On the road.
Hi,
It would be great to get some reviews, even if they are very short. It lets me know if you like the story or not. Feedback is important, thanks for reading.
Vonny25
Comte de Chagny was on his carriage traveling to Paris, with his young son the Vicomte de Chagny. He did not like leaving Phillippe back at the de Chagny state on the country, as he did not get along with his stepmother, and the dislike was mutual.
Philippe Vicomte de Chagny was looking out the window when his father said "What are you looking at?" The Vicomte responded, "At the stars in the sky Papa." Then in a lower voice he added, "Maybe he is looking at the stars too." The Comte put an arm around his son's shoulders, and said, "Maybe so, son, maybe so."
The Comte de Chagny looked down at the head of his small son, who was fast a sleep with his head on his lap. He loved him so much, he was all he had left of his beloved first wife, he still missed her. He loved his second wife, but she did not have the intelligence, or the wisdom of the mother of Philippe, there was no other like her.
Philippe woke up in his bed the following morning, he was upset at himself, as once again he had fallen asleep in the carriage, and his father had to carry him like a baby. He was now 12, and he wanted so much to act all grown up, after all he was his father's heir, and wanted to be taken seriously, but who would take a baby seriously. He went down the stairs after cleaning up, and getting dressed with the help of his nanny, and joined his father for breakfast.
His father looked up from the morning newspaper, and said, "Good morning child", while ruffling the hair of his oldest son. Philippe said "Good morning father. What are the plans for the day?" His father put the newspaper down, and responded, "I have arranged for your tutor to come this morning. I'll come back for you later in the day, and then we will go to visit our accountant to see how our businesses are doing."
The young boy smiled at his father, and said, "That sounds great father, do you think we will be able to visit the opera while we are in Paris?" His father smiled, Philippe remind him so much of his mother, who also loved the opera. He could not deny him that small pleasure, and said, "Do well on your studies, and I'll see what I can do."
Later that day at a restaurant near the opera, Phillippe, and his father were dressed in their best. While having dinner they were holding a conversation. The Comte de Chagny told his son, "Our investments, and businesses are doing well my child. Always remember Phillippe that a state such as ours needs to be overseen personally." The young Vicomte responded, "I know father, you've told me before that the employees, our accountant, and solicitor, will never care as much as we do."
The Comte looked proudly at his heir, if he could just have all of his family together, but he would never lose hope. After paying the bill they exited the restaurant, while they were on the sidewalk waiting for their carriage, a gypsy girl gave the Comte the Chagny a flyer. The Comte turned pale, and rapidly hid the flyer in his pocket, as he did not want his son to see it. The girl was shouting as she passed the flyers, "Come and see for yourself the child of the devil, never have you seen something so horrific. Don't miss it, ladies, and gentleman, once in a lifetime opportunity."
Over in the gypsy camp Erik was on his 6th show of the day. Javert, his master, had him by the neck, and was ripping his only protection, a filthy sack, off his head, while he felt like he was being choked. Erik hated being displayed like an animal. When the people in the audience saw his deformed face, some of them started laughing at him. His master tied him to the bars of his cage, the audience now had a clear view of his distorted face, his skeletal body, full of open festering sores, and his protruding ribs. Many women screamed, children, and young men threw rotten food, rocks, and even elephant, and horse manure at him. Tears started pouring down Erik's face as much as he tried to hold them back.
That night he felt the whip on his back, and was not fed, as punishment for not cooperating fully with his master. Erik wondered how stupid could his master be, how could he be expected to cooperate when Javert had been whipping him several times a day, had not fed him in 4 days, and was giving him only small amounts of stale water. He was so weak that he could not even stand up, yet his handler accused him of resisting. Not that he did not want to resist, but he was to weak, and tired even for that.
The next day early in the morning the Comte de Chagny sent his private detective to get him information from the gypsy camp. The detective complied with his request, and went to investigate, and look at all the exhibits. He came back later that evening, and met the Comte at the mansions library.
The Comte de Chagny told his driver to have the carriage ready to go. He put his young son to bed, and then left the house. While riding in his carriage he prayed to the soul of his deceased wife.
