Ruby (Landry 1)

It's expected. Don't think you can tell my parents

anything they don't know and get me in trouble," she

warned.

"I don't want to get you in trouble. I was just .

surprised. I've never done that."

"Haven't you ever gone to a dance and enjoyed

yourself, or don't they have such things in the bayou?"

she asked with disdain.

"Yes. We call them fais dodos," I told her. "But

we don't stay out all night."

"Fais dodos? Sounds like a good old time, twostepping to the sounds of an accordion and a

washboard." She smirked and continued to climb the

stairs toward me.

"They're usually nice dances with lots of good

things to eat. Was the ball nice?" I asked.

"Nice?" She paused on the step just below me

and laughed again. "Nice? Nice is a word for a school

party or an afternoon tea in the garden, but for a

Mardi Gras Bail? It was more than nice; it was

spectacular. Everyone was there," she added, stepping

up. "And everyone ogled me and Bean with green

eyes. We're considered the handsomest young Creole

couple these days, you know. I don't know how many

of my girlfriends begged me to let them have a dance

with Beau, and all of them were dying to know where

I had gotten this dress, but I wouldn't tell them." "It is a very pretty dress," I admitted.

"Well, don't expect I'll let you borrow it now

that you've stormed into our lives," she retorted,

gathering her wits about her. "I still don't understand

how you got here and who you are," she added with