"No, I hate it!" Carmen wrinkled her nose.
"How can you?" Clopin asked. "That must be impossible."
"It's so dry!" She fingered the fabric that hung in the back of his caravan. The front windows were closed. "I can't stand how boring it is!"
Clopin chuckled. "So! What story should I tell the children today?"
"Well," Carmen glanced around the cart at the different puppets on display. Thieves, princesses, hunters and peasants lined the walls. "You never did tell me the story about the bell ringer."
"I can't tell them that one yet," He sighed and pulled out a half finished puppet dressed in black robes. "Things are changing. This story isn't over yet. Besides, I haven't finished Frollo yet."
"I must be hard to capture so much ugliness in one doll!" Carmen laughed. "I could help you. If you want, that is."
"With what?"
"The Frollo puppet!"
"Good! Let's start!" Clopin picked up a small pot with a set of paintbrushes in it. He arranged several other pots with various shades of paint around the puppet. He dipped a thin brush into a pot of white paint, and began to brush on the hair.
Carmen grabbed another brush and gently dotted on the eyes and drew in the outline of a mouth. Both leaned back. Carmen bit her lip, squinting.
"It doesn't look right," Clopin mused, scratching his goatee.
Carmen dipped the paintbrush again and picked up the puppet. After a moment, she filled in his mouth with sharp teeth. "He's too happy. And… there, perfect."
She set the brush on the small table.
Clopin laughed and ran a hand over her hair. "Perfect! You know what? Today is the day I will tell of Beauty and the Beast! Now, we are ready!"
He swung the window open and Carmen sat on the low stool in the corner. "How do you earn money if you do this every day? An acrobatic show here and there can't be enough."
"You ask too many questions."
"And you don't answer them," Carmen sighed. There was so much that nobody would tell her. Michel said the same thing. Michel. She wanted to run away from Paris and never look back, just thinking of him. But Clopin… he made her want to stay forever.
"What's wrong?"
"I need to tell you something," She fingered the golden earring in her purse.
"What is it?"
"Michel," Carmen swallowed and stared at the floor. She laughed nervously and looked at the Frollo puppet. "Michel kissed me yesterday."
Clopin burst into laughter.
"It's not funny!"
"Do I have competition?" He managed to spit out between the laughter.
"No!" Carmen almost shrieked. "I don't like him! At all!"
"Why not?"
"I just don't!" She looked out of the window, blushing.
"That's not a very good reason," Clopin murmured. He sat next to her, his arm brushing against hers.
"…He's not you."
"I'm glad you chose me," He laughed silently and cupped Carmen's face in his hands. Clopin gently kissed her forehead. "If we wait, will you become my wife?"
Carmen stared at him. His eyes were so bright. So honest. And she had felt so safe around him, from the very first time they danced. "Yes."