Author's Note: Happy Halloween!
peace, love and lipgloss,
Mlle.Fox
October 31, 1876
"I can't believe you went back there!" exclaimed Pedro in shock. Manuela shrugged at her young friend,
"He turned out to be quite pleasant."
"But Manuela he's so weird! And he'll never come here today." Pedro told her as he followed her around the crowded and bustling marketplace. Manuela sighed, her lips forming a small pout. After talking with all the local shopkeepers this morning, Manuela discovered that Erik Bordeaux never left his house. Everyone saw him once when he arranged to have his groceries, his laundry, and other packages delivered to his house. Then they hadn't seen him since. Manuela was just about to give up hope when a lightly accented baritone spoke over her shoulder,
"Good day Mlle. Monteville."
She and Pedro spun around to look at Erik; Manuela in delight, Pedro in shock. He had a gray Panama cocked over his right profile (the side with the mask, Manuela noted) with an impeccable gray and crème suit to match. He wore a gentle but nervous smile, his gray gloved hands twisting the silver tip of his cane violently. Seeing him in the daylight, Manuela saw his pale countenance and knew this was not a man who spent much time outdoors. She stepped forward and smiled with a nod of her head,
"Good Day Senor Bordeaux. Pedro and I are glad you could join us."
Erik raised a brow up to hide in the rim of his hat. He looked down at the boy with a stubborn look upon his face and said,
"Yes I heard how thrilled Pedro was about the prospect. Perhaps...I can persuade him with a little magic..."
Pedro looked suspiciously at the man who got down to one knee before him with Manuela curious about what he would do. His cane tucked under his arm, Erik waved his hands in front of Pedro's wide eyed face before pulling seamlessly from mid air a bright shiny silver dollar.
"WOW!" Pedro exclaimed snatching the coin from his fingers.
"Very good Sir. How did you do that?" Manuela asked with a laugh. Standing to his feet and brushing off the dirt from his pants, Erik said,
"Magic."
"You're not going to tell me are you?" Manuela asked putting her hands on her hips. Erik smirked at her and said,
"No I'll let Pedro try to figure that one out. He's a clever lad."
Pedro beamed from Erik's praise and said,
"Gee...guess a desperado wouldn't do magic tricks...or give me money!"
"Well shall we get back to planning this fiesta or what?" Manuela asked.
"I'll save us a spot in line at Mrs. Periwigs!" Pedro said running ahead.
Erik and Manuela stood there a moment, gazing at each other before Erik finally offered his arm and said,
"Shall we?"
"But of course." Manuela beamed. As they started off, Erik furrowed his brow and asked Manuela,
"Desperado?"
She giggled, oblivious to the fact that glowering at the both of them was Alejandro Garcia. He was leaning on the wall of the local saloon, arms folded, jaw clenched in rage.
"What does she see in that Frog? He wears a mask to cover half his face for God's sake." Alejandro huffed to his companion.
"Ooh...not so loud Alejandro...I still have a hangover you know." his friend said clutching his head. Alejandro grabbed his collar and hissed,
"Miguel! Mark my words! Manuela will be in my bed by All Saint's Day and that masked freak shall be shipped back to France..." Then he glared again at Erik's broad back and whispered, "In pieces..."
"Wow! How about this one? Ooh Manuela look at this one over here!" Pedro said jumping about. Erik and Manuela watched him bemused from their spot in line. Erik whispered to her,
"You would think he already had sugar."
Manuela giggled as they stepped forward to the counter. A happy, lithe woman was Mrs. Periwig, with flour encrusted hair and large brown eyes smiling at them both and greeting them in a Cockney accent of East London.
"Hello Manuela! Lovely to see you again...and Mister...my word...Mister Bordeaux isn't it?"
Annoyed at the woman's shocked gaping expression, Erik simply said,
"Yes...Something amiss Madame?"
"No sir...isn't just...Haven't seen you for weeks...Thought we'd never see you. It's not too often a man orders one of my chocolate truffles daily and never comes round to praise them. Thought I was losing my touch!" Mrs. Periwig said with a laugh.
