Chapter 5
Eponine walked outside and absorbed the sunshine. It was the first time in a long time that she had stepped outside the cafe, and to her surprise, the winter season was nearly over. No snow covered the ground, and the temperature was no longer freezing, but wonderfully mild. Eponine was relieved that she could carry her coat on the day in late March.
Azelma walked by her side, with Gavroche trailing behind. The three hadn't been back to see their parents since the night when Patron-Minette attacked them. From their work, they had gathered a substantial amount of money, and thought that even though their parents hadn't done anything to help them over the past few years, they were still flesh and blood, and therefore it was their duty to make sure their parents had everything they needed.
They reached the tenement and looked up at the window, which they knew had been their own once. It was open, which surprised Eponine. Her parents never opened the windows, not at the inn and not in their apartment room. She led her sister and brother up to Room 50-52. She took a breath and knocked on the door. She was shocked that not her father answered the door, but a young looking woman with her hair pulled back into a mobcap and an apron tied around her waist.
"Good day," said the woman in a most pleasant voice. "Can I help you children with anything?"
"Good day," said Eponine, looking suspiciously. "I don't suppose you could tell me who you are?"
"I beg your pardon?" The woman looked them over. "Well, you aren't as filthy as the rest who have come. Would you like to come in?" She ushered the children inside, and then went into their parents' room. Eponine held her breath as she awaited to see her father walk out, but he did not. A man, equally as young, came out followed by the woman.
"Can I help you children with anything today?"
"Yes. We were looking for Monsieur and Madame Thenardier." Eponine realized that she had never spoken of her parents in such a formal way.
"You haven't been the only one." He turned to the woman. "I tell you, dear, if they had said how many visitors were to come to our home, I would have gone with the apartment over on..."
"Your home?" Eponine sat baffled. "But, my parents live here."
"Your parents. Oh, how dreadful!" The woman looked at the man. "My husband and I just moved in here last week."
"You say that your parents used to live here? But you three are so young. Wouldn't you have lived with them?"
"I may be young, but I'm leading the revolution, I am! Wait and..." Azelma grabbed her brother and silenced him.
"Monsieur, you say more people have come looking for the Thenardiers? What were these men like?"
"Brutes," said the man, taking a seat. "Frightened us out of our wits. We were afraid to sleep, for fear that they might come in here, and do only God knows what." His wife came up behind him and rested her hands on his shoulders.
"I'm sure that the clerk downstairs would be able to tell you what happened to your parents. But, where are you living? How have you three supported yourselves?"
"You're obviously doing well. Your manner is polite, your clothing is neat, you're clean," observed the man after his wife's questions.
"We live in the Cafe Musain. We also work there, and we have many friends who look out for us. We did not live with our parents because we chose not to live with them. My father was in charge of a gang, Patron-Minette, and the men that have come here, no doubt, are looking for him. I am sorry for any grief they may have caused you."
"You need not apologize for them, but thank you for clearing these things up. As for your parents, I haven't a clue," said the man. "Perhaps the clerk will know."
"Thank you for having us," said Azelma, nearly pushing her brother out the door.
"If you ever need anything, please come by. Pierre and I will always open our door to you."
"Thank you kindly, Madame." The door closed and Eponine turned to her sister. "What do you think has happened?"
"We weren't around to do their picking, so they starved, or couldn't pay rent. Or got thrown in jail."
"We'll never know until we see that clerk."
Sure enough, the clerk informed them that Thenardier and his wife had been thrown out of the tenement for outstanding debts. He apologized to the three for not knowing their current whereabouts, and went back to his duties.
They walked back down the street, and Eponine remembered the envelope in her pocket. She took it out and looked at her sister.
"We should keep it. They've gone and done this to themselves. We earned that! We deserve more than a toothless smile from our father for shoving money in his hand!"
"'Zelma, that doesn't erase the fact that they are our parents. They brought us into this world..."
"When they were too greedy to even care about us! 'Ponine, think of us six months ago and think of us now. For once we have money, a real family, and we're actually happy! I can't speak for you or Gavroche, but I'm happy!"
"I'm happy, 'Ponine. Being leader is great!"
"And it beats stealing watches."
