Another Acceptance

A little over a month later, Frans had adjusted well in his new home. One cloudy afternoon in early March, they walked together in the snowy woods after school. As they stopped by a pond, Frans was throwing stones in the water as Marigold sat with her sketchbook, drawing the trees.

"I never thought I would be best friends with a girl," he said.

"Why? What's wrong with girls?" asked Marigold, perplexed.

"Nothing. I've just never really been friends with one. Actually, I haven't had many friends at all. When my grandmother died, I almost didn't want to play anymore." said Frans, sadly.

Marigold thought sadly as she listened to Frans. She sat lost in thought watching the stones skip across the water. She broke out of her thoughts after Frans had asked her a question.

"I wanted to ask you something since I'm not sure whether I should ask your father. Do you know why he wears a mask?"

Marigold froze, not sure how to answer. She remembered how frightened she was when she first saw his face. But how could she explain to him that her father's face wasn't like a normal face.

"If I tell you, will you promise not to be afraid?" she asked.

Frans stopped skipping stones and sat on a log across from Marigold. "I promise."

She closed her sketchbook and sighed. "Papa told me that his mother tried to take a poison when she was pregnant with him after she was grief-stricken when his father left them. Instead, the poison caused his face to be deformed. When he was born, my grandmother was terrified of him and treated him horribly," she said, as Frans listened intently as she told him how he was sold to a gypsy camp, ran away to Persia then hid in the Paris opera house.

She also told him about the night she was kidnapped by Buquet and how her father was made to show his face to her to save her life. "At first, I was so frightened I thought a monster had come to get me. But I forgot it was my papa and I screamed when I saw him. He was so sad and I felt awful for it. But I learned to see beyond his face and love him for who he was."

"What does his face look like?" asked Frans.

Marigold looked around the woods to see if anyone was around. "I've never shown anyone this. Not even to Mama and Papa. But one night, when Papa was asleep, I sketched a picture of him. Do you promise you won't scream?"

"Yes."

Marigold opened her sketchbook and found the picture she made of her father. She slowly showed Frans. Frans saw the sketch and gasped a little. His eyes widened as he saw Erik's face. "Is this…really his face?"

"Yes. But please…you mustn't be afraid of him. He isn't a monster and he wouldn't hurt anyone. He can't help the way he looks. I know he looks frightening but he really is very good and kind."

"I know he is. He's been good to me more than anyone else would have. He gave me a home when I had none." He said, looking closer at the sketch. "I just can't believe how hard his life must have been. How so many people must have been afraid of him, without even knowing him. It must have been awful."

Marigold nodded sadly as the chill of wind ran through her. "Thank you for not being afraid," she said, as she closed her sketchbook. "We should be getting home. Mother and Father will worry where we are."

They both stood up and walked on through the woods. "Do you think he may be afraid to show me his face? He wears his mask around me all the time. I'm sure it gets uncomfortable. He doesn't have to be afraid to show me,' Frans asked.

"I think we should both talk to him about that and I think I should be there with you so he won't feel too afraid as well. It will help him feel reassured and help you understand better. Perhaps tomorrow, we'll ask him," said Marigold.

They walked out of the woods and down the hill as they approached the farm. They both walked into the stables and towards the horses. Marigold took a handful of oats and put some in Frans' hand as the horses fed from both their hands. Marigold laughed as Artemis licked the oats off her palm.

They heard footsteps behind them as Erik emerged from the doorway. "Children?"

They turned around as Erik approached. "So here you are. It's rather late of you to come home at this hour. I was getting worried." He turned his attention to his daughter. "Why were you both so late?"

"I'm sorry, Papa. We were playing in the woods after school and…we lost track of time."

"Well, let's try to not forget next time. Dinner is nearly ready. You two should go and wash up."

As he walked with them towards the house, he was about to open the door as Marigold took hold of his hand. "Papa? Can we ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Winter is almost over and the snow is melting away. Could we go by the lake on the west side of the woods? Frans would like to learn how to fish and I want to sketch in my book. Could you take us? Please?"

Erik thought for a moment and smiled a little. "All right. We'll have a nature excursion in the woods tomorrow. Now go wash, both of you." He said as they went inside.

The next afternoon, they were preparing for their excursion. Christine was packing a small basket with food for them to eat as Erik went to fetch his fishing pole.

"Now, you be careful when you're walking in the woods. Stay with Papa and don't wander off," Christine said.

"We will, mother," said Marigold.

