Innocence of a Child Chapter 1
Inside a small village of Villeneuve in the heart of France the people residing there were just beginning to awaken with the sunrise. A little five year old girl with long brown hair and lovely blue eyes woke up in a small bed within her families cozy little cottage on the outskirts with the sunlight beaming in through her window the cause.
Sleepily blinking her eyes Cosette in the early morning sun she sat up in bed. Cosette yawned stretching her tiny arms high up above her head. Kicking away the covers with her feet Cosette hopped out of bed and tiptoed through the halls of the house to her elder sisters room. She quietly passed by her fathers so not to wake him up. He stayed up late at night and needed his rest. Especially since he had a long journey to make later in the day.
Unlike with young Cosette, Belle remained fast asleep in the confines of her own sleeping quarters. Cosette smiled impishly and snuck over to the end of Belle's bed and climbed up high.
Now first off, before this goes any further, Cosette isn't really Belle's sister. One day when Maurice was on the way back from the market where he regularly sold the music boxes he invented heard crying in the woods off the path he usually took home. When he investigated further he'd found a newborn baby girl wrapped up in a warm blanket crying for someone to help her. Maurice didn't find a note or anything regarding who this baby belonged to. So not seeing any other option Maurice took the child home with him and named her Cosette. You see his wife died years ago not long after Belle was born, victim of the plague in Paris. They didn't have a chance to have any other children so finding Cosette as he did was definitely a blessing in disguise for the man. From that day on Cosette became a treasured member of the family.
Which is why Cosette was about to give her big sister a wake up call.
Giggling Cosette jumped onto Belle waking her instantly.
Eyes snapping open Belle saw that the weight on her chest was Cosette. Smiling she tickled Cosette and their laughter mixed together in the room.
"Good morning to you too," laughed Belle.
"Are we going in the village today," asked Cosette, excitedly. "You said you were going to get me some new ribbons for my hair."
"Yes we are," assured Belle, "but I need to go to the library first to return a book. Okay."
Cosette nodded her head.
"All right now go get dressed, Sweetheart," said Belle, kissing Cosette and gently pushing her towards the door.
Cosette ran back into her bedroom and quickly changed into a blue and green dress that Belle had sewn her by hand. Cosette put on her slippers, brushed her hair, and then ran back to Belle's room. Her older sister was already finished and ready to go. Belle assisted Cosette in securing the ties of her dress and fixing her up. Then they were ready to go once Belle had retrieved a couple of apples from the kitchen and a few coins for the errands she had to run.
The two sisters left the house together. Belle held Cosette's hand in hers and they made their way into town. It was quiet with barely anyone up and about. The only sounds being the noises made by the animals and Belle's beautiful voice.
Little town, it's a quiet village
Every day like the one before
Little town, full of little people
Waking up to say
The bell in the churches clock tower tolled eight and by the final strike the village immediately came to life. Come out of their homes and doing their daily routines. The exact same routines they did over and over again each and every day.
Bonjour! Bonjour!
Bonjour! Bonjour! Bonjour!
Belle waved at a drunkard being lead away by some officers and lead Cosette further in.
There goes the baker with his tray, like always
The same old bread and rolls to sell
Belle took out a coin and put it into the cut on the Bakers tray and took a loaf of bread as she did every morning when she encountered him. She put it in her apron and in turn took out an apple handing it to Cosette. They went to the blacksmiths and Cosette fed it to the smiths horse.
Every morning just the same
Since the morning that we came
To this poor, provincial town
"Good morning, Belle," greeted Monsieur Jean, the villages potter, looking around somewhat confusedly outside his shop. "Good morning, Cosette."
"Good morning, Monsieur Jean," said Belle, smiling. "Have you lost something again?"
Cosette then fed a second apple to Monsieur Jean's mule. Like the smith's horse he enjoyed the treat greatly.
Scratching his head, Monsieur Jean said "Well, I believe I have. Problem is, I've-I can't remember what. Oh well, I'm sure it'll come to me. Where are you two off to?"
To return this book to Père Robert," said Belle. "It's about two lovers in fair Verona and I'm taking Cosette to the mercantile for some new hair ribbons."
"Sounds boring," said Monsieur Jean, going back inside his store.
Belle and Cosette continued on their way down main street. Now passing by the school where only boys were allowed to attend because of the prejudices of the schoolmaster. It's the main reason why Belle schooled Cosette herself at home.
Look there she goes, that girl is strange, no question
Dazed and distracted, can't you tell?
Belle and Cosette jumped the rocks in the pond to get to the other side. Now they passed the women and children doing the weekly laundry and gossip to no end. It was all very tiresome and Belle made a point never to take part in it and keep Cosette from hearing anything unseemly from the washerwomen. Belle didn't follow their schedule. She did the laundry by her own time. A fact they didn't seem to like.