"I know. Fine, we'll keep it. But if we see them..."
"If we see them, then we'll decide what to do."
The three were off again, back to their home and back to their family.
************************************************************************
The cool breeze made Marius smile. The winter had been harsh, but now that springtime was near, he knew that the weather would lift the people's spirits. Any day now, lovebirds would be singing their sweet melodies, and flowers would begin to bloom. Marius hoped that this season of new life would also bring about a change in his own.
Marius still doted on Eponine, even though he was sure that she had never felt the same way about him, and probably would never feel the same way. Yet, for some reason, he hung onto the hope that Eponine and he would be together. But sadly, he found himself looking and smiling at other women, which made their faces flush.
Enjolras had insisted on Marius making a speech. The crowds grew tired of Enjolras, and everyone could see it. He had the same messages every time with different words. All the members of the ABC Society had agreed that someone new had to make a speech every week, with the exception of Grantaire, who everybody unanimously excused from this duty. This week, Marius was up, and he couldn't have been in a harder place. Courfeyrac's speech the past week would be hard to surpass, and Jehan followed Marius. Jehan, the poet of the group, would surely devise some clever way of mixing poetry and government together to grasp the attention of all within a two-mile radius.
As Marius walked the short distance he made everyday from the university to the cafe, his eye caught the attention of a girl. She was seated beside an older man, her father Marius guessed, laughing at what the man had just said. Her curls bounced as she laughed, which made Marius stop and stare even more. He saw the man and girl get up and enter a waiting carriage. The girl looked out the window, and spotted Marius staring at her. She smiled slightly, gave a downcast glance, and then turned back to her father as the carriage drove off. Marius was awoken from his trance when Gavroche ran up to him.
"Whatcha looking at, Marius?"
"Yes, do tell us," smiled Eponine who had seen Marius gape at something from a block away.
"Oh, it was nothing."
"It had to be something," teased Azelma.
"Why don't you go see if your love is thirsty, 'Zelma? I'm sure he's been waiting since this morning for a drink from you."
Azelma turned a deep shade of red, and grabbed Gavroche's hand as she ran towards the cafe.
"She'll get me for that one," laughed Marius.
"No, she'll be too absorbed in Grantaire by the time you show up. So tell me, while no one else is here, what was it that captivated your attention and made you stop in the middle of the road?"
"Did I do that?" Eponine laughed, realizing Marius had not even been conscious of what he had done. "I saw a man."
"A man?" Eponine snorted.
"And a girl."
"Well, you should have said that instead of 'a man'."
"She looked at me."
"You and every other person? She probably thought you were insane to stop walking on a busy street."
"No doubt," said Marius disappointed. "In any event, my speech isn't about to write itself." He and Eponine resumed walking.
"That's right, it's your turn this week. Any ideas?"
"None. I don't suppose you could help?"
"I might have a few ideas, but Enjolras will want some say in it, I'm sure."
"He's already cornered me and gave me some key points. What were you three doing out?"
"Oh, remember how we said we wanted to go give our parents that money?"
"Yes, I do. That was very generous of you considering..."
"Well, they weren't at the apartment building. It turns out that their debt was so bad, they were thrown out of their home."
"You shouldn't worry about them, Eponine. You need to worry about yourself, Azelma, and Gavroche. No one else."
'You're wrong. There is one more person I need to worry about,' thought Eponine.
"Besides," continued Marius. "You have done incredibly well in the past months. I'm sure your parents wouldn't recognize you."
"They wouldn't recognize me regardless," joked Eponine, entering the cafe. Azelma was already hard at work, and glared at Marius as he walked in.
"What did I say? I knew she would."
"She'll be just fine. Have fun writing."
"You promised to help me!"
"I might stop over, but it is your speech."
Marius sighed, taking Enjolras' usual seat. He put his quill into ink, but he just couldn't think straight. That girl stood etched in his mind and he couldn't put her out of it.
'I have to find her again. I have to know something, anything, about her. Eponine could help. She's a great friend, she listens, she gives advice. She'll do anything for me.'
With that thought in his mind, he began to think clearly now, and his speech began to flow from his mind to his pen like the water coursing down a river.
