A/N: I know I said I was going to put this up when I finished it, but I got writers block for that, so, I decided to put that up. I don't own Les Misrables or the song I used called Ruggleton's Daughter of Iero. I do own Alexandre Accord, Helene Sherri, and the Mountaingreen family.
"Mae, wake up!"
I felt a pillow hit me in the head. I sat up.
"Eddie!" I groaned.
Edward, or Eddie, laughed then rushed away from the doorway. I got out of bed and started chasing after him.
When we got down stairs, our mother shouted at us.
"No running in the house!" she called.
"Sorry, Ma!" we called back.
"I'll get you for this," I said.
I went back upstairsd to change. When I was done, I went downstairs to have breakfast. I took my seet next to the head of the table where my father sat.
"I heard you were chasing Eddie earlier," said my oldest sister, twenty-year-old Sally.
"Yes, I was," I said.
She turned to Ma.
"Mother, please tell Mabelle that she will never find a husband if she keeps running around like
that," said Sally.
Ma gave me a smile and then gave Sally a look.
"Sally, she was only having a bit of fun," said Ma.
"And please, let's not talk of marriage yet," said Daddy. "I'm not ready to think of such things."
"But, Father, she's fifteen," said Sally. "There are women who are engaged at her age."
"Sally, you're five years older than me and you're not engaged," I said.
Sally huffed and glared at me. I smirked.
"No fighting, please," Ma said.
We stayed silent for a few moments.
"Edward, should we tell them?" Ma asked.
"Tell us what, Pa?" William, or Will, my twenty-one-year-old brother asked.
"That we're moving to Paris," said Daddy.
"Paris?!" we all exclaimed.
"Yes, Paris," said Daddy.
"When will we be moving?" asked Will's twin brother Benjamin, or Ben.
"Next month," said Daddy.
"Mommy?" six-year-old Imogene asked.
"Yes?" Ma asked.
"Where's Paris?" Imogen asked.
"It's in France," said Ma. "All the way across the ocean.
"How do we get to the ocean?" asked five-year-old Catherine or Kitty.
"The same way we get to everywhere else," said Ma. "By carriage."
My siblings and I groaned. I had fifteen other siblings. After Will and Ben, there was Sally, then
eighteen-year-old Rebecca, or Becky, then, me, fifteen-year-old Mabelle, or Mae, then fourteen-year-old Eddie, then twelve-year-old Ellen, or Ellie, then eleven-year-old Samuel, or Sam, ten-year-old Elizabeth, or Lizzie, nine-year-old, Abigail, or Nabby, seven-year-old Dorothy, who we called Do, Imogene, Kitty, three-year-old Grace, or Gracie, two-year-old twins Lydia, or Lyddie, and Lewis, and three-month-old Zelda. There was also an orphan we looked after named Daisy Freebourne. And with Ma and Daddy, nineteen people in a carriage would be torment.
"May I tell Mary, Esther and Rhonda after breakfast?" I asked Ma.
Ma nodded.
After breakfast, I was walking through town with my two best friend Esther Cole and Rhonda Woods.
"So, I have some big news," I said.
"What is it?" Esther asked.
"I'm moving," I said.
Mary, Esther and Rhonda's faces fell.
"Moving?" Mary, Rhonda and Esther asked at the same time.
"Where?" Rhonda asked.
"Paris," I said.
"Paris?" Mary repeated.
"When?" Esther asked.
"Next month," I said.
"We only have a month left?" Rhonda asked.
"I'm sure we'll see each other again," I said. "And we'll write to each other, won't we?"
Mary Esther and Rhonda looked at each other then looked at me.
"Yes," said Rhond.
"We will," said Esther.
"I'm sure of it," said Mary.
We walked through the town until it got dark.
"Ma!" I called when I entered the house.
Ma came rushing up to me, hugging me tightly.
"Where have you been?" Ma asked. "I've been worried sick."
"I know, I'm sorry," I said. "Rhonda, Mary, Esther and I lost track of time."
"Well," said Ma, "you're safe, that's all that matters. Go to your father's study. He'll want to know you're safe."
I nodded and walked up to Daddy's study.
"Daddy?" I said softly, opening the door.
Daddy stood up and walked over to me and hugged me tightly like Ma did.
"What took you so long getting home?" Daddy asked.
"Esther, Rhonda and I lost track of time," I said.
"You're safe, that's all that matters," Daddy said, repeating what Ma had said.
I smiled.
"That's the same thing Ma said," I said.
Daddy chuckled and kissed my head.
"Goodnight, Daddy," I said, leaving his study.
"Goodnight, my dear," Daddy said.
I went up to my room, but was stopped by Sally.
"What did you think you were doing?" Sally asked.
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"Staying out so late?" Sally questioned. "People will think you and your friends are tramps."
