Vieux Carré Voodoo Read Online Free PDF Page A

childhood.” He sounded a little hurt.
“You should always hold on to pieces of your childhood. But if you don’t want
him…”
    I’ve never understood why older people set such a store on
things like that. My old room at my parents’ was exactly the way it looked the
day I moved out, like a creepy Scotty shrine. Of course, I’d pretty much lost
everything I owned when my apartment burned down, so I’d lost whatever
sentimentality I’d had toward possessions. But Doc was a sweet old man, and for
whatever reason, giving me the dirty old rabbit meant something to him. I didn’t
want to hurt his feelings. “I’ll keep him,” I said. “Thanks, Doc.” Impulsively I
kissed his cheek. “It’s really sweet of you.”
    “You can sleep with him until Frank comes back so you won’t
be lonely.” He patted me on the shoulder. “Now, run along—I know how your mother
is about being tardy—although she wasn’t that way when she was in my classes,
God knows.”
    “I’ll come by tomorrow afternoon,” I promised as I started
down the back stairs. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
    “Fine. I look forward to a nice long visit tomorrow.” He
smiled and shut the door behind me.
    I shook my head as I opened the gate to the sidewalk. As if
a filthy old stuffed rabbit could replace Frank. I rolled my eyes and resisted
the urge to toss the thing into a garbage can as I hurried up Governor Nicholls.
    I was late, and Mom would be pissed.
    I broke into a run, vaguely aware of the funny looks I was
getting from other people on the sidewalks. Well, from tourists—locals didn’t
give me a second glance. It
was
Easter, so
not
seeing a man in
a white bikini wearing bunny ears would seem odd to the locals. The weather had
changed while I’d been at Doc’s. The wind felt wetter and the sky was now full
of gray clouds. It was going to rain, and I hoped it would hold off until after
the parade ended. The temperature had also dropped some.
    I should have brought my sweats,
I thought as I
finally reached the corner of Rampart and Governor Nicholls. The buggies and
carriages making up the Gay Easter Parade were lined up in front of Armstrong
Park.
    The Gay Easter Parade was the brainchild of Rip and Marsha
Naquin-Delain, and was a fund-raiser for the Food for Friends program of the
NO/AIDS Task Force. I hadn’t ridden in it for years—well, since before the
flood. Frank and I had gone to Palm Springs for the White Party every Easter
till this year. Mom and Dad swore it was one of their favorite times of the
year. Everyone wore Easter bonnets and dressy clothes—and you haven’t seen an
Easter bonnet until you’ve seen the ones drag queens come up with. The parade
wound its way through the Quarter, the riders tossing beads and whatever else
they could come up with. I spotted the carriage for the Devil’s Weed and headed
over there.
    “You’re late,” Mom said as soon as I walked up. She was
wearing a lovely yellow spring dress with a matching bonnet, and holding a
bouquet of daisies. “Is that Mr. Bunny you’ve got?” She smiled. Mom is
beautiful. She has amazing skin, wears very little makeup, and always wears her
long black hair in a braid that reaches her waist. Frank thinks I look just like
her, which I consider a major compliment.
    I climbed up into the carriage. “Yeah. Doc stopped me on my
way here. That’s why I’m late,” I explained, “and he wanted to give me this.”
    “It
is
Mr. Bunny.” Her eyes widened as she took him from me and smiled at him. “Oh, how
you loved this rabbit when you were a little boy.” Mom looked over at me, and
her smile was sad. I knew she was remembering when I was little, and was
touched. “I’m amazed he kept it all this time. But then Doc has always a bit of
a pack rat.” She handed me the bunny.
    I handed it back to her. “I don’t want it. I thought you
might.”
    She gave me that sad smile again. “Yes, I do think I want