First she pulls duckweed out of her hat.
The axolotl’s nod approvingly.
Then she switches her gills from left to right.
The axolotl’s golden eyes beam with excitement.
Finally she brings up a volunteer, moves him behind a screen.
With a wave of a wand “Abra, Kadabra, Axokazam!”.
The screen drops.
He’s now a salamander!
The axolotl’s furrow their gills in shock and astonishment.
The curtain goes up again and once more he is an axolotl.
Their golden eyes light up and they bob their heads in applause.
The axolotl magician bows, places the hat on her head,
and with a swish of her cape leaves the stage.
~~~
Inspired in part by Julio Cortazar’s story “Axolotl”, found here with a delightful picture of a axolotl: http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&global=1&q=Axolotl+Cortazar#/d1gurzg (Photo and story courtesy of deviantart user ~journeymanjim).