By the time Phillipe had finished washing of what dirt he could, the supper
had been cooked and placed out on the table. The meal was an odd mixture of
English and French cooking. Claude, who was an Englishman, insisted upon
remembering his home at suppertime. Whole grain bread lay steaming on a
platter next to fresh butter, an assortment of jams and a plate of various
cheeses. Mounds of pasties were heaped on plates, with gravy running down
their sides. Several legs of mutton and a ham hock sat on the table as
well. Aside from this culinary show, bowls with fresh fruits and vegetables
were placed about on the table. The little boy's eyes gleaned as he plunked
himself in a chair and stared hungrily at the food. Javert stood in the
doorway of the dining room, his heavy coat half on, arguing with Mathilde.
"I really must go back out. My patrols must be carried out efficiently if I am to do well here", the inspector tried.
"Oh nonsense! You don't want to be out in that horrid weather anymore I than I do. You are going to sit yourself down and eat supper with us. You've become much to thin from my liking; it disturbs me to see you underfed."
"Mathilde, I appreciate your concern, but I.."
"You. Table. Sit. Now", Mathilde settled the debate and went over to start serving the meal. Javert bowed and took a seat beside Claude. He smiled slightly, very glad that he had an excuse to stay away from the bitter night.
~ * * * ~
Stepping outside once more, Javert felt surprisingly at ease. After the first satisfying meal he had eaten all month, the inspector ad received a chance to finally reunite with the couple that had saved his life some twenty years ago. Never before had he realized all that he truly meant to those around him. For most of his life, he had been rejected, either due to his race, or his birth. Javert had assumed that the world contained nothing but ill will towards him. But now, to see Claude with shining eyes and a broad smile, or to listen to Mathilde prattle on about her concerns and fears, the inspector's perspective took on a new angle. He was able to relax and act as he had before time turned him cold. As for the little boy, he would now have the structure and care that Javert had received a taste of, but at a much younger age. What the inspector would have given to have the support that Phillippe now had. Perhaps life was taking a new turn towards improvement. With optimism gently flowing through his veins, warm and comforting, Javert set off to finish the night's work. The wind began to slow and Paris's chill began to lift. Directly overhead, the moon glimmered, nestled in the sky's azure folds.
"I really must go back out. My patrols must be carried out efficiently if I am to do well here", the inspector tried.
"Oh nonsense! You don't want to be out in that horrid weather anymore I than I do. You are going to sit yourself down and eat supper with us. You've become much to thin from my liking; it disturbs me to see you underfed."
"Mathilde, I appreciate your concern, but I.."
"You. Table. Sit. Now", Mathilde settled the debate and went over to start serving the meal. Javert bowed and took a seat beside Claude. He smiled slightly, very glad that he had an excuse to stay away from the bitter night.
~ * * * ~
Stepping outside once more, Javert felt surprisingly at ease. After the first satisfying meal he had eaten all month, the inspector ad received a chance to finally reunite with the couple that had saved his life some twenty years ago. Never before had he realized all that he truly meant to those around him. For most of his life, he had been rejected, either due to his race, or his birth. Javert had assumed that the world contained nothing but ill will towards him. But now, to see Claude with shining eyes and a broad smile, or to listen to Mathilde prattle on about her concerns and fears, the inspector's perspective took on a new angle. He was able to relax and act as he had before time turned him cold. As for the little boy, he would now have the structure and care that Javert had received a taste of, but at a much younger age. What the inspector would have given to have the support that Phillippe now had. Perhaps life was taking a new turn towards improvement. With optimism gently flowing through his veins, warm and comforting, Javert set off to finish the night's work. The wind began to slow and Paris's chill began to lift. Directly overhead, the moon glimmered, nestled in the sky's azure folds.