Eponine walked outside and absorbed the sunshine. It was the first time in a long time that she had stepped outside the cafe, and to her surprise, the winter season was nearly over. No snow covered the ground, and the temperature was no longer freezing, but wonderfully mild. Eponine was relieved that she could carry her coat on the day in late March.
Azelma walked by her side, with Gavroche trailing behind. The three hadn't been back to see their parents since the night when Patron-Minette attacked them. From their work, they had gathered a substantial amount of money, and thought that even though their parents hadn't done anything to help them over the past few years, they were still flesh and blood, and therefore it was their duty to make sure their parents had everything they needed.
They reached the tenement and looked up at the window, which they knew had been their own once. It was open, which surprised Eponine. Her parents never opened the windows, not at the inn and not in their apartment room. She led her sister and brother up to Room 50-52. She took a breath and knocked on the door. She was shocked that not her father answered the door, but a young looking woman with her hair pulled back into a mobcap and an apron tied around her waist.
"Good day," said the woman in a most pleasant voice. "Can I help you children with anything?"
"Good day," said Eponine, looking suspiciously. "I don't suppose you could tell me who you are?"
"I beg your pardon?" The woman looked them over. "Well, you aren't as filthy as the rest who have come. Would you like to come in?" She ushered the children inside, and then went into their parents' room. Eponine held her breath as she awaited to see her father walk out, but he did not. A man, equally as young, came out followed by the woman.
"Can I help you children with anything today?"
"Yes. We were looking for Monsieur and Madame Thenardier." Eponine realized that she had never spoken of her parents in such a formal way.
"You haven't been the only one." He turned to the woman. "I tell you, dear, if they had said how many visitors were to come to our home, I would have gone with the apartment over on..."
"Your home?" Eponine sat baffled. "But, my parents live here."
"Your parents. Oh, how dreadful!" The woman looked at the man. "My husband and I just moved in here last week."
"You say that your parents used to live here? But you three are so young. Wouldn't you have lived with them?"
"I may be young, but I'm leading the revolution, I am! Wait and..." Azelma grabbed her brother and silenced him.
"Monsieur, you say more people have come looking for the Thenardiers? What were these men like?"
"Brutes," said the man, taking a seat. "Frightened us out of our wits. We were afraid to sleep, for fear that they might come in here, and do only God knows what." His wife came up behind him and rested her hands on his shoulders.
"I'm sure that the clerk downstairs would be able to tell you what happened to your parents. But, where are you living? How have you three supported yourselves?"
"You're obviously doing well. Your manner is polite, your clothing is neat, you're clean," observed the man after his wife's questions.
"We live in the Cafe Musain. We also work there, and we have many friends who look out for us. We did not live with our parents because we chose not to live with them. My father was in charge of a gang, Patron-Minette, and the men that have come here, no doubt, are looking for him. I am sorry for any grief they may have caused you."
"You need not apologize for them, but thank you for clearing these things up. As for your parents, I haven't a clue," said the man. "Perhaps the clerk will know."
"Thank you for having us," said Azelma, nearly pushing her brother out the door.
"If you ever need anything, please come by. Pierre and I will always open our door to you."
"Thank you kindly, Madame." The door closed and Eponine turned to her sister. "What do you think has happened?"
"We weren't around to do their picking, so they starved, or couldn't pay rent. Or got thrown in jail."
"We'll never know until we see that clerk."
Sure enough, the clerk informed them that Thenardier and his wife had been thrown out of the tenement for outstanding debts. He apologized to the three for not knowing their current whereabouts, and went back to his duties.
They walked back down the street, and Eponine remembered the envelope in her pocket. She took it out and looked at her sister.
"We should keep it. They've gone and done this to themselves. We earned that! We deserve more than a toothless smile from our father for shoving money in his hand!"
"'Zelma, that doesn't erase the fact that they are our parents. They brought us into this world..."
"When they were too greedy to even care about us! 'Ponine, think of us six months ago and think of us now. For once we have money, a real family, and we're actually happy! I can't speak for you or Gavroche, but I'm happy!"
"I'm happy, 'Ponine. Being leader is great!"
"And it beats stealing watches."