Trying not to burn red as Manuela smirked at him, Erik heard his female companion say,
"We have a sweet tooth do we? We'll I think you'll like what I'm having Mrs. Periwig whip up for us tomorrow evening then. Here you are Mrs. P...the list of all I need."
Mrs. Periwig took the list from Manuela's outstretched hand and said,
"Thank you Manuela. I'll get to putting the finishing touches on them...Oh...I see you've added another one..."
"Shh...it's a surprise!" Manuela said with a pointed nod to Erik. Mrs. Periwig mouth form an 'O' and she smiled,
"Then I'll just step into the back and not say another word! Good day to you both. Nice seeing you again Mr. Bordeaux."
When she had gone, Erik looked at the departing Manuela and followed her saying,
"What was that all about?"
"Tell me how you did that magic trick and I'll tell you. Otherwise wait till tomorrow." Manuela told him with a teasing grin. Erik couldn't help but feel the corner of his lips pull up.
'A woman after my own heart ...A blackmailer..." he thought to himself as Manuela lead him and Pedro to their next stop.
After every visit, the townspeople of Heaven's Corner found themselves wondering how in the world did Manuela Montevilla coax the reclusive newcomer M. Bordeaux out of the old Fairfield house. Then one look at her beaming smile and hearing her laugh over his jokes they soon figured it out. And that made them gossip all the more.
"Here." Manuela said as they stopped by a vendor selling flowers. Looking at the small orange blossom being tucked into his lapel, Erik furrowed his brow and asked curiously,
"A marigold? Whatever for?"
"We call them zempoalxochitl or Flor de Muerto. Flowers for the Dead. Because they survive most of the year and well after the first frost, they symbolize life after death. I'm confirming my order with Mr. Gerald here so I can be sure we have practically an entire field of flowers for the dead." Manuela explained. The scruffy Scotsman replied,
"They'll be sent to your house this afternoon Miss."
"Thank you Senor. Well...now we just have to meet with Father Rodriguez about the Blessings." Manuela said turning her sights toward the church. When she said this, Erik stopped dead in his tracks. Noticing his behavior, Manuela turned and added, "Well? Are you coming?"
"I'd rather stay out here, thank you." Erik said stiffly.
"Whatever for? It is rather warm out here today. You would be much cooler inside." Manuela said shaking her head.
"In all honesty Mam'selle...I don't do...churches..." Erik told her. Manuela nodded, then put her hands over Pedro's ears and said softly,
"Well...Senor Bordeaux, in all honesty...I don't do men who don't do churches!"
Erik gaped at her in shock, and managed to stutter out,
"Wha...what?!"
"You heard me. Senor Bordeaux, if you have any intentions to start courting me you might as well know I only am interested in devoted men of God. You don't have to be perfect, you certainly can't be a hypocrite...but I will not waste time with a man at odds with our Father. Now I will give you a little time to develop this relationship but at the moment I must attend to my seeking out the Priest to discuss the blessings." She took her hands off Pedro's ears and told the boy, "Come along Pedro. Help me find Father Rodriguez."
They turned into the white building, leaving Erik to gape after them, his brows knit in confusion. Had he heard that correctly? Manuela expected Erik to start courting her? After only knowing each other a day?! He couldn't even believe she wanted to court him let alone her expecting him to act so quickly. She obviously knew something he didn't. With a sigh he realized that would be God.
"Alright..."Erik prayed, "I'll try this whole...relationship thing with you...I guess I'll be begging forgiveness of my sins sooner or later so it might as well be now."
It was a half hearted prayer with even less sincerity, but it was just enough to get Erik comfortable into stepping into the church, trying to find Manuela.
The smell of hot wax filled his nostrils. For the middle of the day, the small chapel was ablaze with candlelight and shadows from the closed shutters danced on the walls. The muted colors of the few stained glass windows skimmed his feet as he went up the main aisle towards the simple craved oak pulpit. The pews stood at attention like soldiers and at the heart of the church was a simple organ with a craving of the dying Christ displayed, his sad eyes turned towards heaven.
