Prison. Slavery. Canons. Rifles. Police Guards. Things I never want to see or hear again. It would remind me of these two months, the two months of my fourteenth year that cost me my home. I'm sure Father won't let me back in now. I had disobeyed him and now I have a yellow passport for the next year.
I walked along the quiet streets of Paris. It had bee exactly 2 months and four days since I had seen this place. Now I had a new image to add, I had grown three inches and my hair was long and darker. I was careful and cautious now, not daring and wild. Sometimes I could here in the distance a pin drop because of prison. All the days laying in the barracks waiting for your name to be called. Mine was called by Javert. I had seen him around Paris and he knew my face and obviously knew of my parents. He treated me harshly when getting my passport. By pulling me by the back of my shirt and hitting me when I was reluctant. His face was a face I would have nightmares of.
The sun had just set, there was still an orange glow on the tip of the horizon. I was quick with my movements, hurrying through town to the Inn. I knew that Azelma would want to see me, and she would at me food. The inn was quiet and the trees out front were bare, it was becoming cold and sadly I was used to it to the point I needed no coat. Azelma rushed out and caught sight of me. Her dark hair was neatly braided in two braids and she had grown as well. Her skin was pail and she was skinny and will had the same apron mother had given her. She was obedient and caring. She saved most people money when they came to the inn. Azelmas heart was as pure as they come, how it came like this with Father and Mother always around, I don't know.
"Eponine?" She yelled. I shook my head and jogged to my sister embracing her in a hug, "Oh 'Ponine! I had the impression you had left us. That prison had changed you!"
"Not at all! Zelma! Look at you! You have become beautiful. Beautiful as a flower!"
"And as you 'Ponine!" Azelma giggled and began for the door, "The inn is dead for it is Monday, no travelers. Father will be excited to see you home!"
"Azelma?" I whispered, "Are you sure?"
"The whip is gone." A smile spread across her lips as she opened the door. The whip was what was used when we disobeyed when we were younger. Father used it quite often on a servant girl who ran off with a wealthy man. I shook my head remembering her as I entered the inn. Mother looked at me.
"Eponine?" She said, "Oh how you've grown." I watched her carefully as she fetched Father. He too, stood in shock at the sight of me.
"Eponine? Back from prison?"
"Yes and what has become of you?" I said walking towards them, "You have not changed since I left!" I sat in the chair next to the fireplace. Father glared at me.
"You must go." He said sternly. His breath smelt of vodka and meat. His hands were covered with splinters and protected by old gloves with many holes across them ad the fingers had the tops cut off. His hair was a mess, it came about everywhere, it was almost spiked up persay. Mother grabbed him by the ear and whispered something, "You may stay tonight, Madame Mouiselle." Father turned quick on his heals and headed down the corridor to his room.
"Eponine." Mother had grown old with age. Her face got weary easier and her eyes were darker. Her hair was more of a silvery grey than it was red, like it use to be. I had been out of the house for six months and in prison for two. So it had been a long time since mother and I caught sight of each other. She had the best fruits left and Azelma and I ate them quickly. She enjoyed me being here and brushed out my hair and put it into one long braid down my back. It was better then my ratty long hair everywhere, "I'm sorry about your father—"
"No," I interrupted, "I intend on staying for only one night." Then there was a knock on the door. Azelma was quick the answer it. It was a wealthy family, a boy and an older gentleman.
"We have a house only next door but the people have not left yet. I intended they stay the night, may we stay here? I beg if we must!" He said taking his hat off. Father was back in action feeding them and cheating them. I shook my head and watched the fire, then the boy, who was about 14 as well sat in Azelma's chair.
"You a traveller as well, Madame?" He said. His voice was mysterious and deep already. I looked up, he had a dark almost black hair and bright green eyes. He had freckles sprinkled across his face. His clothes were clean and looked knew. He had two books on his lap, which must have been school books.
"You could say that." I said taking a bite of an apple, "Have you eaten?"
"Oh yes a lovely dinner a few blocks over! It was delightful and stuffing."
"Good." I murmured looking at the fire again. It was a long silence before anyone spoke. He opened his book and read again. He was deep into his reading and I watched the fire contently.
"I am Marius Pontmercy." He said. And like any other polite girl would do, is to offer her hand and say her name as well.
"Eponine Thenardier." He kissed my hand and smiled.
A sudden rush went through me. It was like electricity went through my veins, it was as if lightning had struck me. I couldn't help but smile at Marius. Marius, the boy who accepts me. Marius was gone early in the morning. I saw him and a few other school boys carrying furniture in and out of the house. He would wave and I would wave back. Of course I had been kicked out of the house already.
Father had grown an apple tree in the back when he was a boy. I was very good at climbing because the highest apples were always the best. I grabbed an old bucket and picked around ten apples and brought them to the boys. They took them right away. I learned all of there names and the special club they were forming at the time, which of course was ABC Cafe. Courfeyac and Enjoras were very close friends, they didn't do much without the other. Grantaire had a wine bottle near him at all times, taking only sips throughout the day and never getting drunk. The other two boys Marius had no idea of there names but he was sure they were Enjoras friends from school. Once everything had been moved in the boys left and Marius taught me a game he plays when he gets lonely.
