Jerileewei’s Substack Cajun Chronicles Series
Storytelling
Alligator With The Golden Smile Creole Fable
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Alligator With The Golden Smile Creole Fable

Closer look back on vanity and social expectations

CCJC Audio Podcast Episode 00043, Season 2

Alligator on the banks of the Mississippi River with the iron pot that broke his teeth.
Cajun Chronicles Audio Podcast - Bringing you the heart of Louisiana. Artwork generated with Google Docs Image Maker

From the family storytelling myths handed down to Cajun Chronicles Podcast Corporation’s very own Co-Producer Gabriel Gaudin comes this version of history mystery. It’s a childhood tale he often heard that is deeply tied to the gluttony and a well-known wealthy colonial plantation owner. One that because of his family left his influence on the section of New Orleans known as “Faubourg Marigny.”

The historical backstory is a complex one, especially when it comes from the perspective of social elitism that prevailed in his time and still exists among the most wealthy of today’s world. His world was definitely devoid of understanding that both his character and actions would have long lasting street gravy positive and negative in the slurry of history and opinions.

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Avatar image of Gabriel Gaudin at his desk at Cajun Chronicles Podcast Corporation.
Cajun Chronicles Audio Podcast - Bringing you the heart of Louisiana. Artwork generated with Google Docs Image Maker

The Golden Age Of Alligator Dentistry

In the languid mop weather of 1798, along the mud pudding banks of the Mississippi River, lived an alligator named Jean Amable. Jean Amable, like other cocodril’s of discerning taste, prided himself on his pearly serrated dragons of doom pearly whites. His lineage boasted of a long line of chompers of massive size distinction. His great-great-grandfather Auguste Amable, was there when the French settlers in 1714 in nearby Ft. Rose, Mobile arrived. He was a true gentilhomme alligator.

Now a third generation, as we say it, “cocodrie,” Jean Amable, in a moment of malhuer, had attempted to consume a discarded iron kettle that landed in the Mississippi River. He mistook it for a particularly stubborn large crawfish), resulting in the unfortunate shattering of several of his incisors.

Image of a gator with a toothache with an ice pack tied to his jaw.
Cajun Chronicles Audio Podcast - Bringing you the heart of Louisiana. Artwork generated with Google Docs Image Maker

Miserable, he sloshed and rolled about in discomfort. Far worse was the embarrassment of his lisp now more pronounced than ever. His new teeth were slow to come in. He was too embarrassed to be seen at the annual Gator Cotillion of the Cauldron (of love) Social with gaps in his grin.

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Then a brilliant unorthodox idea struck him. He remembered tales whispered by the many Northern River Otters of glittering treasures sometimes found downstream from the grand Marigny plantation. Their ancestors talked about gold dinnerware they claimed, thrown out by the hommes who lived there. Perhaps he could root up some shiny gold from the muck beneath him to fill in the gaps?

After weeks of mud rolling, he unearthed gold knives, folks, and spoons. All were still gleaming and ripe for repurposing. Jean Amable with the resourcefulness of a true Creole, sought out a local Veneer Vogue artisan, a North American beaver named Sir Nawing Boudreax DDS, known for his skill in crafting Croc O’Gold crowns.

Image of a gator at his American beaver dentist during an exam to fix his broken teeth.
Cajun Chronicles Audio Podcast - Bringing you the heart of Louisiana. Artwork generated with Google Docs Image Maker

“Sir Boudreaux, mon ami,” Jean Amable lisped, displaying his cache of gold in one claw, “Can you, s’il vou plait, make me some crowns for my teeth?”

Sir Boudreaux, never one to turn down a commission (especially one involving the alligator’s ability to bring him a large well-seasoned log for dam construction) set to work). He melted down the gold knives, forks, and spoons. He hammered and shaped them into cocodril sized crowns, perfect for fitting over Jean Amable’s remaining broken teeth.

The results were spectacular. Jean Amable’s grin now shone with a glowing brilliance that could rival the noon day sun. He was the toast of the Gator Cotillion of the Cauldron (of love) Social. His lisp now considered a charming affectation. However the gold capped teeth proved less than practical.

Photo of an alligator's gold capped teeth.
Cajun Chronicles Audio Podcast - Bringing you the heart of Louisiana. Artwork generated with Google Docs Image Maker

They were too soft for some of his opportunist turtle prey, and too large for catching slippery Buffalo fish. Even worse was the fact that they conducted heat like no Creole’s business, and sunbathing became a rather uncomfortable affair on the banks of the river. Much to Jean Amable’s horror, the gold also attracted the attention of every shiny-object-obsessed Northern Raccoon in Orleans parish.

One evening while trying to impress a stunning female cocodril with his gleaming smile, a Northern Raccoon swooped down, mistaking his teeth for a Golden Tortoise Beetle, a favorite treat. The juvenile kit attempted to pry one loose. Jean Amable in a panic, snapped his jaws, accidentally launching a gold crown back into the Mississippi River.

Image of a gator cotillion ball when a raccoon kit attacked the gator trying to steal his gold teeth.
Cajun Chronicles Audio Podcast - Bringing you the heart of Louisiana. Artwork generated with Google Docs Image Maker

Shaken in the surprise attack, dejected, and now sporting a gap even larger than before, Jean Amable learned a valuable lesson. While he preened and stressed about his golden grin, the other alligators with their natural, if slightly less flashing teeth were busy eating, swimming, and generally enjoying life.

Today, Jean Amable’s tens of thousands of descendants share a Creole joke – “Il ne faut pas confondre les torchons et les serviettes. One must not confuse dishcloths for napkins. Or in English thinking and speaking non-Louisiana simpler terms, “The most natural solution is the best, even if it’s not the most extravagant or shiny.”

After all, trying to eat an iron kettle was never a good idea, no more than tasting an old cannonball. If you are a gentilhomme alligator living downstream of spoiled rich humans devoid of understanding that both character and actions would have long lasting street gravy that could go down in history as positive and negative in the slurry never ending of altered history and opinions.

Our tales are inspired by real Louisiana and New Orleans history, but some details may have been spiced up for a good story. While we've respected the truth, a bit of creative license could have been used. Please note that all characters may be based on real people, but their identities in some cases have been Avatar masked for privacy. Others are fictional characters with connections to Louisiana.

A Word of Wisdom:

As you read, remember history and real life is a complex mix of joy, sorrow, triumph, and tragedy. While we may have (or not) added a bit of fiction, the core message remains: the human spirit's power to endure, adapt, and overcome.

© Jerilee Wei 2025 All Rights Reserved.

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