Somehow the church was not as pretentious as he had thought it would be. For it should be known that before his dealings with the gypsies, Erik was for a time raised by his mother. And like all mothers, she tried to educate him. Which included tutorials from the local priest. Looking back, Erik began to recall that the priest he dealt with had not been a bad man nor one you could call a hypocrite. But being the mischievous little boy Erik had been, he delighted in torturing the poor man just so that he would be allowed to play on the piano after the priest left in a huff. Erik figured the priest he had dealt with only began annoying and scaring him with talk of hell, fire and brimstone only because he was frustrated Erik made no confession or proclamation of Christ. And over the years that left Erik with a bad taste in his mouth for the church.
But now Erik realized that he really had never been a part of the church, nor had he given it much of a chance. Maybe he would start attending church. Even if it were only to become a part of humanity for one day out of the week. Surely God would give him that.
"Erik! Oh Erik!" called Manuela. Erik's eyes scanned the shadows and he found her to the left of the pulpit by the confessionals. And speaking to a man in his late forties with graying amber hair and the black clothes and white collar that proclaimed his holy calling. The man smiled gently as Erik approached and gave him a slight nod as Manuela introduced them,
"Father Giorgio Rodriguez, I'd like to introduce M. Erik Bordeaux, newly arrived from Paris. France not Texas."
"Ah, such a long way from your native land Monsieur. What brings you here? A business venture or a fanciful whim?" the Father asked shaking Erik's hand.
Erik answered cryptically,
"I have my reasons."
The priest merely nodded and let it go at that changing the subject,
"We'll Manuela has certainly told me more about you than what drifts up to the pulpit."
"People...have spoken of me?" Erik asked.
"More of a speculation of who you are rather than anything ill, I assure you. In fact Pedro seems to have been the only one who though you up to no good, but as you and I are both aware his opinion has been altered. No, I believe the consensus last Sunday was you were the son of a rich general in Napoleon's army and you had to flee France during the siege of Paris." Father Rodriguez said.
"I'm afraid to disappoint them, but I'm an orphan and a self made man." Erik said with slight annoyance seeping through.
"Well, no family background might deter half of the dowagers looking to marry their daughters off." the priest smiled. Erik grew confused,
"What does that have to do with me?"
"Do not worry about it Senor Bordeaux. All you need to know if that I will deter the other half." Manuela said giving the Father a wink. Father Rodriguez shook his head good naturedly at Manuela's obvious meaning and Erik's oblivious naiveté, when suddenly a great shout came from above followed by several loud thumps.
"What in the name of heaven!?" the Priest said running off to investigate, Manuela and Erik hot on his heels. Sister Sarah Elizabeth opened a door and cried out,
"It's Mister Crawford Father! He's fallen down the steps of the bell tower!"
"Go fetch Doctor Webber. Hurry!" Rodriguez ordered brushing past the nun who ran out of the church. They followed the sound of a man's painful howling. Erik almost laughed when they came on the scene. A tall, handsome lanky man was sitting at the foot of the stairs clutching his ankle as Pedro exclaimed,
"He's fell while cleaning the bell, Padre!"
Crawford cursed under his breath and hissed,
"I fell when you hit the bell you little hooligan! My ears are still ringing!"
"Don't blame Pedro. I'm sure it was just an accident. Now let me see here..." Father Rodriguez said bending over to examine the man's ankle.
"OWWOW-OHH!!!" howled Crawford as soon as the priest touched his foot. Rodriguez nodded,
"Uh-huh...We'll have to wait to see what Dr. Webber says of course, but I fear that ankle may be badly sprained my son."
"Oh no! This is terrible!" Manuela cried.
"Yes, he'll be off his feet for quite a while." Erik nodded.
