Chapter 16
Clifford sat in the corner of the living room, watching the prawn carefully, his eyes hidden behind his glasses.
“Jou were always de perfect one
and de valedictorian
So under jour number I wrote
call for a good time
I only wanted to get jour attention
but jou over looked me somehow
Besides jou had too many boyfriends to mention
and I played my guitar too loud”
Dropping his luggage, Pepe landed on the middle step, turned his limbs extended far and with “jazz” hands proclaimed in song,
“How do jou like me now
Now that I'm on my way
Do jou still think I'm crazy standing here today
I couldn't make jou love me
But I always dreamed about living in jour radio
How do jou like me now?”
“I don’t like you at this particular moment, man.”
Pepe eyed Clifford as he spoke, “Dis no song for jou, dis for my lady.”
“She ain’t here man.”
“Si, I know. ‘Tis a shame.” Pepe took a moment looking around the room before he spoke again. “Say, where is everybody?”
“You would know better than I would, you were the one closer to everyone.”
“What do jou mean?”
They sat together on the couch as Clifford went through the details with the prawn. “So you never should have left there. How are Gonzo and Camilla?”
“I lost dem weeks ago. Dey said something about being alone.”
“And Rizzo?”
“Dat rat? I wouldn’t know.”
“A girl, huh?”
“What? Where?” Pepe climbed to the back of the couch as he pretended to scout the area.
“That you and Rizzo had a fight over?”
”A girl, no. Food.”
Clifford was lost for a response and not quite sure that he wanted to know the answer. They sat in silence for a moment before Clifford remembered that this would be a good time to help Robin with his project.
“You want the story of me? And why not let the frog get it?”
“Kermit only likes Robin to be exposed to PG rated stories.”
“Sadly, that is all mine remains.”
“What?”
“Si.”
“No way.”
“Si, let me tell jou, okay.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“De seaweed is always greener
In somebody else's lake
Jou dream about going up dere
But dat is a big mistake
Just look at the world around jou
Right here on de ocean floor
Such wonderful things surround jou
What more is jou lookin' for?”
Pepe moved and swayed keeping perfect time with the music.
Perfect, he thought,
this is sure to be my big break.
“Thank you, that’s enough!” a voice called from the table at the back of the room.
“Jou, like?”
“Umm,” the voice pause momentarily, “We’ll be in touch. Thank you for coming Mr. Shrimp.”
“'Tis King Prawn! 'Tis King Prawn! Okay.”
“Yes, sorry about that, thank you for coming Mr. Prawn.”
Quietly and trying not to show his disappointment in front of the girls waiting to audition next, Pepe returned to his kitchen.
“Dey don’t know real talent. I’ll show dem. Just jou wait.”
“Bad day, huh Pepe?” Seymour, his sous chef asked.
“Disney, just doesn’t know what dey is missing.”
“Your right.” Seymour replied. “They missed their chance with you.”
As the rest of the kitchen buzzed around them, Pepe dodged the hands raring to grab him. “Hey!” he finally cried out in frustration, “I’m nobody’s dinner, okay!”
Seymour watched as Pepe stormed out the door. He could see that it was hard to be respected as a chef and be a shrimp at the same time. Everyone always wanted Pepe as their dinner, not making their dinner.
As Seymour tiptoed out the door to find where Pepe had disappeared to, an upbeat song about taking a vacation in Kokomo caught his attention.
“Jou can’t scare me, I hear jou elephant. Okay” Pepe sat on the trash can staring into a puddle. “There be no where else for a talking prawn to turn to. I should just return to de sea.”
“What about the Muppets?”
“Muppens?”
“Muppets, Pepe. You know, Kermit, Fozzie.”
“Maybe.”
“Yes, the group of frogs and bears and chickens and things.”
“Frogs, and bears, and chickens, and things?" Pepe scratche his chin thoughtfully "Si, Seymour, it just may work out for me after all.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Clifford eyed Pepe as he leaned back further to get a better look at him. “And so, you sought us out?”
“Si, okay. Rather dull.”
“Maybe to you. I’m just trying to picture you dodging the bullet in a kitchen.”
“No nightmares please. Before I know it, dat bumbling man in there will try it himself.”
A few more moments passed as Clifford and Pepe waited unsure of what to say next.
“I’ll just go put away my luggage,” Pepe started off the couch as Clifford stopped him.
“Just wait, as you’re coming with us to Colorado.” With that, Clifford called Scooter to ask about how much longer they would be on Sesame Street.
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