Beatrice

(3.) Mardi Gras.

Beatrice POV

Tonight would be Mardi Gras! An amazing occasion where I have the opportunity to dress up very nice, party, get drunk, and get high.

Louis and I, plan to go to the Fair Play Saloon and celebrate Mardi Gras there. There would be good music and free drinks because some rich people will be there. I was beyond excited for this event!

I wake up to the sound of Mawma, Louis, Paul, and Grace talking downstairs. I head downstairs in my nightgown and robe. They were all sitting at the dinner table eating breakfast. The smell of eggs, coffee, and grits made my knees go weak. I walk towards the table and the maids pull out a chair for me. I sit down and start to get food.

"Good morning, Mawma, Grace....Paul." I say, my facial expression dropping as I say Paul's name. Paul nods at me with a smile like he forgot all that happened yesterday.

I take a sip of coffee and start to talk. "So Grace...what's the theme of the wedding?" I ask, smirking. Grace chuckles.

"White, like a pure wedding is supposed to be." She replies in a joking tone. "Anyway, what are you and Louis doing for Mardi Gras? Me and Mawma are going to your mom to get my hair done for the big day!" She asks.

I eat some of my eggs. "We're going to the Fair Play Saloon. They're throwing a huge party for Mardi Gras. They're hiring some of the best jazz bands in the state to come perform!" I say with a big smile on my face.

"The devil house? That house of sin?" Paul asks, trying to throw shade at Louis and I for planning to go there.

"Yes." I reply in annoyance, rolling my eyes.

Once Paul, Louis, and I, finished our breakfast, we walked to the church. Paul wanted to make a few confessions. I got chills every time I entered this church. The beatings I had to endure made me turn away from it. That's why Paul never pushed Christianity on me, he knew it was my trigger.

A few minutes passed and I see Louis talking to a white priest. He was telling Louis that he was always welcome at the church, and that Louis could confess to anything at anytime.

Louis looked uncomfortable because he knew what he was doing for work. We all knew.

Louis then started to rush Paul a little more, because the sun was starting to go down and we needed to head back home and get ready for Mardi Gras.

We left the church and walked back home.

Once we got home I changed into a dress that was tight fitted to my body, the bottom of the dress flared out with fluff on the edges. I wore lots of jewelry, I put my locs into a high bun, and to finish off the look I wore a fluffy scarf. My 4 inch heels were clacking on the floor as I came down the stairs.

I see Louis waiting for me in his nice and put together suit. He look at me in awe as I came down the stairs. He held his arm out and I took it. We both drove to the saloon together. The closer we got to the saloon the louder the environment became. The music was loud and the parade made it difficult to get to the saloon, due to the size of the crowd.

As we walk into Fair Play, we get weird stares and glares from whites sitting around. And we walk to the area that led to the second floor, four white men broke their necks at us. I guess we were just that attractive.

We went upstairs and looked down at the jazz band. I usually don't smile a lot on the regular, but Mardi Gras just brings out a new version of me. I was cheesing and laughing, I could sense Louis staring at me. He never usually sees me like this.

My face of awe changes to confusion as I hear a guy speak French and I turn to the side and see him. A blonde guy, blue eyes, and dresses like he's gonna enslave me.