It had been an entire week since "The Gamin Incident", as the Friends of the ABC had affectionately dubbed it. The students' lives were getting back into the usual routine. Prouvaire was writing verses, Bossuet lost a good deal of money in a bad wager, and Courfeyrac had taken into his protection a stray law student. All was as it should be.
The little bell tinkled over-head in Okra's shop and she looked up from her work to smile at the golden haired young man as he walked in. "Hello again, Hector." She said as she polished her counter.
Enjolras nodded in acknowledgement of the greeting. He carried a bundle under his left arm. "Madame, my friend, Jean Prouvaire, asked me if I would deliver this to you. It is the clothing you lent him." Enjolras placed the bundle on the counter in front of Orka.
"Thank you." Orka said quietly as she stooped to place the bundle underneath the counter. When she stood up she was surprised to see Enjolras still standing there.
"I also wanted to give you a bit of thanks. Whether you realize it or not, you helped me realize that I have been perhaps a bit…distant from my friends. Considering what good men they are…that distance was inexcusable. I am working to remedy my shortcomings." Enjolras said in his softly severe voice.
Orka shook her head. "You merely looked into the mirror, young one and saw what was plainly there." She paused and pursed her lips. "Your friends are all as they were, once again?"
Enjolras paused for a fraction of a second before answering, "Yes."
"Did your friend write that letter?"
"Courfeyrac insists that merely the fact he has grown into, and I quote, 'The charming individual that I am today', end quote was thanks enough for his mother. Prouvaire tells me however, that Courfeyrac's mother gets rather suspicious if he tries to write flowery letters of that matter."
Orka gave a brief smile.
Enjolras nodded his head again and turned to go.
"Wait a moment!" Orka called sharply.
In his surprise Enjolras knocked into a shelf against the wall near the door. He turned to look at Orka.
"Keep an eye on that adolescent of yours." She warned sagely, though her eyes sparked brightly. "It is not an easy age."
"We'll take good care of him." Enjolras gave the smallest and briefest of smiles before leaving the shop entirely.
Orka laughed softly and continued polishing her countertops humming an old song from her own youth.
Neither of them noticed the peculiar gold powder that had fallen on Enjolras's hat when he had bumped into the shelf.
But that is a story for another time.