I awoke to a soothing dampness on my forehead. I opened my eyes and was somewhat surprised to see Papa at my bedside. He was muttering irritably about useless women and something about the Inn going to hell. I didn't understand.
"Awake now?" he said to me.
I nodded. Not finding the strength or possibly the will to speak.
"You seem to be on the mend now, Pet. Not that your damn Mother was any help." He stroked my cheek. "We'll need you on your feet soon. Your sister will be bringing some broth to you, lets hope you'll keep it down." He stood and silently left. I realized how I missed my Papa doting on me. It felt that lately he's been so wrapped up in the business, he couldn't be bothered by us children. But for a moment I felt loved again. When Mama had abandoned me, possibly leaving me to die, my father was there to care for me! That was when I swore my loyalty to my dear Papa.
Azelma then stepped into the room carrying a tray with a big bowl of steaming broth. "Papa says you're better now, sissy." she said with a hint of a smile.
"I do feel much better." I said, finding the strength to sit up against my pillows. It was surprisingly difficult, my arms felt very weak. Azelma put the tray down on my lap and stood by. I leaned my head forward and took a long whiff of steam from the bowl. This was the first time I didn't feel nauseous since I got sick. I felt VERY hungry! I took the spoon that was on the tray and hastily took my first sip.
"Go slowly!" Azelma warned. "Don't throw up!"
I shook my head, "I know. Its just…its nice to taste something good." I said before taking another spoonful, more slowly this time. I let the hot liquid linger on my tongue savoring the taste.
When I was just about finished with the broth, I heard the creak of the door open. I looked up to see my dear Gavroche running to my side. "'Ponine!" he cried happily. I set my tray aside and reached my arms out for him. "Gave! Sweet, sweet brother!" I said softly, taking him into my arms. As quickly as I had him, he was pulled away from me! I looked up to see Azelma pulling him by his shoulders. He cried out in protest "No! I want "Ponine!" tears welling in his eyes. As hurt as I felt, I knew why Azelma really did it. For once, it wasn't her intention to be cruel.
"No, Gavroche. You must keep away a little longer. I need to be clean first. I don't want you to get sick." My brother slowly stopped struggling against our sister and let his arms drop to his side. Azelma looked to me "Papa said that you'll need to take a bath and the bedclothes should be burned to make sure it's all gone." she said. I nodded in response. She then took Gavroche by the hand and led him out of the room leaving me to rest again.
As I lay back on my pillow, I thought about what Papa had told me. They would need me on my feet again soon. I knew very soon I would gain my strength enough to get out of bed. But I wondered what had been going on during my sickness. My brother and sister seemed to be alright. But what about Mama and Papa? Our home? I couldn't say why, but I had a feeling that things were about to change, and not necessarily for the better.
Three days later, I stood in the yard behind the Inn wrapped in a wool shawl, watching as the bonfire blazed. In it were my nightclothes, bedsheets and some dresses. With it hopefully burned away the disease that plagued me. I still felt a little weak on my feet. Even though I was assured that I was well, I still didn't feel quite right. I found myself getting lost in thought more often. Sometimes, when Mama spoke to me, I could see her lips moving and hear her voice, but can't make the words out without her having to repeat them. It didn't happen all the time but…something was certainly amiss.
Gavroche stood next to me clutching at my shawl, not having left my side since Mama had declared me clean enough. I leaned on to him, hungry for the affection. My heart still ached for Michele. I hoped he was alright. I then remembered that awful nightmare. A shiver ran down my spine as I remembered his hollow face, his bleeding eyes…his voice "'Ponine…'Ponine…"
"'Ponine!" I blinked and looked down at my little brother, who was tugging at my shawl. "'Ponine, let's go." he said as he guided me inside the Inn. I let him. Inside my parents seemed to be arguing again about money. Seemed to be all they talk about, if they talk at all. Mama took a quick glance towards us and shook her head. Clearly she saw me as another set back, as I was more than a mouth to feed, but something even weaker to have to take care of.
"That worthless Doctor was a criminal!" she huffed. "Taking our money just to tell us what was wrong with her?! We could have figured it out on our own!"