"But who will ever take his place in the church pageant?" Manuela asked more to herself. Crawford remarked dryly,
"Gee...I feel your heartfelt concern Manny ol' Girl..."
"Manuela my child, I think we have more important things to worry about than a church play." Father Rodriguez said.
"Oh I'm sorry Crawford is hurt Padre, but after all everyone in Heaven's Corner looks forward to the play every year. Who could we possibly get who could memorize all of Crawford's lines by tomorrow?" Manuela asked. Erik didn't know why he said it...but before he knew it the following words came out of his mouth,
"I'll do it."
Everyone turned their heads to look at Erik curiously.
"You Monsieur?" Father Rodriguez asked. Erik shrugged,
"I practically grew up in a theater. Memorizing a few dozen lines is child's play to me."
"Oh Senor Bordeux! You mean it? You shall really take the part?" Manuela said stepping before Erik, her hands folded under her chin almost like a prayer. Erik gave her a small smile and boldly took her hand and kissed the back of it. The searing kiss sent chills down Manuela's spine as she looked deeply into his luminous blue-green eyes and heard him say,
"I'll consider it a command performance."
Manuela blushed as she took back her hand, realizing they were not alone. And that there was a priest in the room. Crawford exchanged a cheeky questioning glance at Pedro who merely rolled his eyes. It was Father Rodriquez who broke the ice.
"Well, now that's settled. Let's get Senor Crawford into a bed where he can rest shall we?" the Father said beginning to pull the maintenance man to his feet. Erik stepped forward to help while Manuela went ahead with Pedro saying,
"We'll make the bed ready. Come Pedro."
With Father Rodriguez supporting Crawford's right side, Erik supported the left and asked as they began to slowly walk out of the hall,
"By the way...What play am I to be performing in?"
"Oh you'll love it! A choice roll. You get to be Don Juan himself ol' chap!" Crawford told him with a smile as Erik began to feel sick to his stomach.
Erik had little time to ponder God's sense of humor, for no sooner had they helped Crawford into a room did the doctor come to rush them out. Upon seeing the hour, Manuela told Erik that she would speak to the Priest and that he should go home and prepare for the party.
But what did he have to prepare? Upon arriving home, he put up his cane and hat, fixed himself a small snack of the leftover jam and bread, and then went upstairs to change. He dressed simply. In one of his black suits with a black domino mask. He wasn't going to stand out in a crowd tonight. Part of him was tempted to put on his white leather half mask, his evening dress and his cape lined with gold silk. But he didn't want to risk it. After all who knows what news they've heard from Texas about the recent scandal at the opera house in Paris? Around five he took a few last deep calming breaths before the mirror and then turned to head downstairs. He took his top hat and his cane, and then went out the door, pausing by the overgrown marigolds. He took one bright orange blossom and tucked it into his lapel with a smile. Then he proceeded up the hill to the Montevilla villa.
He was not completely alone on his journey, for a few early goers made their way to the party up on the walkway lined with paper candlelit lanterns. The front stair of the large open house was lined with pots of marigolds in alternating shades of oranges and yellows. The door was open, the butler greeting guests with a smile. Erik noted with curiosity each guest handed the butler a small wax candle. Erik handed the manservant his invitation and the butler nodded,
"If you will wait in the hall, Senor."
Erik obeyed, trying to keep his nerves calm as the manservant took his hat and cane. Erik was alone for a moment, the marble of the floors echoing his footsteps as he casually looked about the room with the long winding oak staircase to the left, and high vaulted ceilings with a massive chandelier above him.
"So you are Erik Bordeaux." said a man's voice behind him. Erik turned, finding himself face to face with none other that Don Ricardo Montevilla. Montevilla was clearly sizing up the taller Frenchman before him. Erik cleared his throat and nodded,
"So I am, Monsieur Montevilla. Thank you for inviting me to your home."
"It was not I who invited you...but my daughter." Montevilla corrected him stepping forward with a decanter of whiskey in one hand, two small glasses in the other.
"Certainly Monsieur." Erik nodded.