"I know. Fine, we'll keep it. But if we see them..."
"If we see them, then we'll decide what to do."
The three were off again, back to their home and back to their family.
************************************************************************
The cool breeze made Marius smile. The winter had been harsh, but now that springtime was near, he knew that the weather would lift the people's spirits. Any day now, lovebirds would be singing their sweet melodies, and flowers would begin to bloom. Marius hoped that this season of new life would also bring about a change in his own.
Marius still doted on Eponine, even though he was sure that she had never felt the same way about him, and probably would never feel the same way. Yet, for some reason, he hung onto the hope that Eponine and he would be together. But sadly, he found himself looking and smiling at other women, which made their faces flush.
Enjolras had insisted on Marius making a speech. The crowds grew tired of Enjolras, and everyone could see it. He had the same messages every time with different words. All the members of the ABC Society had agreed that someone new had to make a speech every week, with the exception of Grantaire, who everybody unanimously excused from this duty. This week, Marius was up, and he couldn't have been in a harder place. Courfeyrac's speech the past week would be hard to surpass, and Jehan followed Marius. Jehan, the poet of the group, would surely devise some clever way of mixing poetry and government together to grasp the attention of all within a two-mile radius.
As Marius walked the short distance he made everyday from the university to the cafe, his eye caught the attention of a girl. She was seated beside an older man, her father Marius guessed, laughing at what the man had just said. Her curls bounced as she laughed, which made Marius stop and stare even more. He saw the man and girl get up and enter a waiting carriage. The girl looked out the window, and spotted Marius staring at her. She smiled slightly, gave a downcast glance, and then turned back to her father as the carriage drove off. Marius was awoken from his trance when Gavroche ran up to him.
"Whatcha looking at, Marius?"
"Yes, do tell us," smiled Eponine who had seen Marius gape at something from a block away.
"Oh, it was nothing."
"It had to be something," teased Azelma.
"Why don't you go see if your love is thirsty, 'Zelma? I'm sure he's been waiting since this morning for a drink from you."
Azelma turned a deep shade of red, and grabbed Gavroche's hand as she ran towards the cafe.
"She'll get me for that one," laughed Marius.
"No, she'll be too absorbed in Grantaire by the time you show up. So tell me, while no one else is here, what was it that captivated your attention and made you stop in the middle of the road?"
"Did I do that?" Eponine laughed, realizing Marius had not even been conscious of what he had done. "I saw a man."
"A man?" Eponine snorted.
"And a girl."
"Well, you should have said that instead of 'a man'."
"She looked at me."
"You and every other person? She probably thought you were insane to stop walking on a busy street."
"No doubt," said Marius disappointed. "In any event, my speech isn't about to write itself." He and Eponine resumed walking.
"That's right, it's your turn this week. Any ideas?"
"None. I don't suppose you could help?"
"I might have a few ideas, but Enjolras will want some say in it, I'm sure."
"He's already cornered me and gave me some key points. What were you three doing out?"
"Oh, remember how we said we wanted to go give our parents that money?"
"Yes, I do. That was very generous of you considering..."
"Well, they weren't at the apartment building. It turns out that their debt was so bad, they were thrown out of their home."
"You shouldn't worry about them, Eponine. You need to worry about yourself, Azelma, and Gavroche. No one else."
'You're wrong. There is one more person I need to worry about,' thought Eponine.
"Besides," continued Marius. "You have done incredibly well in the past months. I'm sure your parents wouldn't recognize you."
"They wouldn't recognize me regardless," joked Eponine, entering the cafe. Azelma was already hard at work, and glared at Marius as he walked in.
"What did I say? I knew she would."
"She'll be just fine. Have fun writing."
"You promised to help me!"
"I might stop over, but it is your speech."
Marius sighed, taking Enjolras' usual seat. He put his quill into ink, but he just couldn't think straight. That girl stood etched in his mind and he couldn't put her out of it.
'I have to find her again. I have to know something, anything, about her. Eponine could help. She's a great friend, she listens, she gives advice. She'll do anything for me.'
With that thought in his mind, he began to think clearly now, and his speech began to flow from his mind to his pen like the water coursing down a river.