"Please, you didn't even have the sense enough to see her symptoms." Papa didn't even bother looking up from his papers. He sat at the table going over what looked like to be his book he kept all notes of expenses. "We'll just have to work a little smarter now, won't we?" he said. Papa didn't seem all too concern. I knew he had a plan up his sleeve. Mama let out a frustrated growl and left the room in a huff. It was then that Papa looked up and spotted me and my brother darkening the doorway. He motioned for us to come closer. "Dearest," he said all too kindly to me, reaching his hand to stroke my cheek. "Now that you're well, I'll be needing your help around here." I smiled and nodded. I would do whatever he asked. "Good girl. I trust you to show your brother and sister how we work around here. If we want to keep this place afloat, attention must be paid…" Papa took little Gavroche onto his lap. He pulled me close to his side "Mes enfants," he said "its time you learned the family trade."
And learn I did. Over the next few days, Papa showed me his many techniques on how to earn a sou, and to turn sous to francs. His methods were far from honest. I never realized how Papa was able to keep us in such fine clothes until he introduced me to his trade. First of all as an Inn keeper, he makes a point to make his customers pay for everything, from the room in the house, to the type of bed, to having the windows opened or closed. He even taxed for use of the mirrors. But what intrigued me the most was his routine during the dinning and drinking hours in the Inn. Papa taught me how to tell when the gentlemen were inebriated enough to swipe coins from their purse or nicknacks from their pockets. That was surprisingly easy, even little Gavroche managed to make a successful swipe from Papa's pocket on the second try.
Before long we were both smoothly and easily snatching all kinds of things from under Papa's nose, even when he wasn't testing us. Of course if he ever did catch us in the act, the only disapproval he'd show was for us getting caught. Along with a harsh slap on the wrist he'd say "Remember, my Pet, a good thief is called "a man of society", for he is only called "a thief" when he is captured."
New Year's Eve. Probably one of the busiest nights at the Inn. Gentlemen, ladies, peasants, travelers all crowded together enjoying their wine and ale. Mamma was busy filling mugs and glasses while father charmed and entertained our boarders. I myself adorned a new silver dress that brought out the color in my eyes. I stood in the doorway with Gravroche and Azelma, scanning the crowd and waiting patiently for the opportunity to make a swipe. I had been trying to instruct Azelma as Papa had asked but she was so nervous and clumsy, I didn't trust her not to get caught. So I told her firmly that she was just to keep her eyes open and her mouth shut while our brother and I did the work.
With the liveliness of the guests, I figured it'd be quite simple. I spotted a handsome gentleman, bouncing a rather pretty lady with a tightly cinched waist on his knee. Hearing them both laughing merrily I knew they were perfectly distracted.
"Gravroche," I said "See them?" My brother nodded in reply. He went on ahead and ducked under one of the tables and crawled closer to the unexacting couple. To assure that my brother didn't get caught, I walked up to them in plain sight. I watched as the man slid his hands up and down the woman's bodice. When his hand reached in to grope her breast, the woman giggled with delight. The man then smiled brought his lips to her neck where he started planting kisses. The woman continued to squeal and I soon forgot about the task at hand. I had never seen grown-ups behave this way and for some reason I couldn't take my eyes off them. The gentleman continued to fondle the lady's breast with one hand while his other trailed down the front and reached between her legs. The beauty moaned in response. An unknown tickling feeling started to run through me. When I looked up from his wondering hands, I knew what I saw must have brought a flush to my face; the Gentleman was staring right back at me, wearing a knowing smirk.
My mouth dropped open but before I could get a sound out, I felt a tug on my wrist.
"Say now! What have we here?…" I turned to see another man pulling me onto his lap. I looked about, still at a loss for words.
"I don't know, Claude, but she's had her saucy eyes on us!" The handsome man grinned.
"Has she now? A little young to be startin' aren't ya, kitten?"
I looked up at Claude as he pulled me further onto his lap. Like his friend he was handsome; he had dark hair and he hadn't shaved today. He tucked a loose curl behind my ear and smiled. He the leaned in so close I could smell the wine on his breath.
"Or are you just aching to learn to be minx?" he whispered. I didn't know what he meant but that tingly feeling was now rushing all through me and down where I would never speak of.