"I merely allowed it." Montevilla added quirking a brow at Erik as he began to pour.
"Or course." Erik said with as much respect in his tone he could muster. This was certainly a new experience. Not even with Christine did he have to worry about confronting the father. Of course it was a slightly different situation with Manuela. After all, Erik wasn't manipulating Manuela to love him.
"Here, have a drink. Quickly now for my wife doesn't allow me to drink anymore." Ricardo said handing Erik a glass and pouring himself a drink."
"Thank you M. Montevilla." Erik said slightly amused by Ricardo's fear of his wife's wrath.
"To your health." Ricardo said raising his glass in a slight toast. Erik raised his and took a swift gulp of the strong liquor with the elder gentleman. Satisfied, Ricardo sighed and looked almost mournfully into his glass as he asked Erik,
"So M. Bordeaux, my daughter could not stop talking about you all day. Starting at breakfast. Which makes me wonder where and when she met you."
"Yesterday...Her young friend Pedro threw a rock into my window and she made him come into my house to apologize." Erik said, wisely leaving out any hint of Manuela's second visit to his home.
"Well, I must hand it to you Senor. No man has been able to hold my daughter's interest for twenty four minutes let alone twenty four hours. What is it that you do for a living?" Montevilla asked pouring Erik another drink.
"I make most of my money earning commissions for my architectural designs." Erik said while thinking to himself, "Not to mention extorting money out of idiotic managers at Opera Houses."
Montevilla actually began to nod in approval as Erik took a sip of his drink, when a feminine voice came down the stair,
"Ricardo? What are you doing with that whiskey bottle?"
Quickly pocketing his shot glass, Ricardo looked up at his wife and said nonchalantly,
"I was merely offering our quest a drink, my dove."
Erik was struck by how much of Manuela he could see in her beautiful mother. The Montevillas made quite a pair as a bullfighter and his supportive flamingo dancer. And as Maria cast her husband a suspicious smirk, she said to Erik,
"Senor Bordeaux. A pleasure to have you in our home."
Erik took her proffered hand, and with a slight bow, he said,
"Thank you for tolerating my presence, Madame."
Maria Montevilla turned her curious face to Erik now. Something in his voice spoke of self depreciation. Something told her this young man did not think highly of himself. She slowly began to smile as she assessed that her daughter was exactly what he needed.
"Manuela should be down in a moment. So Senor Bordeaux, " Maria began noting how Erik's eyes lit up at mention of her daughter's name, " How are you finding Heaven's Corner so far?"
Just before he could answer, Erik became aware of another presence joining them. Erik's jaw slightly dropped at the vision descending the stair with a knowing smirk on her face. Head to toe in black velvet, her skirts slim and showing off her hips, with a long bushy fur tail trailing down her bustle all the way to the floor, Manuela held up a black cat mask to her face delicately with one hand covered in long, black opera gloves that were altered to show off sharp looking claws.
"Lovely..." Erik finally said, leaving his hosts to wonder if he meant Heaven's Corner or their daughter.
"...And we pray Father...that while we celebrate the life you've given us, we will remember how your Son the Christ died on the cross to save us from death. And conquered death by raising to life three days later. In the name of the Father, and the Son and of the Holy Ghost...Amen" Father Rodriguez said finishing his prayer with the sign of the Trinity.
"Amen." chorused the town of Heaven's Corner, the Catholics making the sign of the cross as they finished. Even Erik said under his breath,
"Amen."
He looked up from his place besides Manuela and saw Don Ricardo pat the priest on the back with a smile and then shout out to the crowd,
"Friends! Let the fiesta begin!"
And like magic, fireworks shot up into the cool night sky and exploded into burst of color, earning laughter from the children and applause from the adults. A mariachi band tapped their feet and began to play music, joyful music Erik had never heard before. Couples, old and young began to fill the courtyard and dance to the rhythm permeating the air. Erik looked over and noticed the servants setting up dozens of candles on the tables serving food. Catching Manuela's attention, Erik asked over the music in her ear,
"What are those candles for?"
