1
"No luck." Those words were like daggers in his chest. Jeanne, what will become of her?
He could find food on his own, but Jeanne, Jeanne had six children and another on the way.
She was a widow too.
He was grown up now, he could provide his own food now.
All his life his sister had taken care of him.
What was he to do? Darkness clouded his mind, confusion, and rage.
"Lord! Why do you throw down despair and grief among your people? Why can we not all live with bread and wine, why do only certain people have the luxuries of life?" He was standing now, his sister, Jeanne looks up at him in surprise.
"Jean, do not shame the lord, he does what he must for his reasons." She glares at him, but her gaze softens.
She knows what he is going through.
"I'm going out." Jean mumbles.
His sister hugs her youngest daughter and son.
"Don't do anything rash." She calls after him.
He's gone out the door already though, racing up the dark, wet streets.
Rain soaks the brick roads and drenches Jean as he walks up the street.
Vendors are cleaning up their booths and glance at him, but continue cleaning up.
Jean knows a street, too small for vendors, normally empty at this time of night.
A lonely bakery lies in between two abandoned homes. It's the golden opportunity he needs.
He arrives at the bakery and stares into the window.
All it would take is one big push of the elbow and the glass would shatter.
All it would take it one quick blur of his hands.
All it would take is one loaf to save himself and his sister's family.
They were big round loafs, fat and fresh.
Worth more Francs then he had, which was none.
He lifted his elbow.
It would only take a second.
He pulled back his arm.
He would take it and run.
He started to push it forward.
Surely the police would not find him and give up looking.
He was almost touching the glass, only and inch farther.
No.
He could not do this.
His elbow stopped, barely rubbing the glass of the bakery window.
What would Jeanne do if he was caught?
There would be no one to work for the family.
He couldn't bear to leave them on their own, where would they be without him?
He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
They would sell their chairs and be more careful with their money this time.
Yes, it would all be okay.
He turned and walked back down the street to his house.
"Just needed some fresh air?" Jeanne smiles.
Jean nods and smiles back. Somehow in all this despair she finds a reason to be happy.
"I've changed today Jeanne! Today I have realized that nothing is worth stealing. Everything must be won fairly!" Jeanne kisses her brother on the cheek.
"I'm proud of the lesson you have learned, if only mother and father were here to see what a fine young man you've become. Perhaps you revelation is the reason God chooses this fate for us, so you may learn the lesson of honesty." Jeanne gathers the children on by one into her arms and sets them all on hand-made pillows. Then she pulls a blanket over them and kisses each one on the cheek. "Good-night Jean." She say softly, then settles next to the children.
"Good-night." Jean replies, sitting back in his chair.
He was proud of himself.