Stefan's War
Note: This story is largely based on a French film called Les Choristes (The Chorus), with the character of Stefan added. It's just an idea that got in my head, "What if there'd been a girl in the school?" And this came to me. Hope you enjoy it! (It may be easier to follow the story if you have seen the film. If you haven't seen it – do! It's an amazing film with a lovely ending.) The girl appears later in the story as we learn more about Stefan's past…
Chapter One – Prologue
Pierre Morhange was one of the most famous musicians and conductors in the C20th. Born in France in 1936 and having lived through the Second World War, he graduated from Lyon Music School and went on to travel the world with his music. He was very successful and lived a comfortable life. The only thing he had little success with was love. Oh, sure, there were plenty of women in his life but they never lasted – the only prominent lady in his life was his mother. He truly loved his mother and took care of her. Even during his younger days when he was a bit of a 'bad boy', he still adored her.
So this was why, while he was performing in New York, he was devastated to learn that his mother had passed away. The funeral took place back home in France on a miserable, grey, rainy day (the weather reflecting Pierre's mood). Even after everyone had gone, Pierre stood by the grave for some time, feeling very lost without her…
A few days after the funeral, when Pierre was resting at his house, he received a strange visitor. It was raining again when a little grey-haired man came to his door, carrying an umbrella and a leather case. He looked to be around 60, slightly younger than Pierre himself. "Remember me? Fond de l'Etang!" Pierre stared at him blankly. "'My dad's picking me up on Saturday'? I'm Pepinot!"
A look of recognition appeared on Pierre's face and he smiled. "Pepinot. How long ago was it?"
"Oh. Only about 50 years."
Inviting the man in, they sat in his living-room and Pepinot took out an old black-and-white photo of a large group of boys. The photo was from 1950 and showed the two men as young boys – Pierre being almost fourteen and Pepinot around nine. It showed their classmates and teachers from their old school, Fond de l'Etang.
"You're the kid in the middle, front row." Pierre pointed to a small, dark-haired boy.
"And you," said Pepinot, pointing to a blond-haired, sullen-looking boy standing in the middle. "And look, there's Stefan." He pointed to another small, dark-haired boy around 12-years-old, standing near to Pierre and smiling up at him, no doubt laughing at the fact that he was sulking again. "He arrived with the supervisor, remember?"
Pierre looked at the balding man standing by the side of the class and pointed to him. "The supervisor. What was his name?"
"Clement Mathieu."
"Clement Mathieu," recalled Pierre. "Whatever happened to him?"
Pepinot pulled a book from the leather case and handed it over. "Open it."
Pierre looked inside and read, "Fond de l'Etang. 1949."
"It's the diary he kept at Fond de l'Etang. His whole life. Our lives, too. It was meant for you. I'd have rather given it to you in different circumstances but…"
Pierre smiled sadly and turned the page. There was a drawing of the school gate and a hand-written paragraph below. The date was at the top: January 15th, 1949.
Pierre began to read. "After failing in numerous undertakings, I was sure the worst was still to come…."