"We give the hosts candles to honor the visiting spirits. Then we get tamales and atole to join our departed in their feasting." Manuela explained, taking Erik's arm and walking him towards the food.
"And if you don't bring a candle?" Erik asked.
"Well, you still get food, but you'll be expected to bring two candles to make up for it!" Manuela said with an amused grin on her face. Erik accepted the cup of bright thick liquid handed to him. He tasted it with but a tiny sip, rolling it around on his tongue. It had a hint of cream, but it was mostly fruit he tasted.
"Hmm..." Erik shrugged, "Not at all unpleasant."
"Oh come now, M. Bordeaux...I know that sweet tooth of yours must be rejoicing." Manuela teased him. Erik smiled and sighed,
"Do you know how much you delight me?"
Manuela lowered her eyelashes and leaned in close and whispered,
"No...but I would love to find out."
She giggled and pulled him along to the dance floor. At first Erik stiffened up at the thought of being so close to others, but one look in Manuela's brilliant smile and they were the only ones in the room. He spent the evening in a cocoon of Manuela's presence, breathing every inch of her in like the copal incense on the alters around the party. Soon, Manuela excused herself for a moment to freshen up, leaving Erik to get himself another atole and then return to the shadows where he felt more comfortable. He watched the families and couples laugh, the children bob for apples and the antics of Don Ricardo trying to sneak a drink while Donna Maria wasn't looking. He chuckled coming to the realization that he was not longing to join the fun...for he was, in a small way, a part of it. In his old life as an opera ghost, he would dream of being the chap in the corner, amusing himself while he waited for his lady friend to return from powdering her nose. Now, Erik was that chap in the corner.
But Erik did not realize that slime also liked dark corners until he heard,
"Good Evening...Bordeaux, is it?"
Erik looked to his right and all amusement was gone from his face. It was Alejandro Garcia, the man he recognized as the one who led the attack on Manuela. Erik's grip on his glass tightened as he said a clipped,
"Good evening, Monsieur Garcia."
"Splendid party no? The Montevillas spare no expense to honor some silly superstition." Garcia said looking out on the activity around him.
"Superstition?" Erik asked. Alejandro gave Erik a patronizing smile,
"Come Bordeaux...We are men of the world. The Day of the Dead is no more than an excuse to drink tequila on brisk fall evenings and gorge ourselves on sweets. Not that I need an excuse mind you. For I have been known to indulge in some fine tequila..."
"And do you gorge yourself on sweets?" Erik asked. Alejandro cast an leering eye towards some attractive young ladies gossiping by the refreshments. He laughed,
"Well...sweet enough..."
Just when Erik thought he tasted bile in the back of his throat, Alejandro continued,
"Speaking of sweet, where is the charming Miss Manuela? You haven't exhausted the poor girl with those two left feet of yours now have you?"
Sneering at the poor joke, Erik said,
"No Mlle. Montevilla needed some fresh air after she got caught downwind from your breath, Monsieur...If you will excuse me?"
Alejandro glared at Erik's back and once he was sure no one was looking, puffed a breath into the cup of his hand and sniffed.
Meanwhile, for Erik, finding one black cat in a sea of masks and skulls was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. He craned his neck, but apparently, black was this year's most popular color for costumes. About to give up and go home, Erik suddenly had the strong urge to look down. He found himself in a staring contest with a bright eyed little boy no taller than his knee and dressed as a cowboy. The little blonde boy with freckles merely gapped up at Erik who finally got around to asking,
"What? Are you lost?"
"Pedro said you were desperate." the boy finally said. Pursing his lips dryly, Erik said,
"I hope for his sake you meant desperado..."
"Are you really gonna rob the bank?" the child asked when Pedro, dressed as a fox, came up to them. He scolded the younger child,
"Tommy! I told you Senor Bordeaux is alright. Now come on! It's time for the ofrendas!"