"Since when does anyone in this family care about what people think?" I asked, walking into my room.
Sally followed me.
"You should care about others think," Sally said. "How will you get anywhere in the world?"
"Please get out, Sally," I said.
"I'll leave," said Sally. "But please, think about what I said."
Sally left the room.
Sally was my least favorite of my siblings. Our parents wanted us to marry for love and be in a marriage based on equality rather than male domination. Sally, on the other hand, didn't believe marriage was a partnership, rather a duty. The wife was supposed to bare children and serve the husband.
I didn't think about what Sally said. I put on my mint green nightgown.
"Goodbye, Daisy," I said, wrapping my arms around the only blonde who lived in the house.
"Goodbye, Mae," Daisy said.
Daisy wouldn't be going with us. She was going to stay with my aunt Emily and uncle George.
"Be good for Auntie Emily and Uncle George," I said. "Promise me."
"I promise," said Daisy.
"Good girl," I said, giving Daisy a kiss on the cheek.
"Love you, Mae," said Daisy.
"And I love you, my dear Daisy," I said.
"Mae!"
I turned around and smiled at the sight Mary, Ester and Rhonda.
"Goodbye my dears," I said giving them each a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Mary kissed my cheek.
"Stay safe," Mary said.
"I will," I said.
Esther kissed my cheek.
"Do not forget us," Esther said.
"I would never," I said.
Rhonda kissed my cheek.
"Write to us," Rhonda said.
"Of course I will," I said.
"Mae, darling, it's time to go!" Ma called.
I gave each of my friends one last hug and and another kiss on the cheek.
"Goodbye," I said.
"Goodbye," Mary, Esther and Rhonda said together.
I waved as I walked into the carriage.
I wrapped my arms around Kitty as Ma set her on my lap.
I leaned my head on Daddy's shoulder and took a nap.
About two weeks later, we arrived at the ocean. After a month journey, we arrived in France. A week later we arrived in Paris.
We all stepped out of the carriage and looked at our new house. We all stood there, awe-struck at our new house. It was white and bigger than our old house.
Daddy showed the boys to their rooms and Ma showed the girls to their rooms.
My room was large, with white walls and pale pink furniture. When I sat on the bed, I knew, living in Paris would be just wonderful.
I was walking through Paris with my new friend, a girl who lived across from me named Helene Sherri.
"How're you liking Paris so far?" Helene asked.
"I like it a lot," I said.
"I'm glad," said Helene.
Helene and I walked around for a while.
Helene looked at a clock through the window in a shop.
"Oh, goodness," said Helene. "Pardon me, Mabelle, but I must be going. Are you coming with?"
"No," I said. "I think I want to look around more."
"Alright," said Helene. "Just don't stay out too late. The streets of Paris get dangerous at night."
"Alright," I said.
"Goodnight, my dear," said Helene.
"Goodnight, Helene," I said.
Helene turned and was off.
I was so intrested in the sights around me, I didn't watch were I was going. The next thing I knew
I had bumped into someone and found myself on the ground.
"I beg your pardon, monsieur," I said picking myself up.
"It's alright, mademoiselle," said the man I bumped into. "I should have been paying better
attention to where I was going."
"No, monsieur," I said. "I wasn't watching where I was going. You see, I'm new to Paris, and I was looking around. I was so interested in what was going on around me, I failed to see where I was going."
"My name is Enjolras, mademoiselle," said the man.
I smiled.
"My name is Mabelle, but everyone calls me Mae," I said.
"It is a pleasure, Mademoiselle Mabelle," said Monsieur Enjolras.
"Please, just, Mabelle, or Mae," I said. "There is no need for 'mademoiselle', Monsieur Enjolras."
"Then you must call me Enjolras," Enjolras said.
"If you will excuse me, Enjolras," I said. "I must be going before my parents start to worry."
I began to walk away.
"Wait, Mabelle!" I heard Enjolras call.
I turned around.
"Yes?" I questioned.
Enjolras walked up to me.
"It is dangerous to walk the streets alone," he said. "Allow me to walk you home."
"I would like that," I said.
Enjolras offered his arm. I smiled as I accepted it.
"If you are not from Paris, where are you from?" he asked.
"Illinois," I said. "A state in America."
Enjolras suddenly looked more interested.
"America?" he questioned.
"Yes," I giggled.
"What's it like being in a country where you can elect a leader?" the Enjolras asked.
"Well I can't elect the leader because the law says only men can vote," I said bitterly. "But living in a country with an elected leader is nice. Certainly not as much poverty there as there is here."
"I'd like to change that," he said
"I'd like to, too," I said. "It breaks my heart to see such young children dying on the streets. I can't eat a meal without feeling guilty. I can't help my mother dress my younger siblings without feeling guilty. I can't do anything without feeling guilty."
"Most people don't even think about it," he said.
