Ruby (Landry 1)

emphasized.

"Okay. This is the way," he told me, and before

I could object, he seized my hand again and led me

away from the procession of frolickers. We hurried

down one street and then another before he told me

we had to take a shortcut.

"We'll go right through this alley and save

twenty minutes at least. There's a mob ahead of us." The alley looked long and dark. It had ash cans

and discarded furniture strewn through it, and there

was the acrid stench of garbage and urine. I didn't

move.

"Come on," he urged, and pulled me behind

him, ignoring my reluctance. I held my breath, hoping

now to get through it quickly. But less than halfway

through the alley, he stopped and turned to me. "What's wrong?" I asked, a chill so cold in my

stomach it was as if I had swallowed an ice cube

whole.

"Maybe we shouldn't hurry so. We're losing the

best of the night. Don't you want to have fun?" he

asked, stepping closer. He put his hand on my

shoulder. I stepped back quickly.

"I've got to get to my relatives and let them

know I've arrived," I said, now feeling foolish for

allowing myself to be pulled into a dark alley with a

stranger who wouldn't show me his face nor tell me

his name. How could I have been so desperate and

trusting?

"I'm sure they don't expect you so soon on a

Mardi Gras night. Tonight is a magical night.

Everything is different," he said. "You're a very pretty