Wednesday November 25, 2009

"So 'Ponine, Cosette," Marius turned to his friends as they were putting their things in their locker at the end of the day, "what are you thankful for?"

"Okay, this sounds corny but my friends and family," Cosette threw her arms over Marius and Éponine who began laughing, "'Ponine what about you?"

Éponine thought about it for a moment, she really did have a lot to be thankful for these past few months, "I think I'm gonna have to say... I'm thankful for Gav and 'Zelma." Marius and Cosette smiled at her, "and Thanksgiving turkey of course!" she added onto her previous statement.

"Personally I'm excited to see the parade," Marius grinned, "that is the only reason I will wake up early on Thanksgiving."

"That's for sure!" Éponine laughed.

"You are never an early riser!" Cosette cut in.

"Cosette!" Éponine gasped, "Marius doesn't need to know that!"

"What, does it really embarrass you that much?" Cosette giggled.

"Well, Sort of..." Éponine blushed a little.

"I'm sorry 'Ponine," Cosette offered her a friendly smile, "but maybe you should try and get out of bed earlier, maybe then I'll stop making fun of you!"

Éponine decided to change the subject matter, "so Marius, does this mean you have to go to another Thanksgiving with all your relatives?"

Marius sighed, "sadly, yes."

"You know I don't think I've met anyone from your family besides your parents," Cosette mused.

"Trust me, you don't want to," Marius replied.

"They can't be that bad," Cosette looked to Marius, "'Ponine have you ever-"

"Yes," Éponine cut off Cosette, "they are that bad." She then proceeded to finish zipping up her backpack, "Well we should probably be going and make sure that you," she poked Marius in the chest, "don't miss your bus."

"You're right," Marius grabbed his bag, "'Ponine, what would I do without you?"

"Oh I don't know, just flounder around all lost and confused like?" she shrugged her shoulders.

"Glad you believe so much in me," Marius rolled his eyes, "see you two after Thanksgiving, and tell Gavroche and Azelma I say hi."

"Bye Marius!" Cosette and Éponine called at the same time before heading out to find Azelma and Toussaint.

The inside of the house on Plumet street smelled fantastic, of course all of it was food meant for tomorrow but that didn't mean that Éponine wasn't enticed by the aroma of cooking turkey. The last time she could recall having a truly proper thanksgiving had been in 3rd grade, the year before Cosette had been taken away. Of course she was not with her family, but anymore she wasn't really sure if she wanted to be with them. Living with Cosette and her father she felt as she had become one of their family, it was small one, no relatives that she knew of, but she didn't mind at all.

"You know hanging around the kitchen isn't going to make Thanksgiving come any sooner," Cosette laughed.

Éponine rolled her eyes, "I know, I know... There was something I didn't say earlier."

"What's that?"

"I'm thankful to have a friend like you," Éponine smiled.

Cosette smiled in return and hugged Éponine, "I'm thankful to have a friend like you too."

"Hey I hate to break you two up," Gavroche interrupted the girls heartfelt moment, "but I figured 'Ponine would like to know that they are showing 'It's a Wonderful Life' and 'A Christmas Story' on T.V."

"You have got to be kidding!" Éponine exclaimed, "both of them?"

Uh-huh," Gavroche nodded his head, "those are your favorites aren't they?"

"Cosette have you seen either of those movies?" Éponine turned to Cosette.

"Well of course I've seen 'It's a Wonderful Life', but what's 'A Christmas Story'?" she asked.

"Please tell me you're joking," Éponine looked at her wide eyed.

"Uh oh, Cosette, now you've done it," Gavroche shook his head and laughed.

"It's got to be the best Christmas movie ever!" Éponine explained excitedly, "you are coming with me right now and we are watching both movies!"

When "It's a Wonderful Life" finished Éponine couldn't help but become a little teary, mostly because she knew that in the past she had wished that she had someone like the angel Clarence who could show her what the world would be like if she had never been born.

"'Ponine you okay?" Azelma called from where she was perched on the arm of the couch.

Éponine sniffled slightly, "I'm fine," she smiled, "this one just gets me every time."

The commercials that were in between the movies finished and she heard the ever familiar intro music and narration of "A Christmas Story."

"So what exactly is this movie about?" Cosette asked since she was going into the film blindly.

"A kid who wants a..." Éponine tried to recall exactly what it was, "a Red Ryder somethin' or other BB gun for Christmas." She explained.

Cosette looked shocked, "that's your favorite Christmas movie?"

"It's not what you are thinking," Éponine was trying to get Cosette to understand without giving up to much of the plot, "just watch, then you'll see."

