CHAPTER FIVE
After the calls were made, Deanna and the rest of the board were working with the teams in charge of creating the floats. Every parade had a theme, and this year, they were celebrating the foods of New Orleans. Each float was going to be highlighting the specialties of the region. Gumbo, jambalaya, beignets, seafood, and so much more.
“Charles, this looks amazing!” laughed Deanna. “How on earth did you get a thirty-foot crawfish with moving pincers on that trailer?”
“I can’t tell you all my secrets, Deanna,” he smirked. “She’s a beauty, though, isn’t she? Crawfish is a big part of our community and the money that we bring in. She’ll be front and center at the parade.”
“It’s amazing.” She looked around and spotted another float. “Oh my gosh, Harry, that oyster is fabulous! Does it open far enough for someone to sit inside?”
“Well, I could make it that way,” he smiled. “I think we could make sure the hinge stays open, and we’ll place a seat inside. It would look great with a girl inside the shell. I’ll have the boys make sure it’s safe.”
“I love that! She can be the pearl of the float.”
Deanna continued to walk around the massive warehouse that served as their home for developing the entire parade and her floats. Each parade would usually have at least one massive warehouse, some two or three, depending on their size. New Orleans even gave tours of the ‘Mardi Gras Graveyard,’ a famous group of warehouses and spaces that showcased previous floats.
“Miss Deanna?” said a young man, running toward her.
“What’s wrong, Petey? And it’s just Deanna, honey.”
“There’s some girl at the front screaming and yelling. Mr. Oscar said to run and get you,” said the young man breathlessly.
“Great,” she muttered. Following the young man toward the front of the warehouse, she could hear the young girl’s voice getting louder and louder. As it did, Deanna knew exactly who she was dealing with.
“You’re a bunch of stupid idiots!” she screamed at Oscar.
“Enough!” said Deanna. “You will not come into this place of business and act like a fool. Lower your voice, or I will have you arrested.”
The young woman glared at Deanna, obviously used to getting her way with that glare.
“Why wasn’t I chosen as queen?” she said through clenched teeth.
“Although you did well, you did not do as well as some others,” said Deanna. “And this little display is not helping you at all. You are on the court, but I can remove you from that as well.”
“I deserve to know how on earth you believe Louisa Pollock is more qualified than I am for queen of the parade.” Deanna smiled, nodding at the young woman.
“Have a seat,” she said calmly. Lottie stared at her, then back at the table with the chairs. “I said, have a seat. Or leave. Those are your options.”
She took the seat, her arms folded across her chest.
“Lottie, are you aware that folded arms are interpreted as someone who doesn’t want to listen and isn’t open to any feedback?” The young girl just stared at her. “Unfold your arms.”
“Fine,” she said, thrusting her arms to her sides. “Better?”
“No. Not even close. This,” she said, waving her pen in a big circle around the girl, “is why you weren’t selected.”
“What do you mean? I’m much prettier than any of the girls, especially Louisa,” she scoffed.
“Did you read the requirements for queen, Lottie? Never mind. I know that you didn’t. The requirements are, and I quote, ‘…the queen of Mardi Gras must be between the ages of sixteen and nineteen. She must be currently in high school, college, or a vocational school. She should have a B average or above, be involved in extracurricular activities, and spend at least twenty hours per month in volunteer activities.”
“How am I supposed to volunteer when I do all the other things?” she snapped.
“I don’t know. Ask the other girls who all met the criteria,” said Deanna, staring at the girl. “The criteria goes on to explain a number of things, not the least is that the queen should be kind, considerate, compassionate, and show humility. Which you have shown none.”
“What is your problem, lady? Are you just mad because you’re not up there?”
“Your parents have really failed you, Lottie. You will not survive a moment in a sorority with that attitude. I should know. I was president of my sorority. In fact, I’m still part of the alumni board. This might shock you but it’s the very sorority that you plan to rush in the fall.”
That got her attention. She sat up straighter, staring at the woman on the other side of the table. Damn. She didn’t know that. Deanna could prevent her from rushing her sorority in the fall.
“That’s right,” smiled Deanna. “I’m not sure what you believe being in a sorority is like, but we spend a lot of time volunteering. We help to build houses, we donate our time to hospitals, orphanages, daycare centers, nursing homes, and so many more places. The young women selected for entrance to the sorority must be good students but have a record of volunteer work and be kind and considerate.”
“They have to be pretty, too,” said Lottie.
“Lottie, there is no requirement for looks, weight, height, fashion, none of it. The way that you have presented yourself to us would immediately close the door for you. You are selfish, self-centered, self-serving, all the selfs,” frowned Deanna.
“I make good grades, and I’m captain of the pep squad!”
“And you’re rude. You do not volunteer for anything or anyone, and your attitude, quite frankly, stinks. The way you treated others during the interview day, including the judges, was appalling. Had I, and many of the judges, had our way, you would not have made the float at all.”
“I deserve to be on that float!” she said, standing over the table.
“You’ll have to prove that to us, but you will not be queen, Lottie. Not by a longshot.”
“The rules say if the queen gets sick, the second steps up,” she smirked.
“You are not second.” Lottie’s mouth opened and closed. “There is a queen, and this year, eight members of court. We expanded because of the great quality of candidates. Of the eight, you are number eight, Lottie. You will not be queen.”
“You’ll regret this! All of you!”