"I just look up at the stars, and make shapes or animals and people and make stories." The first stars peeked out in the sunset sky, "Like those three." He pointed to three stars that were close together, "They are actually nicknamed, Orrion's belt but I think if you ad those two," He made and outline to two stars in the opposite corners from Orrion's belt, "Make it a beautiful dress. Maybe in a shop." He laughed, "I'm a silly boy."
"No. Keep going I like it." I murmured. He showed me two sets of stars that looked like giant spoons, they were called the Little Dipper and Big Dipper. Then there was a skeleton that made up a little bear and a big bear. Marius wasn't sure of their names though. "Hmm." I said, "Maybe the little bear lost its mother bear. So the Orrion guy used the Dipper to bring them back. With some trout too."
Marius laughed and I blushed. "That story was the best one I've heard." He whispered, "I'll see you tomorrow Eponine."
"Tomorrow." I said. I went into our yard and climbed the lattice into the attic. I creaked the window open slowly then took one last look at the stars. The little bears eye was twinkling, almost as if it were winking at me. I smiled and fell asleep.
I had no dreams that night. I was quick to get up and sneak out. I did it so gracefully now a days, Father couldn't notice if be tried. I grabbed an apple off the tree and began my walk into town. I had ten fracs and fourteen sous in my pocket. It wasn't too much but it would be my an old dress and shaw for the spring. I was quick with my shopping and hurried back to our row of houses. Marius was out working around new home. He was landscaping today. I hurried my clothes into the attic and came back.
"How do I always find you hard at work?" I said teasingly.
"Well school is out until March. I have none other to do than work."
"I can help. I love planting flowers." I got down on my knees next to him. He smiled.
"No dirt fights or water fights." I laughed at his sternness and he laughed too. We began planting the brightest and prettiest flowers I had ever seen. "You aren't like most girls." He said as I set my next set of flowers in.
"What do you mean?" I said.
"You get your hands dirty. Most girls wouldn't. You act as if your one of the boys, I think that's nice." He smiled and I laughed.
"When your raised by Innkeepers you tend to get dirty alot," I said. Then realizing I told my secret. The one thing I didn't want him to know I blushed.
"So you are their daughter?"
"Yes. I am."
"Be glad you are nothing like them." He said and continued working. I tried to grin.
"There's a lot you don't know." I said, sighing.
"I know. I figure time will tell." He was so mature for his age. I enjoyed my time with him. Soon he was called for dinner and I went to the attic and slept. I slept through my hunger and through the night, on my own.
The days became longer and warmer, the sun stayed above the horizon for travelers. Fathers Inn was booming and I slept in the attic making no sounds. I was graceful and sneaky as always. The dark didn't scare me, I wasn't scared because I always heard the little servant girl whispering to herself, "The nights will end and the suns will rise."
She was small and fragile, and got whipped a lot. She would begin crying if me or Azelma or one of the boys would get whipped. She was always frighted and very cautious. She admired dolls and Azelma and I. She always was quiet and very illiterate but she looked at books a wealthy man brought her anyway. She was like Azelma, very obedient and caring. When she left it turned Azelma and my lives upside down and the past six years have been hard for us.
It was I, who was picked first, to take her place as servant. I went and got the water and I cleaned the floors. Soon I had barely a dress or an apron with an old corset. I grew up with riches and became of rags. Finally one night after the travelers headed to bed I missed a chore:
"EPONINE!" Fathers booming voice echoed throughout the kitchen. I didn't shrink in fear and move, I stood near the door realizing what I had forgot, "Eponine! You have forgotten to clean the floors!" I stared into my fathers eyes.
"And?" I backfired, he grabbed the scruff of my coat and held me against the wall.
"Go do it." He said through clenched teeth. Mother and Azelma were in the kitchen watching the nonsense."
"No." I said. He slapped my face and I fell to the ground. He leaned towards me and I spit in his eye, "EVER SINCE SHE LEFT YOU HAVE TREATED ME AND 'ZELMA LIKE DOGS! I'M SICK OF IT! ITS YOUR INN HIRE EMPLOYEES! DO SOMETHING ELSE! WE AREN'T HERE TO BE YOUR SLAVES! WE ARE CHILDREN!"
"You've got a lot to say! Say it to the passer-by." He threw me onto the grass in the cold night air. He stood in the doorway, Mother and Azelma behind him.
"C'mon Azelma." I said holding my hand out towards her, "C'mon." As the obedient child she was she shook her head and Father kissed her head and the door was shut and locked. From then on, the attic became my home. That night six months ago cost me a lot. It cost me prison time and no home with hardly any food, my diet consisted of mainly apples. Mother spoke to me when she saw me in the apple tree. She cared a little about me, she cared more about me than my three brothers. Who knows where they have gone. The two older ones have been gone for years and little Gavroche is seen running throughout Paris.
Marius was now back in school. He was studying to become lawyer and with the recent death of his father his studies were very important to him. Sometimes I would meet him after his schooling and we would walk home, but that only happened once a week maybe. I saw Enjoras and Courfeyac more than I saw Marius. They were always at the cafe about two blocks from here and passed by on there way there. Marius rarely left his house after school, but some nights I would catch him sitting on his roof looking at the stars.
It was that night I dreamed of him, us.