Cosette sighed and decided to take Éponine's advice and not lay any judgment on the movie before she actually saw it.

"Didn't I tell you that this was the best Christmas movie ever?" Éponine turned to Cosette when the movie was over, she was grinning wildly.

"Alright," Cosette laughed, "it was good, not nearly as heartwarming as the first one."

"Good, it's not supposed to be," Éponine laughed, "those are two films that are not to be missed, ever!" she declared.

"Anyway have you noticed the time?" Cosette held her wrist out to Éponine so she could see her watch, "and look at that!" she giggled.

In the large armchair where Mr. Fauchlevent would usually sit Gavroche had fallen asleep at some point during the movie, Éponine started giggling too. "He must have been really tired," she replied, "he likes this one as much as I do and wouldn't miss it for the world."

"I was just thinking," Azelma spoke up as she stretched, "for a Christmas present for Gavroche."

"'Zelma, we've got plenty of time before Christmas," Éponine looked to her sister.

"Oh I know," Azelma nodded her head, "I was just thinking we could get him a pink bunny suit."

Éponine started laughing, loud enough that Gavroche started to stir a little bit, she quickly tried to control herself, "'Zelma are you crazy? He would never forgive you!"

"I think he would find it hilarious," Azelma crossed her arms over her chest.

"Wanna make it a bet?" Éponine asked.

"Only if you help me find one and pay for it," Azelma decided.

Éponine thought about it for a moment, "well... Okay, you're on."

"'Ey was goin' on? Is the movie over?" Gavroche asked sleepily, "darn... I missed it."

"It's okay Gav, I'm sure it will be on again soon and you can watch it then," Éponine reassured him.

"Okay," he yawned.

"Gav," Éponine called to him.

"Yeah, 'Ponine?" he replied.

"I think you better go to sleep," she suggested.

Gavroche let out another yawn, "okay..." He slowly took himself out of the living room and up the stairs to his room.

"We should probably get some sleep too," Cosette suggested, "can't enjoy the Thanksgiving Day Parade half asleep can we?"

"That would be a shame to miss it," Éponine agreed, "so I guess that means we shall bid each other goodnight?"

"Do you know how silly you sound when you get so dramatic?" Cosette giggled.

"Silly? I sound silly?" Éponine put a look on her face that she had been deeply offended, "there you go dashing my dreams of being an actress!" she pretended to faint onto the couch.

"Come on 'Ponine," Cosette grabbed her arm, "were getting you upstairs and to bed."

Éponine sighed, "only because you insist!" she then did the same as Gavroche and went upstairs to go to sleep.

November 26, 2009

"'Ponine wake up!" Gavroche jumped on her bed.

"No!' she complained rolling over in the bed and away from her younger, "it's too early for this!"

"No it's not!" Gavroche continued and pulled back her sheets leaving her in the cold, "you're gonna miss the parade! It's on now!"

Éponine sat up, "well why didn't you simply say so before hand?" she glared at him.

"It's more fun this way," he shrugged his shoulders.

Éponine laughed and ruffled his hair causing him to squirm, "you're so lucky I love you." She got out of bed and grabbed a sweater, "come on let's go watch the parade." Together she went down the stairs with Gavroche to watch the parade on television.

They were greeted with the inviting scent of a hot breakfast courtesy of Toussaint, they took their plates and joined Cosette and Azelma who had been waiting for them.

"You got here just in time, it's going to start soon," Cosette motioned for them to sit down.

Éponine took a seat, even though she was tired she was still very happy, she was with the Fauchlevents and was going to be enjoying Thanksgiving with them. It had been too long since she had been able to truly enjoy a holiday like this one. Most of the time she dreaded long weekends and the like because that meant more time was spent at home, hence why she dreaded summer. Also she was getting a chance to watch the Thanksgiving day parade with Cosette and her siblings. Usually she would end up in the electronics department of one of the department stores and watching it there until one of the employees would tell her that either she had to buy something or leave. She nibbled on the plate of food Toussaint had given her, and from the kitchen she could still smell the heavy scent of what they were to enjoy that night for dinner.

"I am sure we all have many things to be thankful for this year," Mr. Fauchlevent looked at everyone who was seated at the table, this included all three Thenardier's, Cosette and Toussaint. "If anyone would like to say something I feel it would be nice to share."

Éponine looked down at her hands and then around the table, "may I say something?" she asked Mr. Fauchlevent.

"Of course, Éponine," Mr. Fauchlevent nodded his head.

Éponine gulped nervously before she spoke, "I-I I'm thankful to call this place home."