Act 10

Late in the night, a finely dressed woman rode in a beautiful, luxurious carriage pulled by two perfectly white horses. In her arm, she held a book covered in fine red velvet. She looked through it.

"Let's see, gather energy from students in Paris at the Sorbonne while establishing identity… check. Study the culture and become familiar with customs and beliefs… check. Secure teaching position in small provincial Montlune… check. Everything is going according to plan, Jadeite," the woman told the blonde shitennou who occupied the seat across from her.

Jadeite nodded. "And how will you explain a wealth, aristocratic teacher coming to teach basic education to a town of pitiful ragamuffins?"

Garoben shrugged. "I will simply take advantage of their religious eliefs. Once I show myself to be a devout catholic woman…" She slipped a wimple over her head and clasped her hands in apparent prayer. "Bless you my child." She completed her disguise with a cross and rosary about her neck. "Say hello to Sister Bernadette."

She and Jadeite laughed sadistically at the enactment of their master plan.

The next day, while Blanche and Nanou headed off to follow Gaston about, Bunny carefully slipped into the bookstore. The previous day had been surprisingly pleasant. Bunny had prepared tea for Molly and herself while Molly had been happy to tell Bunny everything about the Sorbonne and about the authors of the books she had purchased

Then they got to reading…

With trepidation, Bunny eyed the volume on her lap. She looked at the title, attempting to decipher the letters on it.

"This is a really good one," Molly told her, "Don Quixoté is one of my favorites," she saw the look on Bunny's face "What's wrong?"

Bunny lowered her head. "I can't read it…" Embarrassed tears fell down her cheeks. "I never learned how…"

Molly smiled kindly. "Oh, is that all?" At Bunny's tears Molly hastened to say. "That's perfectly alright, Bunny. Many people don't, especially in little towns like this where it's not very practical with the rest of the work that needs to be done. I also heard from Tony that it's not very encouraged. It's no great tragedy."

Bunny wiped her eyes. "But Belle knows how to read. And you do too. Gaston likes Belle. I want to be good enough for him."

Molly shyly hugged Bunny. "Don't think like that. However, if you really want to learn, I can teach you."

Bunny looked at the sweet girl. "You can?"

Molly nodded. "Yes I can. But not with these." She made a gesture to indicate the various volumes before them. "These books are much too complicated. Come to the bookshop tomorrow. I'll have a better selection ready for you."

After that her sisters had come home and Bunny quickly hid her new books and Molly quietly took her leave. When Bunny refused to read the books, Luna was angry. Bunny had to explain that she didn't know how to read and Molly felt it wise to start her on much easier material.

Her sisters attempted to get her to tell them who Molly was but all she would say was that she was new to the town and Bunny was just welcoming her.

Now, here she was sneaking away from her sisters and into the Crown bookshop.

"Good morning Bunny." Tony said. "I want to thank you. I was worried that Molly might find it difficult here. You know how people treat Belle."

Bunny did know. "Well I feel bad about how I treated her after getting to know Molly. I think I was just jealous. I mean Belle is so smart. She can read." She pouted.

Tony patted her back. "Hey, Belle doesn't read because she's intelligent. She's intelligent because she reads." Bunny looked at him, clearly confused. "Yeah. Reading is one of those things that takes practice but once you get it down, A) you never forget how, and B) a whole new world opens up for you. It's really a worthwhile skill to learn. Books, these books here," he patted a stack near him, "are your key to the intelligence you seek."

Bunny gazed at the hundreds of books. "All of these? You mean, I don't have to be smart like Belle and Molly to learn how to read?" She reached for a pearly pink book with a crescent moon on the spine, suddenly eager to get started. She stared at the cover. "Hey, what kind of letters are these?"

Tony looked at the book. "I've never seen this book before." He took the book from Bunny. "I"ve seen this lettering before though. On a book my father sent for Belle. She called it Kanji. It's a very pretty language."

Belle gazed at the gold letters and the moon symbol. "It is pretty." Despite not knowing how to read, she was drawn to the book.

Tony stared at the book, then glanced at Bunny, then back at the book. Finally he handed it to her. "Here, I think you should have it."

Bunny gaped. "Me? But I can't even read it."

Tony shrugged. "I don't know but it feels right. It's like it was written for you."

Bunny took the beautiful book. "Thank you."

Just then, Moly came downstairs with a bright smile. "Bunny! I'm so glad you're here! I spent all night working out a lesson schedule and picking out some fun, easy books to start you off right."

Molly was about to lead Bunny to their home above the shop when the sound of carriage wheels got their attention. They looked outside.

Bunny took her new friend by the hand. "Let's go see what's going on!"

Molly followed her outside. The carriage looked familiar.

Bunny stood with Molly, clutching her new book to her chest.

The carriage stopped and the door opened to allow a woman in a novice's habit to step out.

Garoben looked out at the people, her eyes finding the young, naïve children. How helpless they appeared. It would be a fine harvest.

"Hello, could someone direct me to the schoolhouse?" she asked with a friendly grin.

A diminuitive little man stepped forward. "It's that way sister, at the edge of the village. Are you the new school teacher?"

Garoben bowed politely. "I am. I am Sister Bernadette, formally a professor at the Sorbonne."

One of the ladies, holding three babies, asked. "Why would a professor of the Sorbonne want to teach in our sleep little town?"

Garoben looked humbly to the skies. "Recently God called me to donate my worldly possessions and serve Him and His less privileged children." She folded her hands as if in prayer. "He led me here to you fine people."

Gaston eyed the sister with narrow eyes. He knew he shouldn't be so suspicious about a nun, but there was something about her that made him wonder.

His mind wandered to a few nights ago. He had been drinking with his friends at the tavern. He was only on his second shot when his head felt like it was splitting in half and he blacked out. LeFou said they looked up from a game of poker and he had vanished! When he woke up the next morning, he'd just assumed he'd overdone it except he could hold more than a shot of whiskey easily and it had never happened before.

On top of that, he was still struggling with his dreams. Who was that princess? Where was she? Where was the silver Crystal?

"Wow, a professor from Sorbonne!" Bunny bounced on the balls of her feet. "Do you know her Molly?"

Before Molly could answer, her sisters came over. They looked rather irritated. "And why would your new friend know a teacher from a snobby school?" Blanche asked, her hands on her hips.

Molly shrugged. "She was my Philosophy Professor, so yes. I wonder if she remembers me. Professor!" She ran up to the woman, leaving Bunny with her sisters.

"What?" Nanou said, "You actually made friends with a book reader? A know-it-all snob like Belle?"

Bunny glared. "Molly isn't like that! She's nice and you know… I bet Belle is too! We just didn't give her a chance. Gaston likes her after all." Bunny held out her new book. "And look what Tony gave me!"

Blanche sneered. "And who is Tony? And what's the big deal about a book. Those aren't even real letters."

"Shows how much you know!" Bunny snapped. "Tony owns the bookshop. Molly is his cousin and these letters are Kanji. From Japan. And it's pink and pretty just like me! And Molly is going to teach me how to read!"

Nanou and Blanche gaped. "You? Read?" Nanou asked.

"Yes. I'm going to learn things and be smart!" She declared. "And maybe Gaston will finally notice me! So there!" She stuck out her tongue and stomped off to join Molly.

Blanche and Nanou glanced at each other. Bunny sure was acting oddly.

AN: after a long hiatus, it's back. What is the significance of the books? Will Garoben's plan work with Gaston's distrust? Keeping reading to find out.