The lunch rush had begun to die down but the front door of Hestia's Cafe kept on swinging open and shut; the smell of the magnolia tree in the park across the street mixing with the smell of shrimp gumbo coming from the kitchen.
The shrimp gumbo was that day's specials and one of Miss Hestia's most beloved dishes.
Eurydice served more bowls of it then she could count that afternoon.
One of the customers who walked through the door was the young man she had heard singing in the park. He was even handsomer up close with his velvety dark eyes that were large and puppyish and his wide smile that crooked and catlike and filled with perfect white teeth
Eurydice scolded herself for being so foolish. She should not let this pretty boy distract her but it was too late. He was walking over to her.
"Can I help you?" She asked him.
"Come with me to the Mardi Gras dance tonight," he replied.
"And who you think you are?"
"The man who's taking you out tonight... I'm Orpheus Valdez, who are you?"
"Eurydice Levesque."
"The girl who makes me want to sing, the woman I'm bringing to the Mardi Gras dance."
"So you're a singer, that's what you are?"
"I also play the guitar."
"A player too, I've met too many men like you."
"I'm not like any man you've met."
"Oh yeah, what makes you different?"
"You see the world?"
"Of course I do!"
"I'll make it beautiful for you. For you I'll change the way it is."
"With what?"
"With this."
Orpheus lifted up is guitar.
"I'm sure you play it well but only the gods can change the world. You and I can't change a thing."
"You haven't heard me sing."
"Are you always this confident?"
"When I look at you, I am."
"When you look at me, what do you see?"
"Someone who's stronger than me. Somebody who survives."
"Why should I go to the Mardi Gras dance with you?"
"Because I make you feel alive."
His face was close enough to her's for kiss. She knew that he could tell she was blushing.
"Now get out of my hair, boy. I don't have time for your honey words and empty promises."
Orpheus walked away, grinning like he knew she would come around.
A/N This exchange between Orpheus and Eurydice is inspired by the song Come Home With Me. A video of this song does not exist, so here's a link to a recording (Copy and put in a search engine.)
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2FNSIS_HGAAQ0FYY3dRSnY1TVk
"So is Cinderella going to meet Prince Charming at the ball?" Miss Hestia asked
"Fairytales are for children," Eurydice replied, "And besides, I have to work tonight."
"No you don't! I'm giving you the night off. Have some fun for once. Meet up with that handsome boy."
"But..."
"Not buts Missy, you're going to that dance."
Perhaps she's right, Eurydice thought, What different could one night make.
Miss Hestia sent Eurydice home a couple of hours later. Eurydice went to Marie's apartment to get ready for the Mardi Gras dance.
She was to wear her best light green chiffon dress and a black fascinator in her hair, which Marie helped her braid.
Marie's dress was white and she wore her hair in waves and spit curls with a feathered headband of gold sequins.
Tía Callida, an old neighbor lady who was always dressed in widows weeds from twenty years ago, was brought in the look after Hazel while they went out.
"So, tell me about this Orpheus boy," Marie said as they walked into the French Quarter.