Catching Pedro before he ran off, Erik asked,
"Pedro have you seen Mlle. Montevilla?"
"Manuela? Oh yeah...There she is!" Pedro pointed up at a set of stairs. Erik saw the woman scanning the crowds. When her eyes landed on him, she smiled and Erik's breath caught in his chest. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine a woman looking at him like Manuela was now. Maybe this was a dream. If it was Erik never wanted to wake up. He made his way to join her as Don Ricardo got everyone's attention once more.
"Friends!" he said. "I hope you are enjoying yourselves and more importantly, the spirits are pleased. Now we come to the portion of the evening where we lay ofrendas to honor los angelitos at the alters. As is tradition in Heaven's Corner, we ask the children to present their gifts first. Children." Ricardo said nodding for the children to begin. Erik slowed his ascent up to Manuela's side as he watched the boys and girls lay before the alters around the courtyard brand new toys and games and then rejoining their parents. It was very silent and in Erik's mind, there should have been a sweet, melancholy but hopeful flute playing. He whispered to Manuela,
"What are they doing? Ofrendas are gifts to dead, right? Why are they giving away toys?"
Manuela was silent a moment before she smiled up at Erik,
"Because children are taken to heaven on the back of angel's wings as well as grown-ups."
Erik grew silent with understanding, as Manuela began to explain to him that the Finnegans used to have nine boys not seven, Pedro had brothers and a sister who died in the accident and that Mrs. Periwig had a nephew die on the crossing. When Erik saw Maria Montevilla place a stuffed bear before an alter, he looked to Manuela who simply said,
"My baby brother."
And though he knew she viewed death as a part of life, still Erik squeezed her hand.
Soon Don Ricardo spoke up before the crowd,
"Now would anyone like to do something to entertain los angelitos before we continue with the fiesta?"
To Erik's sheer and utter terror, Pedro shouted out above the hushed crowd,
"Get Senor Bordeaux to do some magic tricks!"
There was a wave of murmurs as Heaven's Corner looked up to their newest citizen, who was not only pale, but a little green around the gills. Manuela merely giggled behind her gloved hand as Donna Maria said,
"What a wonderful idea Pedro!"
"Well M. Bordeaux! It seems you have a command performance." Don Ricardo said waving him down.
"And to be followed tomorrow night when he is to play Don Juan." Father Rodriguez spoke up as waves of surprise and delight went through the crowd.
"I wouldn't want to impose..." Erik tried to say. But Manuela began to pull him down by the arm saying,
"Well you've already got the spirits excited so you might as well do it!"
He was met with polite applause as he went forward to the small platform over the crowd. Adjusting his cufflinks, Erik couldn't help but flashback to his time with the gypsies. It was only his logical mind that kept telling him that he wouldn't be beaten into taking his mask off and made a laughing stock before the crowds.
"It's not a sideshow, it's a party...it's not a sideshow...it's a party..." Erik kept telling himself. He looked at the waiting crowd and rubbed his hands together,
"Well..." he said unsure of where to begin, "Since our young friend Pedro here volunteered me into this predicament..." he was amazed when he received a few chuckles, "I might as well return the favor and make him my volunteer."
Now it was Pedro's turn to look like a deer caught by the hunter's gun. Erik helped him onto the platform, but he did not let go of Pedro's hand. He tilted it up to look up Pedro's sleeve and said,
"Pedro...didn't anyone teach you that when it comes to magic you should have nothing up your sleeves?"
Pedro looked confused but then his jaw dropped when he saw Erik begin to pull a long trail of colored scarves out of Pedro's sleeves. The audience laughed and the applause was almost nonstop as Erik proceeded to pull coins out of midair, make them disappear and then reappear in Pedro's pocket. He then did some tricks on his own using fire and rope, earning 'oohs' and awe from the crowd. His finale was presenting a single red rose to Manuela out of his handkerchief. He barely acknowledged the praise from the partygoers who came up to him afterwards. All he focused on was Manuela smiling at him.