"Oh stop teasing the babe, you pervert!" The beauty laughed from the lap across from me. "Darlin's barely sprouted teets!"
"Ah come off it, Lily. It's just a little play!" Claude wrapped his arms around me and thats when I heard the jingle of his coin purse. My mind shot back into action. Perhaps I could play this game. I shifted my position in Claude's lap so I could face him better and smiled. He seemed very pleased.
"There now, you see?" he said. "Even le petites filles can't resist me!" he laughed. "Perhaps I'll make a woman of you yet!" He drunkenly leaned into me again and started nuzzling my neck. I shiver shot up my spine and somehow I knew I was treading dangerous ground. There were still many ways of men that were unknown to me, and it seems that this man wanted to show me all.
Claude was just laying a heavy kiss on my cheek with I heard it.
"EPONINE!" I quickly turned my head to see Mama storming towards us.
"Mama!..."
When Claude saw her huge form like an Ogre on the war path, he sobered up just enough to throw his hands in the air in surrender.
"WHAT IS ALL THIS?!" She shouted as she grabbed my arm and yanked me off his lap. "Mon dieu! What were you doing with my daughter?!"
"Madam, I meant no disres-" Claude stammered.
"SHE'S NOT EVEN ELEVEN!" Mama bellowed for the whole Inn to hear. It seemed now that all eyes were on us. "I WILL NOT have my daughter be made a Salope!" Mama was gripping my arm now so tight, I knew it would bruise. But I just clenched my fists and looked to see Claude shaking his head trying to make sense of the night's events.
"No, no, no...not at all Madam, we were just having a laugh…" he said
"If I see you fooling about again, I will throw you out faster than you could blink!" And with that, Mama turned and dragged me out of the dining area and into the kitchen where I saw Papa, Azelma and Gavroche gathered around the table. From the looks of the coins on the table, my little brother managed to pick some pockets after all! Mama pulled out a chair and shoved me into it, her rough handling left my teeth rattling in my head! But I kept my hands tucked in my lap and composed myself.
"Husband!" Mama started "Do you have ANY idea of what your eldest has been doing this evening…?" her voice was deceptively calm. But Papa was even calmer.
"No, my dear. Why don't you enlighten me…"
"I step out into the dining room to find YOUR daughter, giggling like a common whore, in the arms of a good for nothing lech!" she huffed as she finished. There was a pause in the room, even Gave didn't make a sound. Mama seemed to be waiting for Papa to unleash his wrath on my head, but he merely turned calmly to look at me. I raised my head to meet his gaze.
"Well, Pet…" he said "...what do you have to show for it?" At that my face slowly turned to smile as I opened my fist and tossed my prize onto the table. In the midst of all the drunken laughter and Claude's face being buried in my neck, it wasn't difficult to make the quick snatch before Mama came thundering in. Papa picked up the small bag of coin and nodded proudly. Mama was aghast.
"What?! Have you nothing to say about this?!"
"Oh calm yourself, woman!" he said "It seems our daughter has discovered new techniques of how to earn a sou."
That night as I lay in bed, I couldn't help but think of that woman, Lily, bouncing on the lap of her handsome gentleman. How it made me feel to watch them and I wondered, do all men and women behave as such? Would Michele have held me that way? And why was Mama so outraged by the whole event? Papa was proud because in the end, he made a profit. But would it have been wrong if my intentions weren't to steal from Claude? And why did my stomach still flutter when I thought of sitting in his lap with his hot breath in my ear? I had nobody to answer these questions for me. But I knew...somehow...that my ways of a child were somehow over…
Note from Author Katie: Hey everyone! I'm sorry this chapter took forever, but the year seemed to slip right by and I wanted to make this chapter as longer than the last. I hope you guys and enjoyed it. I also wanted to make VERY clear that I don't condone the type of behavior that I wrote between Claude and Eponine. If I had offended anyone, let me say that the purpose of it wasn't to be sexy but to create character development for her. Like I said, it's getting pretty dark and that's why I changed the rating. Review and let me know what you think! Hopefully I won't keep you waiting for the next one! Peace!