Mr. Punch walked stiffly into Marie Laveau’s dark front parlor. He paused in the doorway and stretched, moaning slightly, pausing to sniff his own clothes which were heavy with the scents of smoke and sweat. He giggled and lumbered into the room.
“Mornin’, Magic Chum,” He said hoarsely, spotting Marie Laveau who was seated by the cold, empty hearth.
“You’re up early, Your Grace,” Marie nodded.
“Well, I couldn’t sleep. Not with all them snorin’ blokes stacked up ‘round me.” Mr. Punch sighed.
Marie chuckled. “You ain’t used to sleepin’ in the same room with seven other men and two babies.”
“No.” Punch shook his head. “But, here, I ain’t complainin’, I ain’t. You been awful kind to let us all stay here.”
“Ain’t nothin’. I just wish I could have found more room for all of ya.”
“It were kind of your men to let some of Pete’s chums stay with them in their rooms.”
“Still it left seven of ya in one room.” Marie smiled.
“Ah well. I’m used to Robert and Colin. But, them other blokes—that Charles sure can snore like he’s some kind of wild pig.”
Marie laughed.
“How are you this morning, Miss Laveau?” Punch asked.
“Please call me Marie.” Marie nodded.
“You can call me “Mr. Punch.”
“Can I ask why?”
Punch chuckled. “Cuz that’s what I am.”
“I know that the ‘Great Man of the Rocks’ is two men in one body.” Marie replied thoughtfully. “But, I gotta be honest, I don’t quite know what a ‘Mr. Punch’ is.”
Punch snorted. “It ain’t easy to ‘xplain.” He sat down next to Marie. “I’m Mr. Punch. See, I were a puppet. You heard o’ me. ‘Punch and Judy.’ Me master—the Duke—he had such a puppet and when he were a child he spoke to me cuz I were his only chum. After awhile, I got to be like a real person, and, well, it were easier for this Punch part of him to live life than it were for him to do it on his own.” Punch squinted and scrunched up his nose. “I’m probably not tellin’ it right.”
“I understand.” Marie smiled. “But, you’re the Duke, too.”
“Yes.”
“I see that all your friends, they address ya like you’re the Duke all the time.”
“They been doin’ that lately.” Punch shrugged. “I don’t like it much. But, Robert—he told me that it’s important to honor me master’s title and rank. That goes with the body. If I’m to continue livin’ like this, then, Robert tells me, I’m to get used to bein’ the Duke—even if I am still Mr. Punch.”
“He’s right. He’s a wise man, your companion.”
“He is.” Punch replied happily. “Only, you didn’t answer me question.”
“What’s that?”
“How are ya?”
Marie nodded slowly. “I’m a little sad, Your Grace.”
“I bet you ain’t just a little sad. You lost your baby. I can’t ‘magine. I were terrible sad when Colin were taken from me, but I knew I’d get him back.”
“My baby ain’t comin’ back.” Marie sighed.
“I know. And, I’m terrible sorry for ya.”
“No sense thinkin’ ‘bout it,” Marie answered, taking a deep breath and standing up. “Now, I’ll bet you’re hungry.”
“Always.” Punch smiled.
“I got some andouille.”
“Sausages!” Punch chirped. “I love ‘em!”
“I’ll get the fire goin’.” Marie grinned, happy to have a man around the house who appreciated her cooking. She stepped over Mr. Punch and said “’Xcuse me.” She, then, roared with laughter.
“What’s funny?” Punch raised his eyebrows.
“Honey, I mean to disrespect, but you don’t smell like no Duke.”
“I know.” Punch blushed. “All me clothes was burned up. Gamilla took me jewel case from the fire, but I ain’t got no clothes.”
“I wish I had somethin’ for ya to wear.” Marie shook her head. “My husbands were a lot bigger than you. Maybe I can get one of my girls to find somethin’ for ya.”
“Here, I got a question for ya.”
“Go on,” Marie smiled.
“What do your girls do? It ain’t like Iolanthe’s place is it?”
“Oh, no.” Marie laughed. “My girls—they do hair. They go to the rich ladies’ houses and do their hair.”
“Oh.” Punch nodded.
“They do a fine job. The ladies, they talk to my girls, and then they come back here and tell me what they said. That’s how I always know what’s goin’ on in this city.”
“Ah,” Punch squinted. “I see. So, how many girls you got?”
“Six.” Marie replied, taking a frying pan from a cupboard. “Well, five, I reckon. One of my girls can’t come as often as she used to. She’s got a baby.”
“A new baby?”
“Not too new.” Marie shook her head. “’Bout as old as your Colin. He’s a cute little boy—skin so white you’d never know he had a quadroon mama. I think his papa was a white man, but Lily ain’t sayin’. Funny thing is, she’s too young for to be a mama. Still a girl herself. Poor thing ain’t ready for it. You know, Your Grace, she almost went to Iolanthe with the baby.”
“To sell him?”
“That’s right.” Marie nodded. “I talked her out of it. My eldest daughter—Marie—she helps Lily out as best she can. Lily’s always sayin’ that she wishes she could do right by her boy. All we can do is help. Sometimes I think Lily would have been smarter to…”
Marie paused and looked at Mr. Punch who met her eyes with an understanding expression.
“What’s the boy look like?” Punch asked.
“He’s got dark hair like your Colin.” Marie began to smile.
“And, he’s got pale skin?” Punch continued.
"Yes."
“And, the girl—she wants to give the baby a new home?” Punch raised his eyebrows.
“Yes, she does, Sir.” Marie set the frying pan down.
“Do you think I can meet this Lily?” Mr. Punch wondered.
“I’ll send for her right away.” Marie winked.
Did you miss Chapters 1-478? If so, you can read them here.
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