Tiki the Pelican

In the heart of New Orleans, where the Mississippi River bends like a smile and the air is warm with music and magic, lived a very unusual pelican named Tiki.

Tiki wasn’t like the other pelicans who spent their days swooping over the river and their nights sleeping on dock posts. No-Tiki lived in the little tiki hut he build himself on the edge of Bayou St. John. It was decorated with bright painted shells, glowing lanterns, and strings of beads he collected after Mardi Gras parades floated down the bayou.

Every morning, Tiki would stretch his wings and greet his neighbours with a cheerful, “Good Morning, Bay-bee!” The ducks quacked back.

The turtles waved their tiny claws.

And the old alligator, Big Lou, simply grunted - which was about as friendly as an alligator gets.

Tiki loved everything about New Orleans: The jazz music that drifted from Frenchmen Street in the evenings.

The parades filled with costumes, floats and laughter.

The food, from poboys to snow balls.

The art, from galleries to street vendors.

Most of all, Tiki loved the people. Everyone looked out for each other and Tiki felt proud to be part of such an amazing community.

One day, a big storm blew in from the Gulf, it was fast and fierce. The wind shook the trees and waves crashed against the banks. Tiki watched as a little duckling tried to paddle to safety, but the wind was too fierce.

Without hesitation, Tiki swooped into the storm.

“Hold tight, bay-bee!” he called, scooping the duckling up. He brought the duckling back to her frantic mama duck. Tiki helped the ducks find shelter. The mother duck and he babies thanked Tiki and hunkered down.

The storm eventually passed. The calm, clean that resulted set Tiki’s mind at ease. Then he saw his neighbours, they had all weathered the storm. They had a little damage but nothing too bad. They would rebuild and move right back on with their lives, because that’s what we do, we are strong, we work together and we get through the hard times together.

Then Tiki heard a brass band and saw his neighbors in colorful costumes, they decided to have a second line to celebrate the passing of the storm and the community that they loved so much.

‍ ‍Tiki continued to help everyone he could and receive help when he needed it. He also had sunset gatherings outside his tiki hut where everyone was welcome.

And every night, under strings of glowing lanterns, Tiki would sit by the water and think about how lucky he was to live in a place where music floated through the air, strangers smiled like old friends, and community meant everything.

Because in New Orleans, family isn’t just who you’re born to - It’s everyone who shares the love.

And Tiki the Pelican?

He loved it more than shrimp poboys… which is saying a lot.