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February 8, 2006
Random Mardi Gras Memory III
When I was in 4th grade, I fell in love with this girl named Janet Brown. She pretty much hated me (at least that's what she told me), and I was painfully shy so mostly I pined for her from afar.
In 5th and 6th grade we had to ride the bus to school (desegregation busing, I think) and every afternoon when my bus dropped me off I would run home and jump on my bike and race over to her neighborhood hoping that I could just sort of casually happen to be riding by while she was walking home from her stop. But I only ever made it over there in time once or twice.
We ended up going to different high schools, me to the Franklin magnet school on the East Bank, her to O. Perry Walker on the West Bank, so I didn't really see much of her after that.
Senior year of high school, I went with some friends to watch Bacchus near Lee Circle. For some reason that area was always a parade-watching hangout for West Bank teenagers, mostly I think because it was right next to the Camp Street off-ramp from the bridge. I've done a lot of parade watching there, a lot of underage drinking, and a lot of standing in line for the men's room at that bar on the corner of St. Charles (which I think isn't there any more).
Anyway, Lee Circle is always a zoo, packed twenty-people deep, so imagine my surprise when I turn around, and there right smack behind me, up on her boyfriend's shoulders, is Janet. As beautiful as ever. And she saw me, and she waved and said "Hi, Raymond!" and gave me the sweetest, loveliest, most sincere smile ever.
I think a little later, we both caught the same strand of beads, and I let go of my end and let her have them, and she smiled at me again.
And that was it. I never saw her again. I went to college, and eventually just moved away, and I don't know where she ended up. But that was enough. Nine years of being completely smitten, and she finally smiled at me, at Mardi Gras.
Posted by ray at February 8, 2006 10:18 PM | Permalink
Categories: [new orleans ]
Tags: worthy
Comments
Funny the memories that really stick with us over the years.
Posted by: JeN at February 8, 2006 11:25 PM
Ray, your writing is beautiful. I think you missed your calling. It's not too late to write the Great American Novel...
xoxo
Posted by: Circe at February 9, 2006 6:46 AM
Thanks, Circe, that means a lot.
I think I might start small, though. Rather than the great American novel, I might just take a crack at the average American short story and see how it goes.
Posted by: Ray at February 9, 2006 6:54 AM
The great American blog is still up for grabs, too. I think you have a shot;).
Posted by: Meg at February 9, 2006 3:18 PM
Another incredible story.
Ever try to catch Endimion at Lee Circle? After hours of waiting for the much delayed parade, it "FINALLY" gets there. And after you see the first few floats, you know it was all worth it....
Posted by: Banzai Bill at February 9, 2006 10:55 PM
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