, leading her to the next, hopefully, “G” rated exhibit.
"C'mon Felicia, we’ll leave Chris to study the monkeys for a while, he might learn something," Erin teased, playfully looking back at Chris.
Chris trailed behind a few feet, still looking at the monkeys, who’d clearly put him on the spot.
"...Thanks a lot, you two," he grumbled under his breath to the amorous primates. Erin, again, looked back at Chris, with a smile.
"Cotton candy!!!!!!" Felicia yelled.
"Oh, God," Chris sighed. "Your Auntie told me NO sweets for you, baby girl."
"Oh…C’mon, Mr. Chris!!" Erin chimed in with Felicia."
"Please, Mr. Chris??" they both repeatedly begged.
"Uh, you’re not helping the matter," Chris scolded Erin. "I don’t want her auntie yellin’ at me when I bring her home with a thin layer of syrup covering her from head to toe; absolutely NO cotton candy...end of discussion."
Ten minutes later, Erin and Felicia sat beneath a beautiful Live oak tree, etching away, layer after layer of their cotton candy, as Chris stood next to them, watching the giant tuft of pink sugar slowly disappear. He‘d been soundly outvoted.
"C’mon Mister Chris," Erin prodded, "you know you want some of this," she giggled.
"I beg your pardon?" Chris asked.
"Cotton candy," she clarified, extending a glob of sticky, pink confection toward his mouth.
"Oh, just wanted to make sure I was clear, after the monkey cage," Chris demurred, with a sly smile.
Chris moved towards Erin’s sticky fingers, cotton candy waved like a flag in the wind as she placed it in his mouth. A sugary trail of syrup clung to his chin and nose; Erin laughed as she took a wet napkin and wiped the mess from Chris’ face. He felt like a five year old; the moment took him back to another place, a happier time that he and Erin once shared.
He vividly recalled the sunlight softly glowing through a partially opened blind just over the bed on the West End neighborhood.
"...I love watching you sleep." Erin whispered as she caressed Chris’ face.
It was a distant thought that Chris visited from time to time; a nicer time, when their love had begun to bloom. It was new; an exhillarating set of "feels" that, for some couples, never fades.
Erin’s touch reminded Chris of many mornings, lying in that bed as she lay next to him, watching, as he slept, gently touching his hair and his face. He remembered the good times, like her caring for him when he was sick or when they’d just lay in bed all afternoon, watching TV. Wonderful memories.
It was a quiet ride home as Felicia slept in the back seat, clearly exhausted from the zoo outing AND sugar-high. Parking in front of Thomas' house, Chris opened the rear door and hoisted Felicia to his chest. She was barely awake, hanging in his arms, like a rag doll that you win outta the Claw machine in the front lobby of the grocery store, as Thomas stepped from the front porch.
"...Damn, boy," he whispered, "you give her a valium?"
"Nope...a shot of vodka," Chris joked. "Actually, she ran a lot today."
"I think she’s down for the count," Erin chimed in.
"Thank y’all both for takin’ her today."
"No problem, man; we had fun," Chris exclaimed.
"The monkeys had more fun," Erin laughed.
Thomas shifted his eyes, quickly between Chris and Erin with a puzzled expression.
"...Trust me, you don’t wanna know. BUT, you might get some questions, " Chris deadpanned.
Back at Erin’s house, the conclusion of date number two found Chris and Erin standing on her front porch.
"...I had fun today."
"Me too," Chris beamed, studying Erin’s face."
"What?" She nervously asked, swatting at her cheek.
Chris reached toward her chin, brushing away a small piece of cotton candy. Erin extended her hand to Chris’, gently touching his face.
"Do I have cotton candy face, too?" He asked.
"Nope," she dismissed, with a whisper and a smile.
They moved toward each other and shared a gentle kiss. Even though the indescribable butterflies that accompanied the very first kiss to the absolute LAST kiss in their previous life were ever present, it felt so comfortable to both. It STILL felt like the first time.
Chris wondered, HOW he could possibly feel butterflies with someone he’d kissed a thousand times.
"I’ll talk to you later," Erin sighed, with a smile. Turning to the steps, she looked back toward Chris. "Call me if you want, tomorrow."
They stood, twenty feet apart, smiling at one another before both slowly walked toward one another. After coming face to face, Erin paused. They kissed again, this time, more passionately.
"OK…I think the monkeys are axing for us, now," Erin laughed as they both composed themselves in the tiny front yard.
As Chris turned for the car, Erin called out from the porch.
"Hey!"
"Yeah?" he replied.
"You’d make a good father, by the way, no matter what you think," she assured.
"I’m good with other people’s kids," he laughed.
"Whatever," Erin dismissed. You’re PERFECT with kids, Erin assured.
"I’ll call ya’ soon," Chris replied, closing the car door.
Chris’ tail lights disappeared around the corner; watching until he was out of sight, Erin sighed and turned to walk inside, humming the Audubon Zoo song to herself. Chris did the same as he rounded the corner, heading for home. Reeling in the feeling of "butterflies " in his stomach.
copyright, Pontchartrain Press 2008
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