An Unexpected

Friend

.

Annie Gray was so excited about arriving in

New Orleans during the Mardi Gras, she talked incessantly during the remainder of the trip. I sat with my knees together, my hands nervously twisting on my lap, but I was grateful for the conversation. Listening to her descriptions of previous Mardi Gras celebrations she had attended, I had little time to feel sorry for myself and worry about what would happen to me the moment I stepped off the bus. For the time being at least, I could ignore the troubled thoughts crowded into the darkest corners of my brain.

Annie came from New Iberia, but she had been to New Orleans at least a half-dozen times to visit her aunt, who she said was a cabaret singer in a famous nightclub in the French Quarter. Annie said she was going to live with her aunt in New Orleans from now on.

"I'm going to be a singer, too," she bragged. "My aunt is getting me my first audition in a nightclub on Bourbon Street. You know about the French Quarter, don'tcha, honey?" she asked.

"I know it's the oldest section of the city and there is a lot of music, and people have parties there all the time," I told her.

"That's right, honey, and it has the best restaurants and many nice shops and loads and loads of antique and art galleries."

&nb

sp; "Art galleries?"

"Uh-huh."

"Did you ever hear of Dominique's?"

She shrugged.

"I wouldn't know one from the other. Why?" "I have some of my artwork displayed there," I

said proudly.

"Really? Well, ain't that somethin'? You're an

artist." She looked impressed. "And you say you ain't

ever been to New Orleans before?"

I shook my head.

"Oh," she squealed, and squeezed my hand.

"You're in for a bundle of fun. You've got to tell me

where you'll be and I'll send you an invitation to come

hear me sing as soon as I get hired, okay?"

"I don't know where I'll be yet," I had to

confess. That slowed down her flood of excitement. She pulled herself back in her seat and scrutinized me

with a curious smile on her face.

"What do you mean? I thought you said you're

going to visit relatives," she said.

"I am. . . I . . . just don't know their address." I

Tags: V.C. Andrews Landry Horror
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