"It's hard for me not to," I said. "Most of my siblings think about it, too. Even my parents think about it. My eldest sister, Sally, doesn't think about it. She's more old-fashioned than everyone else in my family. Her biggest concern is finding a husband and getting married. Oh, forgive me. I'm rambling."
"My father is hates the poor," said Enjolras. "Thinks they're all garbage."
"How could someone think like that?" I asked.
"I don't know," Enjolras said.
"Does your mother think like that?" I asked.
"I don't know," Enjolras said. "She never gets involved in those subjects. But she is a good woman."
We stayed silent for a minute.
"How old are you?" I asked.
"Fifteen," he said. "You?"
"Fifteen," I said.
Enjolras and I talked as he walked me home. Soon we reached my house.
"Here we are," I said. "Thank you for walking me home."
"It was my pleasure, Mademoiselle," Enjolras said.
"Mae," I said.
"It was my pleasure, Mae," Enjolras said.
"Au revoir, Enjolras," I said.
"Au revoir," Enjolras said.
I smiled as I walked in the house.
Daddy was the first one to greet me.
"Who was he?" Daddy asked.
"A man," I said.
Daddy rolled his eyes.
"Why was he walking you home?" Daddy asked.
"He said that it's dangerous for one to walk alone at night," I said. "So, he walked me home."
"What happened to Helene?" asked Daddy.
"Helene had to go, but I wanted to see more of Paris," I said.
Ma entered the room.
"Edward, what's going on in here?" Ma asked.
"Mae let a boy walk her home," Daddy said.
"And why would Mae do that?" asked Ma.
"Because he said the streets of Paris were for one to dangerous to walk alone at night," I said.
"He want to make sure I got home safe."
"That was nice," Ma said.
"It was nice our daughter talked to a boy?" Daddy asked.
Ma rolled her eyes.
"Daddy," I groaned. "He was a perfect gentleman."
Daddy was about to say something, but he caught the look Ma gave him.
"I'll be in my room," I said, walking up the stairs.
"Mae!"
I turned around and smiled at Will. He was tied for my favorite brother with Eddie.
"Hello, Will," I said.
"I heard what was going on," said Will.
I rolled my eyes. Will was as protective as Daddy.
"Will, I've already had this conversation with Daddy," I said.
"And?" Will asked.
"He over reacted," I said entering my room. "Now if you'll excuse me."
Before he could say anything, I closed the door to my room.
"Mae!" called Will. "Mae!"
"Goodbye, Will!" I called.
It was about a month later, and I hadn't seen Enjolras since.
We heard the door open.
"I'm home!" Daddy called.
"Daddy! Daddy!" the younger children called, rushing out of the parlor.
Daddy entered the parlor carrying Kitty under one arm and Lyddie under the other.
"Hello, Edward," Ma said.
"Hello, my dear," Daddy said, giving Ma a kiss on her forehead. "We'll be having guests over tomorrow night."
"Oh?" Ma said. "Who?"
"The Enjolras family," Daddy said.
Enjolras?
"They have a son Mae's age," Daddy continued. "And a daughter Dorothy's age."
"Hear that, Do?" said Becky. "You're going to have a new friend to play with.
Do smiled.
"Is it true, Mommy?" Do asked Ma.
"Yes, my dear," said Ma kindly.
Do squealed and ran into my arms.
"Hear that Mama Mae?" Do asked. "I'm going to have a new friend."
I smiled at the nickname my younger siblings gave me. Ma always had her hands full and she refused to hire a nanny, so I volunteered to help her, becoming a second mother to the younger siblings, earning me the nickname "Mama Mae".
"I heard, Do," I said. "Congratulations."
Do looked to Daddy.
"Daddy, what's her name?" Do asked.
"Cecile," Daddy said.
"What's the sons name?" Ma asked.
"Julien," Daddy said.
The front door opened.
"Thank you for walking me home, Monsieur Alexandre," said Sally.
"It was my pleasure, Mademoiselle Sally," said Alexandre Accord, a boy who Sally had been seeing in the month we had been in Paris.
"Would you like to come inside?" Sally asked.
"Oh, no," said Alexandre. "I really must be going.
"Well, all right," said Sally. "Au revoir."
"Au revoir," said Alexandre.
Sally walked into the room.
"Hello, Mother," said Sally. "Hello, Father."
The next night, we were all dressed finer than we would be for a family dinner and waiting in the parlor, except for Ma, who was tending to Zelda.
There was a knock at the door.
"Ellen!"
Ma rushed down the stairs.
"I'm coming," Ma said.
When Ma was downstairs, a maid named Claudette. There stood a man, a woman, a little girl, and a teenage boy. The boy was the one I had bumped into.
"Bonjour, Edward," said Monsieur Enjolras.
"Bonjour, Marcelin," said Daddy.
