eleanor and zoyla

Eleanor and ZoylaA Coming of Age Story in Paris

Written and illustrated by Candice Carr

Eleanor and ZoylaA Coming of Age Story in Paris

Written and illustrated by Candice Carr. –2011–

This is Eleanor Bubber. Today is her first day on vacation in Paris. She has her map, her agenda, her camera and her bag... Ready to go!

Eleanor sets out on foot to see and photograph the places in Paris she has wanted to see her

whole life.

She crosses the Seine from the left bank to the right bank. The famous sights in Paris are further apart than they appear on the map.

After awhile, Eleanor finds she needs to stop and rest every few blocks. Her feet and legs are hurting but she tries to enjoy her delicious

religieuse au chocolat near the Arc de Triomphe.

Meanwhile, across town in Le Marais, Zoyla Paredes is enjoying her first day in Paris.

She happens to know quite a few people in the city even though she knows little about it.

This is Zoyla!

Zoyla calls to arrange a reunion with family friends. They agree to meet

near the Moulin Rouge in Montmartre the next day.

Back on the left bank, Eleanor decides to have an early dinner.

...Early for Paris – late for Eleanor!

The streets are bustling with crowds about to enjoy the night life. But Eleanor, tired

and with nothing left on her agenda, turns in for the night.

Tomorrow she decides to take a bus (to rest her feet) to Montmartre to see the

Basilique du Sacré Coeur.

The next day, Eleanor is on the bus when she meets Zoyla. Zoyla asks for directions to the Moulin Rouge.

Eleanor has her map, and is happy to have some company, so she agrees to take her to that famous

cabaret when they arrive in Montmartre.

Eleanor quickly finds out that Zoyla loves to talk... a lot!

When the group disembarks in Montmartre, Zoyla is still talking. But now she is talking with the tour guide. Eleanor feels a little ignored...

After what feels like a long time, Zoyla is still talking! And Eleanor has gotten very angry. She decides to leave.

Eleanor is fuming! She feels more alone and bored than ever now.

But Montmartre is a pretty, quiet neighborhood. Eleanor feels calmer after stopping to try some flan aux abricots.

Eleanor finds the historic Cimetière de Montmartre where many famous people are buried.

Meanwhile, the tour group is leaving to visit the Basilique and Zoyla finds herself alone. Where is that tiny woman who agreed to take her to meet her friends?

Zolya starts to wander through the maze-like streets of Montmartre searching for the Moulin Rouge. She doesn’t speak any French, doesn’t

have a map and can’t find anyone because she is so lost!

Exhausted, frustrated and somewhat scared, Zoyla stops to rest on an overpass. Amazingly, she spots Eleanor down below in a graveyard.

Eleanor wonders how many of these people dealt with Zoylas in their lifetime. But now their

squabbles are over and their graves are forgotten. Maybe it’s more important to

make friends than to always be right...

Just then Zoyla makes her way through the cemetery to find Eleanor pondering life. Although they don’t talk about what happened, both

understand they are sorry and also happy to have someone in this big, strange city.

In the end, Eleanor helped Zoyla find her friends at the Moulin Rouge. In fact, Zoyla invited her to join them for the evening.

Eleanor did and it was a very pleasant time...

...in the company of new friends.