Never part of any crowd
'Cause her head's up on some cloud
No denying she's a funny girl that Belle
Cosette and Belle listened to villagers greet each other and buy wears they needed for the day from stalls they frequently visited.
Bonjour! Good day! How is your family?
Bonjour! Good day! How is your wife?
I need six eggs! That's too expensive!
Reaching the bookshop Belle turned to look at the villagers before going inside.
There must be more than this provincial life!
The bell over the door rang as Belle and Cosette went inside alerting the proprietor Pere Robert to their presence.
"Ah, if it isn't the only bookworm in town," he greeted, warmly. "And little Cosette. How are your lessons going?"
"Good," said Cosette, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Belle's been teaching me."
"I'm sure she has," said Pere Robert. "So, Belle, where did you run off to this week?"
"Two cities in Northern Italy," said Belle. "I didn't want to come back. Have you got any new places to go?"
"I'm afraid not...," sighed Pere Robert, regretfully. "But you may re-read any of the old ones that you'd like."
Belle replaced the book she had taken a few days ago back onto the shelf of his tiny collection of book and replaced it with her favorite.
"Your library makes our small corner of the world feel big," she said, smiling gratefully at one of the few people who actually seemed to understand her.
The small library Pere Robert had could hardly be called that. It was a few dusty books that lined a single shelf, but it was all they had.
Waving farewell, Pere Robert said "Bon Voyage."
"Goodbye," said Belle.
Leaving the bookshop Belle and Cosette headed for the mercantile.
Look there she goes, the girl is so peculiar
I wonder if she's feeling well
With a dreamy, far-off look
And her nose stuck in a book
What a puzzle to the rest of us is Belle
With Cosette sticking close to her sisters side Belle started reading as they walked.
Oh, isn't this amazing?
It's my favourite part because—you'll see
Here's where she meets Prince Charming
But she won't discover that it's him 'til Chapter Three!
The two sisters reached the shop that held an array of fabrics, ribbons, threads, and hats. There they wandered around the store with Belle allowing Cosette to make selections that were in the budget she'd brought for this outing. There the owner and her three daughters watched them closely. Well more or less Belle.
Now it's no wonder that her name means "Beauty"
Her looks have got no parallel
But behind that fair facade
I'm afraid she's rather odd
Very different from the rest of us
She's nothing like the rest of us
Yes, different from the rest of us is Belle!
Belle paid for the new colorfully embroidered ribbons Cosette had picked out and the two left to browse the market some more on their way home unaware they were being followed by an unwanted eager suitor of Belle's that grabbed a bouquet of flowers from the seller.
Bonjour!
Pardon
Good day
Mais oui!
You call this bacon?
What lovely flowers!
Some cheese
Ten yards!
One pound
Excuse me
I'll get the knife
Please let me through!
The suitor a hunter and military man called Gaston was stubbornly pressing through the crowd to get to Belle.
This bread
Those fish
It's stale!
They smell!
Madame's mistaken
Well, maybe so
Belle and Cosette reached the fountain. Belle turned to look at the hustle and bustle of the townspeople.
There must be more than this provincial life!
Gaston stared determinedly at Belle.
Just watch, I'm going to make Belle my wife!
Belle and Cosette now aimed for home.
Look there she goes
That girl is strange but special
A most peculiar mademoiselle!
It's a pity and a sin
She doesn't quite fit in
'Cause she really is a funny girl
A beauty but a funny girl
She really is a funny girl
That Belle!
The sibling pair was now almost home when Gaston intercepted them much to Belle's displeasure.
"Good morning, Belle," said Gaston, stepping in front of them.
Reflexively Cosette moved further behind Belle's skirts to avoid Gaston. She had a bad feeling about him. This was a feeling that Belle seemed to copy.
"Wonderful book you have there," said Gaston, gesturing at it with the flowers, completely ignoring Cosette.
Belle asked "Have you read it?"
"Well, not that one…," he chuckled, vaguely. "But, you know, books…"
Belle remained unimpressed.
Presenting the flowers to Belle, incredibly charmingly, Gaston offered "For your dinner table. Shall I join you this evening?"
"Sorry," said Belle, elusively hasty, "not this evening."
"Busy," inquired Gaston, pleasantly.
Bluntly, Belle said "No."
Not wanting to deal with Gaston's egotistical masculinity any further she turned and walked off with Cosette leaving him in the dust.
Once they were far enough away, Cosette said "I don't like him."
"Me neither," agreed Belle, squeezing her sisters hand gently.
Authors Note:
Happy New Year!