"May I introduce, my wife, Victoire, my son Julien, and my daughter Cecile," said Monsieur Enjolras.
"A pleasure," Daddy said. "May I introduce My wife, Ellen, my sons William, Benjamin, Edward and Samuel, and my daughters Sally, Rebecca, Mabelle, Ellen, Elizabeth, Abigail, Dorothy, Imogene, Catherine, and Grace."
"A pleasure," said Monsieur Enjolras.
"Come," said Daddy. "Let us eat."
We all went to the dining room. Daddy sat at the head of the table, Ma and I sat on either side of him. Monsieur Enjolras sat next to Ma, and Madame Enjolras sat next to him, Enjol- Julien sat next to me. Cecile sat next to Dorothy at the other end of the table.
After about twenty minutes, Lyddie came in and went to sit on Ma's lap.
"Mommy, I had a bad dream," Lyddie cried.
Ma looked at me.
"Mae, would you put Lyddie back to sleep for me?" Ma asked.
I nodded.
"Of course, Ma," I said. "Come on Lyddie."
I stood up and Lyddie got off of Lyddie's lap and walked over to me. I took her hand and we walked up stairs.
"Would you like me to sing to you?" I asked Lyddie as I tucked her in.
Lyddie nodded.
There was a man lived in the West;
Fal lal lal lal lal li-do,
He married a wife - she was not of the best;
She was Ruggleton's daughter of Iero.
Said he, when he came in from plough:
Fal lal lal lal lal li-do,
Ho! is my dinner ready now?
To Ruggleton's daughter of Iero.
O if your dinner you must have,
Then get it yourself; I am not your slave,
Said Ruggleton's daughter of Iero.
For I won't brew and I won't bake,
Fal lal lal lal lal li-do,
And I won't make my white hands black
Said Ruggleton's daughter of Iero.
O you shall brew and you shall bake,
Fal lal lal lal lal li-do,
And you shall make your white hands black,
To Ruggleton's daughter of Iero.
He took a stick down off the rack;
Fal lal lal lal lal li-do,
And on the back went rickety-rack
Of Ruggleton's daughter of Iero.
O I will bake and I will brew
Fal lal lal lal lal li-do,
And I will cook your meat for you
Said Ruggleton's daughter of Iero.
I looked at Lyddie. She was asleep. I smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Goodnight, Lyddie," I whispered.
I walked back downstairs.
"She's asleep," I announced sitting down.
"Thank you, Mae," Ma said.
I went back to to eating. I didn't pay much attention to the conversation during dinner, but my ears perked up when I heard Monsieur Enjolras ask:
"Have you started planning a marriage for any of your daughters?"
"No, no," said Ma. "We do not wish to plan a marriage for any of our children. We will let them decide who they marry."
"If we let them marry," said Daddy.
"What do you mean?" Madame Enjolras asked.
"I don't think I can bare ging my children away to a man," said Daddy. "Especially not my Mae."
I smiled. Daddy and I have always had a special bond.
"But how will you make sure they are well taken care of?" Madame Enjolras asked.
"If he cannot support them, we will," said Ma.
"Well, if you ever change your mind," said Monsieur Enjolras, "Our son and your Mabelle might
make a fine couple."
"Father," Julien hissed. "I'm not getting married."
"That's not your decision boy," Monsieur Enjolras hissed back.
"I said I'm going to make France a better place," said Julien. "I can't do that with a wife."
"Give up your silly dreams, boy," Monsieur Enjolras said. "France is fine as is."
"No it's not!" Enjolras snapped, standing up. "There are poor people on the street, starving, and you sit here, calling them dirt!"
"Sit down, boy!" Monsieur Enjolras yelled. "I call them dirt because they are dirt!"
"You are dirt, Father!" Julien screamed.
Julien stormed from room. Monsieur Enjolras looked mortified and turned to Daddy.
"I'm sorry for my son," said Monsieur Enjolras. "He's got a lot of political ideas running through
his head. It's just a phase, I'm sure it will pass."
After dinner, we all went to the parlor. Ma was talking to Madame Enjolras, Daddy was talking to Monsieur Enjolras, and my sisters were talking amongst themselves. Monsieur Enjolras had practically demanded that Julien talk to me.
"Julien-" I started.
"I told you to call me Enjolras," Ju- Enjolras said.
"Enjolras, I thought what you did was very brave," I said.
"I was only voicing my opinion," Enjolras said.
"Still, not many people have the courage to do that," I said.
There was an awkward silence that continued for the rest of the evening.
Soon after the Enjolras' left, I kept thinking about the topic of marriage. Monsieur Enjolras seemed to like the idea of me and Enjolras as a couple. I knew Ma and Daddy wouldn't force me into marriage, but what if Monsieur Enjolras changed their minds.
No! Ma and Daddy love me too much to force me into something that would make me miserable.