They spent two hours wandering the exhibits before heading to the carnival section. The transformation from serious art gallery to playful chaos was immediate and jarring. Game booths lined the streets, vendors hawked food and souvenirs, and somewhere a calliope played a jaunty tune.
“Oh my God,” Ruby exclaimed. “Is that a ring toss with actual prizes?”
“Looks like it.”
“I'm amazing at ring toss. Watch this.”
Ruby dragged Celeste over to the booth, where the attendant—a man in his sixties with kind eyes and a Saints cap—greeted them warmly.
“Three dollars for five rings,” he said. “Land all five and you win any prize on the top shelf.”
“Deal.” She handed over the money, accepting the wooden rings with the seriousness of someone preparing for battle.
“You're very intense about this,” Celeste observed.
“Ring toss is serious business.” She lined up her first shot, bit her lip in concentration, and tossed. The ring sailed over the bottle and landed perfectly.
“Beginner's luck.”
“Skill and determination.” She landed the second ring, then the third. “This is about honor and glory.”
“It's about a stuffed animal.”
“It's about proving I can do something frivolous and do it well.” Fourth ring. “Also I really want that alligator for you.”
“The stuffed alligator?”
“It's adorable and it matches your personality.”
“I'm not sure how to take that.”
“As a compliment.” Fifth ring. “Yes!”
The attendant applauded, grinning. “Well done, miss. Pick your prize.”
Ruby pointed to the stuffed alligator, bright green with ridiculous googly eyes. The attendant handed it over, and she immediately presented it to Celeste with a flourish.
“For you, my lady.”
Celeste took the alligator, trying not to show how much the gesture touched her. It was silly, just a carnival prize. But Ruby had won it for her with such determination and such obvious delight in the accomplishment.
“Thank you.” She held on to the alligator as if it were made of diamonds. Precious. Because it was.
“You're welcome. Now you have something to remember New Orleans by.”
Like I could ever forget,Celeste thought.
They moved on to other games. Ruby failed spectacularly at the water gun race and Celeste surprised them both by winning at balloon darts. They sampled pralines from a vendor who swore her recipe had been passed down for five generations, the sugar melting on Celeste's tongue.
“Try this.”
She tore off a piece of her beignet and held it out for Celeste to take. Powdered sugar dusted her nose and chin.
Celeste leaned in to take the bite, then laughed. “You're covered in sugar.”
“I know. It's a beignet hazard.” Ruby grinned, completely unself-conscious. “Worth it though.”
Celeste reached up, brushing sugar off Ruby's nose with her thumb. The gesture was intimate, domestic, and for a moment they just stood there in the crowd, looking at each other.
