Ruby (Landry 1)

and hurried out with him to catch up with the group.

There was music all around us and people hawking

food and costumes and other masks as well. The

whole city had been turned into a grand fais dodo, I

thought. There wasn't a sad face anywhere, or if there

was, it was hidden behind a mask. Above us, people were raining down confetti from the scrolled iron balconies. Columns and columns of revelers wound around every corner. Some of the costumes the women wore were scant and very revealing. I feasted visually on everything, turning and spinning at this carnival of life: people kissing anyone who was close enough to embrace, obvious strangers hugging and clinging to each other, jugglers juggling colorful balls,

sticks of fire, and even knives!

As we danced down the street, the crowds

began to swell in size. My newly found guide spun

me around and threw his head back with laughter.

Then he bought some sort of punch for us to drink and

a poor boy shrimp sandwich for us to share. It was

filled with oysters, shrimp, sliced tomatoes, shredded

lettuce, and sauce piquante. I thought it was delicious.

Despite my nervousness and trepidation on arriving in

New Orleans to meet my real family, I was having a

good time.

"Thank you. My name's Ruby," I said. I had to

shout even though he was next to me. That's how loud

the laughter, the music, and the shouts of others

around us were. He shook his head and then brought

his lips to my ear.

"No names. Tonight, we are all mysterious," he said in a loud whisper. He followed that with a quick kiss on my neck. The feel of his wet lips stunned me for a moment. I heard his cackle and then I stepped

back.

"Thank you for the drink and the sandwich, but

I've got to find this address," I said. He nodded,

swallowing the rest of his drink quickly.

"Don't you want to see the parade first?" he

asked.

"I can't. I've got to find this address," I