Ruby (Landry 1)

"I'm sure there's a logical explanation," Beau

said. "I think I'd better go fetch your parents." Gisselle continued to stare at me.

"How can I have a twin sister?" she demanded.

I wanted to tell her all of it, but I thought it might be

better for our father to explain. "Where are you going,

Beau?" she cried when he turned to leave.

"To get your father and mother, like I said." "But. . ." She looked at me and then at him.

"But what about the ball?"

"The ball? How can you go running off to the

ball now?" he asked, nodding in my direction. "But I bought this new dress especially for it

and I have a wonderful mask and . . ." She embraced

herself and glared at me. "How can this happen!" she

cried, the tears now streaming down her cheeks. She

clasped her hands into small fists and slapped her

arms against her sides. "And tonight of all nights!" "I'm sorry," I said softly. "I didn't realize it was

Mardi Gras when I started for New Orleans today,

but--"

"You didn't realize it was Mardi Gras!" she

chortled. "Oh, Beau."

"Take it easy, Gisselle," he said, returning to

embrace her. She buried her face in his shoulder for a

moment. As he stroked her hair, he gazed at me, still

smiling. "Take it easy," he soothed.

"I can't take it easy," Gisselle insisted, and

stamped her foot again as she pulled back. She glared

at me angrily now. "It's just some coincidence, some

stupid coincidence someone discovered. She was sent

here to. . . to embezzle money out of us. That's it, isn't

it?" she accused.

I shook my head.