CHAPTER FOUR

City Visitors

The following day, the people of Boulder City gathered at city hall to hear a special announcement from the mayor. Something big was about to happen, and everyone could feel it. Everyone except for my siblings. They couldn’t care less. Felicia whined about missing her new favorite cartoon, Empress Warriorpants, while Gavin was busy playing Snatch-E-Kins on his smartphone. Me? I was still worried about lizard people trying to eat us.

“Turn off your phone,” Dad said as the mayor appeared on the steps of city hall.

“But I’m so close to snatching them all!” Gavin yelped. Dad took Gavin’s phone and put it in his pocket.

“Welcome, citizens! Thank you for coming,” the mayor began as the crowd fell silent. “Yesterday, a geological event shook our fair city to the core, and a delegation of Lizardians revealed themselves to the world. Some of you were alarmed, while others were concerned. It’s time to put your fears to rest.

“The Lizardians come in peace! Before I introduce them, I want to extend a hearty thank you to Fireman and Flygirl. They were instrumental in assisting with the earthquake cleanup effort. We appreciate their service, wherever they might be!”

The crowd cheered loudly, not knowing that their favorite heroes—my parents—were standing among them in their secret identities.

“I hate that code name,” Mom mumbled. “I’m not a girl anymore. I’m a full-grown woman.”

“Why don’t you change it?” I asked.

“I should. I didn’t pick it. That’s just what the news reporters started calling me, and it stuck like glue.”

“Fireman’s not much better,” Dad added. “That’s what I get for letting a website choose my superhero name. A word of advice, Peter. Whatever you do, make sure you’re the one who selects your code name. Otherwise you might get stuck with one you’re not in love with.”

“Noted!” I said cheerfully. My parents always have good advice.

“I’m proud to present our newest friends,” the mayor said, “Lizardian Leader Lenn and the League of Lizards!” He welcomed a group of lizard people onto the stage. They seemed kind of goofy looking and were dressed like farmers with straw hats and overalls. Maybe I was wrong to judge them so quickly, I thought.

“Golly, Mr. Mayor. We sure are thankful that y’all have been so kind to us lizard folk. We’re just so darn happy to be aboveground again. It gets pretty lonely down south,” Lenn said with a thick twang. The crowd chuckled.

“We’re happy to have you, Lenn,” beamed the mayor.

“We’ve lived underground for a long time,” Lenn said. “Shucks, it sure is drafty down there. But us cold-blooded creatures need a little warm sun every once in a while. Eatin’ worms sure does get old. My stomach has been growlin’ for some flies, mosquitoes, and a couple of delicious crickets. Would y’all mind if we stayed up top for a while and ate up all yer bugs?”

“I hate mosquitoes!” said a person in the crowd. “Me too,” added another. “Eat all our flies,” someone said. “Be our guest!”

Thunderous applause filled the air as the people of Boulder City went wild. Lenn and his League of Lizards each gave a thumbs-up, flicking their forked tongues as the crowd cheered louder.

“We don’t know that much about the Lizard League,” Dad whispered to Gavin, Felicia, and me. “But we’ll work together with them and build a partnership. It’s important to welcome new people into your community. That’s how everyone grows.”

It sounded like a good plan, but the lizard people still creeped me out. I felt bad. Was I being intolerant, judging a book by its cover?

Grandpa wheeled over Dad’s foot with his wheelchair. “I don’t care what you say. I’m not gonna trust those whippersnappers.”

“Dad! Don’t be rude,” Mom said to Grandpa.

“I’m not! I’m just old-fashioned. I don’t trust anyone with a forked tongue. In my experience, anyone with a forked tongue is a liar.”

A terrible thought occurred to me. I reached up to touch my tongue, to see if it had developed a fork now that I had lied. Thankfully, it hadn’t. Not yet, anyway.