Page 3 of Reptile Dysfunction
Curiosity has given me so much, and the best way I know how to show my gratitude is by doing everything I can to make this town the greatest place it can be for its residents.
“Good morning, Chris!” I call out to the vampire passing me groggily. “Early hour for a barkeep isn’t it?”
“This isn’t an early morning,” he mutters with a smirk. “It’s a late night.”
“Well then, sweet dreams!” I call out with a grin and a wave.
Chris chuckles and returns the wave before continuing on his way, eyes half-closed to the morning light. I’m a little surprised to see him out at all, but I know he’s been working with Veronica, one of the witches in town, on ways to protect his – and his son’s skin – from the sun.
I have to smile at myself after every interaction like this, thanking my lucky stars that I get to call myself the mayor of this town. It definitely wasn’t the way I thought my life would turn out.
Not that I didn’t have political ambitions, but five years ago, I was a nobody. Actually, I was worse than a nobody. I was a despised mayoral candidate in the nearby town of Sweetwater — a place mostly inhabited by humans and therefore wary of the young gorgon who wanted to run their town.
I guess I was naive to think I could have made it in politics in a place like that, but I’ve always been ambitious. I thought that maybe if I really applied myself, I could prove I was up to the task.
But prejudice in these small towns is still strong. Even in the cities, if I’m honest. Instead of being given the chance to serve the people of Sweetwater, I was reviled and disgraced, practically run out of town by people who were more concerned with my gorgon heritage than my ethics and policies.
“Morning, Mayor Wendall!” a voice comes, breaking me out of my thoughts.
I look up to see a young woman waving at me from the door of her cafe.
“Good morning, Gabriella!” I reply with a grin. “I’ll be stopping by for lunch today, and I’m hoping you have some mouse pie on the menu?”
She grins back. “Of course, every Wednesday, just for you. And the snakes of course,” she adds, gesturing to my hair.
“You’re a gem,” I tell her, giving her a wave as I finally round the corner and make it to the inauguration.
“Mayor Wendall!” Ajay’s bellowing voice resounds before I can even gather my thoughts. “Right on time!”
He’s obviously been waiting eagerly for me, but it looks like I’ve avoided getting his goat with my tardiness. Or getting his bull, I suppose.
The minotaur shakes my hand vigorously and pulls me toward the ribbon-wrapped former war memorial. It’s been transformed into a patch of high green grass now that the memorial has been expanded and moved to the new site across town. I smile as I step up to the ribbon with Ajay at my side, the two of us turning to face the crowd.
“Welcome, citizens of Curiosity!” I call to the gathered residents, a broad smile on my face. “Today is a very special day for our town. Too long have our hoofed citizens been forced to graze outside the city limits!”
A cry goes up at this proclamation, the minotaurs, centaurs, satyrs, and fauns in the crowd cheering the loudest.
“Today, I’m very proud to officiate the opening of the Curiosity Commons — an open grazing ground for all to enjoy!” I continue, gesturing happily to the grassy patch behind me.
Another cry goes up, and I smile at the crowd, once again counting my lucky stars that I get to call this my job.
“But that’s not all!” I add when the noise dies down. “Today is also the day that we inaugurate Ajay Sawyer as Curiosity’s very first Chancellor of Grazing. He’s worked tirelessly on this project, and it’s a great honor to have him as a public servant in our great town. Congratulations Chancellor Sawyer.”
Ajay grins widely as we shake hands and the grin doesn’t leave his face all the way through the rest of the ceremony. It’s clear he’s committed to the cause, and it gives me great pleasure to be able to work with people like him. People who love Curiosity as much as I do.
When Ajay’s been sworn in and the ribbon-cutting ceremony is over, I take the opportunity to go around the crowd and shake hands with each attendee. Even those who are chowing down on the new grazing lawn.
“Eddie!” I cry, approaching the Herald’s editor-in-chief. “Good to see you’re enjoying the grass. I hope you have some room in the Herald for a little article about the Curiosity Commons?”
Eddie shakes my hand eagerly even as he swallows a mouthful of grass.
“Are you kidding?” he asks with a green-streaked smile. “This is front-page news!”
“I’m very glad to hear it,” I tell him, thankful that the local paper has always been so supportive of my endeavors. “And I hear you’ve got a new staff member, too! From Chicago, no less! Will she be covering the story?”
Eddie’s smile falters just a little, and I wonder if it’s something I said.
“Uh yeah, I think I’ll write this one up myself,” he says, a little reticent. “You know, since it’s my area of expertise and all,” he adds suddenly as if it’s an afterthought.