Lilly wondered how she had masked her own power. When did she lock it away at the bottom of her heart? She stopped and looked around at the costumed crowd realizing, ‘Everyone locks some part of themselves away along the road to adulthood. Rejection, family problems, heartbreak and a thousand random cuts and bruises to the psyche conspire to form a web of fear, a ball of darkness to hide from the light. Everyone was apprehensive at how the world might perceive their unmasked self. Would they be stared at, punished, laughed at, abused and judged as frivolous, ridiculous or unworthy?’
Lilly laughed thinking of all the brave, wild and cunning, marvelous and beautiful parts most people hid away in fear. Carnival day everyone had permission to unmask. This was the day to courageously paint and costume yourself, revealing an essential expression of your true self. The parts hidden in fear were given a free pass, unbound and celebrated on Mardi Gras day. She remembered something Sabine had told her the day before, “Laughing at the shadow, dispels its power. Embracing your true self, liberates creativity.”
Basking in the freedom of her new life, Lilly spun around in a little dance as she made her way through the French Market. ‘There is nothing freer than a Faery.’ Smiling to herself, she crossed Esplanade Avenue hurrying to meet Roland at the Dream Palace.
~
Frenchman Street was filled with throngs of costumed revelers. Lilly peered through feathers, satin, sequins and half nude bodies filling the street. She and Roland had planned to meet in front of the Dream Palace, so she made her way to the sidewalk, scanning the crowd in search of him.
She stood for a moment directly in front of the Dream Palace. The crowd parted nearby revealing A group of women standing in a circle around a handsome musketeer. Bowing at the waist over soft leather boots, sweeping a wide brimmed, plumed hat to one side, the crimson velvet and lace clad character appeared to have stepped out of a Faery tale.
The musketeer straightened and looked around. His mouth, framed by a van dyke beard and mustache, broke into a grin. Excusing himself from his admirers he made his way to the sidewalk. Sweeping his wide brimmed hat off, he made a courtly bow, his dark wavy hair falling over his lacy collar. “I wish you a good morning, your highness, queen of the Faeries.” With a serious face and a respectful tone he spoke only to her, “Today I see you as the true magical, mystical, multifaceted being you are. When I look at you I look into a window of light.”
Flustered for only a moment, Lilly responded respectfully, “You may rise, musketeer, and let me look at you in all your glory.”
The crowd surged around them. A thousand strands of color and energy intermingled with their own drawing them through a portal of sparkling carnival spirit.
The wave of unfamiliar energy subsided, Lilly’s vision cleared and her awareness focused on the beautiful man smiling broadly in front of her. ‘He is a beautiful musketeer with more than a touch of sorcery in his eyes. What does this tell me about him? He is brave, loyal, magical and something of a dandy,’ she mused silently, smiling to herself.
Taking the crystal from around her neck, she stood on her toes and slipped it over Roland’s neck. “This completes your costume today and I hope you will wear it every day.”
Roland held the crystal on his palm, closed his fingers around it and smiled. “I feel the magick of it. Thank you.”
They stood staring at one another witnessing the powerful beings hidden in their daily lives. Today they were expressed for all the world to see and know. Roland laughed exuberantly as he took the Faery queen into his arms and kissed her thoroughly.
When they separated Lilly asked, “Where did you get this beautiful costume.
Roland turned around allowing her to view him for all angles, “You are looking at one of Mike Sparks creations.”
Lilly laughed, “I knew you two were planning something the night you had your heads together in his shop.”
A gong sounded and the lovers watched as the Pope, holding onto the golden miter atop his head, walked regally up the sidewalk A tall nun with a bushy beard and mustache accompanied him.
The nun helped the Pope climb into the back of a pickup truck. Climbing in beside him, the nun struck the gong several times.
The crowd in the street and lining the sidewalks quieted as the Pope raised a frosty mug of beer and addressed his subjects, “Hail to all the Kosmic Debris gathered before me today. I hereby issue an edict to be enforced through midnight tonight. All shall revel, dance, sing, drink and make merry. We do this in honor of the gods of merriment and Kosmic Debris everywhere. It is our sacred charge. Go forth and make merry!”
The crowd responded with a roar. The Krewe of Nutria, dressed in ragged animal skins and furs, pounded a primal beat on their goat skin drums. The revelers followed in loose lines and small clumps, all swaying to the beat of the drums, smiling and waving as they made their way into the French Quarter.
Lilly and Roland danced in the streets, lingered with the Kosmic Debris at bars along their route and toasted gods of merriment with beer, wine and an occasional glass of champagne.
The radiant couple caught the eye of wealthy party hosts standing on balconies above the crowds. A few of the party hosts managed to get Lilly and Roland’s attention and invited them up winding stairways to private parties. Lilly and Roland happily agreed. Relaxing in sumptuous apartments, they met famous artists and musicians, philosophers and gurus. They filled fine china plates at tables laden with rich, spicy food, drank exotic cocktails and, most importantly, made use of the bathrooms.
Leaving one of the balcony
