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As night fell over the La Bouffe mansion, which overlooked Lake Pontchartrain, jazz music and the smell of boiling crawfish filled the night. Moonshine and dandelion wine flowed like water.

The La Bouffe mansion was a graceful white antebellum house with green wrought iron balustrades and black shutters. A row of ancient oak trees with beards of Spanish moss lead up the front door.

Persephone Hades was at the center of the party, easily distinguishable by her bright green evening dress.

She took swigs from a bottle of dandelion wine and danced around without any inhibitions.
Orpheus wondered if anyone was ever invited to his aunt's Mardi Gras dances, or if she just put the word out that she was having one and all of New Orleans just showed up. No matter how many people showed up, there was always enough food. A giant pot filled with crawfish, carrots and corn on the cob simmered over a camp fire set up on the front lawn.

Several chocolate Doberge cakes stood on pedestals atop the balustrade of the front porch.

A mountain of bottles of dandelion wine and jugs of moonshine loomed over the cakes.

The jazz band was set up on the front porch and the guests danced on the wide dirt path which lead up the house. They flitted among the oak trees, disappearing two by two. Stars twinkled through the intertwining branches of the two rows of oaks that  formed a canopy over the dirt path.
The guests were from all walks of life. Rich folks in their flashy suits and evening gowns and suits and poor folks in their patched up overalls and dresses made from calico feed sacks.
Orpheus grabbed himself a plate of crawfish and a mason jar filled with moonshine. The crawfish was tender and tasted fantastic; the moonshine flowed down his throat like water.
"Hello," a sweet voice said from behind him.
Orpheus turned around to see Eurydice. She wore a pretty green chiffon dress and her hair was braided in a wreath around her head. Standing there in the moonlight, she looked stunning. Her skin was like black pearl and her eyes like smoky quartz.
Orpheus smiled.
"I knew you would be here," he said.
The sound of a train's whistle and the chugging of its wheels were heard off in the distance.
"What was that?" Eurydice asked, "I didn't know there was a train line near here."
Orpheus shrugged his shoulders in confusion.
"It's the Styx line," a voice joined in. The couple turned to see Mr. Hermes, the old beggar they had met earlier that day. "It goes to Hadestown."
"And where is that?"
"It's a factory and mining town about six miles outside of New Orleans that's been springing up over the past few years. A lot of poor souls have been leaving town for there because they have nowhere else to go."
"I would never sell my soul like that," Orpheus joined in, "Just to slave away all day in a mine or factory and only get a few nickels and dimes for my pains. What kind of life is that for a man? There's no fresh air and freedom."
"Well son," Mr. Hermes replied, "I don't think they had much of a choice. Some of them made the choice and now regret it."
Mr. Hermes turned toward where Persephone was dancing up a storm. From the way his aunt appeared to be having a great time, Orpheus figured that she had never had a regret in her life.
"Orpheus, What are you waiting for, boy," She hooted at him, "Ask the girl to dance."
Orpheus blushed.
"Care to dance?" He mumbled to Eurydice.
"Why not," She replied with a coy smile, "It's not like I have anything better to do."
Mr. Hermes walked over to where the band was playing and asked them to do a slow song.  Orpheus and Eurydice clasped hands; he put his hand on her waist, she put her hand on his shoulder, and they began to dance the foxtrot.

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"So you know Persephone Hades?" she asked him.
"She's my aunt," he answered, "Her half-brother Apollon La Bouffe is my dad."
"I didn't know Apollon La Bouffe had a son."
"I don't imagine he talks about me much. My mama  had to raise me and my little brother, Sammy, all by herself."
"I know how that feels. My dad was never around either. My momma died when I four, so it's been just me and my sister Marie for most of my life."
"I left home two years ago when I was fourteen, so my mama would have one less mouth to feed."
"So, you're sixteen?"
"Yes."
"That's how old I am."
When the song ended, a more than a little bit tipsy Persephone climbed up onto the porch and lifted up her glass. Her eyes were fixed on Orpheus.
"Let the poet bless this round," she said.
Orpheus stepped toward. Mr. Hermes handed him a jar of moonshine which he raised in a toast.
"To the patroness of all of this, Persephone," he said.
"Here, here," Hermes joined in.
The crowd raised their glasses and cups towards Persephone.
"To the sunshine and the fruit of the vine she gives us every year. Asking nothing in return 'cept that we should live and learn to live as brothers in this life and to trust she will provide. If no one takes too much, there will always be enough. She will always fill our cups and we will always fill them up."
Orpheus took a big gulp of his moonshine and put it down the banister of the porch with a loud thud.
"Let the world we dream about be the one we live in now."
A/N Orpheus's toast comes from the song Living it up on Top.
After he finished his toast, Orpheus walked back over to where Eurydice was waiting for him.
"Come," he said, taking her hand, "Let's get out of here."