"I'll be at the market today to sell the rest of my jams and preserves before my spring harvest grows. Here's a basket with food for you all. Now you have fun."

She bade them goodbye as she headed for the market. Marigold held the basket and they ran outside to meet Erik. "Well, are we ready for our excursion?" he said, holding a fishing pole, wicker basket, and walking stick.

The children nodded and they set off toward the woods. "Come along, Kit!" Marigold called as her dog came running. It was a chilly, cloudy day as the snow was melting away with signs of the coming Spring peering from the ground. The woods appeared eerie as a chilly mist filled the air. He led them through the tall trees and thinning thickets towards the lake. As they made it to the lakeside, Erik prepared the fishing pole for Frans as Marigold sat on the ground, sketching the lake in her book with Kit beside her.

Frans stood patiently waiting for a fish until finally, he caught one. He proudly showed his prize to Erik and Marigold as he placed it in the basket. As Erik took a turn at fishing, Frans sat next to Marigold as they watched Erik.

"Did you ask him?" she asked.

"I'm not sure. What if he gets angry at me?"

"He won't. I know my papa. And I'm here with you. We'll ask him together."

After Erik caught a fish, they walked toward him and sat with him on a log as he put his catch in the fish basket. "How did you learn to fish, Monsieur Erik?" asked Frans.

"I taught myself when I was a young boy. There were many times where I had to be on my own so I learned how to find food in the woods."

They sat in silence as they looked out at the lake, watching wild geese swim across the water. Then, Erik stood up. "Why don't we go for a walk?"

They walked along a path together while Erik told them about the type of plants that were beginning to grow from their Winter slumber. The children and Kit walked nervously behind him, looking for the right moment to ask him.

"Papa? Can I ask why you haven't…shown your face to Frans?" asked Marigold.

Erik stopped in his tracks and stood still, with his back to them. "Why would you ask me that?" he asked, softly.

"Well, I've noticed that you've been…wearing your mask a lot around Frans. Yesterday, he asked me why you wear a mask and…I told him why you do."

He then turned to face them. "I see. And what else have you told him?" he said, ever still softly. His piercing amber eyes were fixed on hers.

Marigold stood nervously. "Well, I…I told him about your past and how I…was afraid at first but then I learn to see you and love you for who you are. And I want Frans to do the same too and I don't want you to be afraid of hiding your face from him either. I know Frans won't be afraid of your face, Papa."

Erik simply looked at them both. Marigold wasn't sure what else to say until Frans spoke up. "Please, Monsieur Erik. Don't be angry with Marigold. She only wanted to help. I just don't want you to feel afraid to show me. I won't be afraid."

Erik sighed. "I'm not angry at either of you. I somehow knew this would be something you would want to know." He reached to unclasp the straps of his mask. "Are you sure, Frans?" he asked.

Frans nodded. He held Marigold's hand tightly as Erik took his mask off and looked at Frans. Frans' hand clenched in hers but he stood unaffected as he stared at Erik's face. The fact that Marigold had prepared him prior to had helped him to feel unafraid.

Frans looked up at Erik. "I'm not afraid, Monsieur Erik. I know you are good on the inside. Marigold helped me understand that."

Filled with as much relief as before, Erik gave a small smile as they walked across a wood bridge back to their fishing spot. "Look, Frans. There's one jumping out of the water. Why don't you try and catch it?" Erik said, pointing at a trout that was leaping from the water. Frans ran for the fishing pole and casted the line out.

Erik and Marigold stood on the bridge watching Frans. Marigold looked up at her father. "Are you angry at me for telling Frans, Papa?" she asked, nervously.

He looked down at her and smiled lovingly. He lifted her up and sat her on the large rail of the bridge, facing her toward him and holding her hands. "No. I'm proud of you, my sweetling. You did a kind thing by helping Frans feel welcome in our family and help him learn to accept my face. I just can't believe how fast you're growing up. You have the same kind spirit as your mother."

"But, you are kind as well, Papa," said Marigold, perplexed.

"I wasn't always before. The reason why I am now, it's because I learned it from your mother. And I still learn a great deal of kindness from you too. Having you as my daughter has helped me change for the better."

They looked over as Frans called out happily. "I caught it!" He held the large trout up.

"Well done, Frans!" Erik called out.

They walked over back to the spot as they caught more fish and sat talking some more and eating their picnic. As they finished, the gray sky was becoming darker as the night set it. When they gathered their belongings, they reached the path that led them back to the house.