Shame the Stars
by Guadalupe García McCall
Before us was the most extravagant birthday party I had ever attended. Lupita’s parents weren’t rich, not by any means. It was obvious her parents had called in many favors from friends and family. The live music was not being provided by the usual conjunto group, but a long-tailed band. The músicos were Mexican, but they weren’t local, certainly no group I’d ever seen before.
The decorations were beyond extravagant. The whole room was swathed in wide colorful ribbons. The swatches of cloth extended from the ceiling at the center of the room, billowing outward in every direction. At the edge of the ceiling, the giant ribbons were fastened with enormous bows and dropped downward, elegantly draping the walls until they dusted the floor. Every table had a different-colored skirt, and on every runner lay a huge elaborately decorated chest with bedazzled fans; long beaded necklaces; and assorted jewels the guests could crown and pin on each other, layering them on one after another until they looked like royals.
As we moved into the warmly lit room, staying in the shadows by skirting the cold stucco wall, masked girls dressed in rich, luxurious, long dresses walked past us, giggling with their friends. Some of the more sedate ones sat at elegantly draped tables with their sisters and mamás, waiting to be asked to dance by the masked boys milling around the room.
Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare
Enter Capulet, with Juliet and others of his house, meeting the Guests and Maskers
Capulet.
Welcome, gentlemen! ladies that have their toes
Unplagu'd with corns will have a bout with you.—
Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all
Will now deny to dance? she that makes dainty,
She, I'll swear, hath corns; am I come near ye now?—
Welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the day
That I have worn a visor and could tell
A whispering tale in a fair lady's ear,
Such as would please; 'tis gone, 'tis gone, 'tis gone.—
You are welcome, gentlemen!—Come, musicians, play.—
A hall, a hall! give room! and foot it, girls.— [Music plays, and they dance.]
More light, you knaves; and turn the tables up,
And quench the fire, the room is grown too hot.—
Ah, sirrah, this unlook'd-for sport comes well.—
Nay, sit, nay, sit, good cousin Capulet,
For you and I are past our dancing days.
How long is 't now since last yourself and I
Were in a mask?
Juliet.
By your leave, we will not stay to-night.
Capulet.
Nay, 'tis so, then we are sudden so dull;
And now, good night! Good night, ladies; good night, sweet ladies; good night, good night.