"If you'll let me buy the drink."
"If you insist … But if you do, we'll have to have another one so that I can buy you one."
"That's swell … shall we go?"
"Shall I call a cab or would you prefer to walk?"
"Let's walk … you said it's not very far, didn't you?"
"No, it's not far."
"I'd love to walk if you don't mind."
"I don't mind."
They started down the street. Gaylord looked at the moving traffic. He tried to catch glimpses of the faces inside, but it was difficult, for the tops of the cars hid them. It didn't really matter … He was just interested in the passing parade. Interested in the buildings they were passing, restaurants, laundries, a small flower stand, juke joints, hotels. Mostly it was bars from which loud, brittle music blared.
This life was fascinating to Gaylord. He noticed a buxom dark girl come from one of the bars with a man's arm around her waist. Her big solid breasts pointing the way for her widely swinging hips to follow.
Paul noted the girl also, said: "Well, it looks like she's going to have fun, doesn't it."
"Sure does … She's not very pretty, is she?"
"She certainly isn't," Paul agreed. "Is this your first trip to New Orleans, Gaylord?"
"The first in a long time. And call me Gay, Paul."
"Gay." Paul pronounced the name very dramatically, then said: "That's a perfect name for you … Gay … You look 'gay'." He grinned.
"I feel gay tonight."
"You do?"
"It's so much fun to be here in New Orleans … I just love it." His gaze left Paul and turned to the buildings. He noticed the pictures of nude girls in front of the places they passed. He listened to the sound of juke boxes, pianos and singers that came through the open doors. He looked back at his new friend and decided again he liked him. He looked so clean, so well dressed, and his person had such a good healthy scent. Tweed, he speculated.
