I caught Maggie’s sidewards glance as she winked at me. “Oh Mama, I can’t wait to have some tea,” she said.

Perplexed at this point, I just followed them both, preparing myself for whatever was coming next, and something told me that we were just getting started with who knows what.

Letting my eyes adjust to the candlelit interior of Mama’s house, I detected a slight odor of incense. The smell reminded me of clove, and as I looked around the room I saw the most amazing collection of antique furniture. It was like I’d stepped back into a time long passed, during the early days of the French colonization of New Orleans. The house was immaculate and the wallpaper and rugs were a deep red. I’d say they were vermillion red, of course.

“Honey, what are you doing out there? We’re in the kitchen. Come in here and have some tea,” Maggie said.

Following the direction of Maggie’s voice, I saw them seated at a round table in the corner of the kitchen, lit candles everywhere. I was beginning to wonder if Mama even had electricity in the house, but I spotted an old yellow 1950s style refrigerator in the corner and realized that Mama just preferred candles.