Children Shouldn't Live Like This – Chapter 6
Feeling stifled by the blanket that was draped over his body despite the scorching hot sun that was pouring into the bedroom, Gavroche gave a frustrated huff and kicked it off with his uninjured leg.
It had been five days since he had awakened, eight since he had been forcibly removed from the Thenardier household. Gavroche, for one, was incredibly grateful for the magnanimity of the five university students who had been looking after him, completely aware of the fact that they were not obliged to rescue and shelter him in the first place. He had slowly gotten to know the five, treating them with utmost respect despite their insistence on him not greeting them with formalities, but he did so all the same. It only seemed like the right thing to do, especially considering how they were so much older, and larger than him.
He had taken a liking to Courfeyrac immediately, always enjoying his company and his tendency to fuss over his wellbeing. He was one of the few people who had an instinctively comfortable air around them, and was the only person willing to spend hours on end just entertaining Gavroche with jokes and stories, which the boy thoroughly enjoyed. Joly, of course, was another kindred spirit, the only chance he had of making a full recovery. It seemed that the student was a perfect enough doctor already despite his status as a student, able to answer all of Eponine's nervous queries about Gavroche's condition and treating Gavroche in a manner that ensured as little discomfort as possible.
Grantaire was the most eccentric of the group, frequently visiting him while slightly drunk and speaking to Gavroche about subject matter that made the boy giggle and his cheeks turn pink, as he took pleasure in "corrupting" another innocent younger member of Parisian society. Gavroche appreciated Grantaire's whimsicality all the same, never would an adult speak to a child like him about topics such as these! Gavroche figured that he would be wise to take in as many of the "lessons" as he could.
Marius was liked as well, but had been the one subject to Gavroche's closest scrutiny, the boy frequently asking him personal questions in a childishly sharp tone of voice that left the student bewildered at the seeming interrogations. It was Gavroche's responsibility that his sister was "fancyin' after a worthy man", after all. Gavroche's subsequent admission of his exploits to his sister during one of her daily visits resulted in another painful cuff to the head and a chastising session, but Gavroche took pleasure in knowing that he was looking after his older sister despite her reluctance to admit that fact.
Enjolras was the hardest nut to crack, or so it seemed. While the other students had warmed to Gavroche's inquisitive nature and talkativeness instantly, Enjolras had frequently spaced out and stared out of the open window in the midst of conversations, and seemed to dislike time-wasting, always carrying around a few sheets of crumpled paper that he scribbled onto whenever he could. Gavroche was admittedly a little intimidated by Enjolras' aloof nature and stern disposition, but appreciated the few times he had stayed in the bedroom to keep him company, frequently working on a dissertation in silence as Gavroche closed his eyes and enjoyed the sound of pencil scratching mildly onto paper.
All the things considered, there was one thing Gavroche knew for certain as he lay on that same bed for the eighth day in a row.
He was bored.
Joly's instructions to remain in bed to avoid injuring himself further was sound advice, but wasn't easy to take, especially for a young child who now had the overwhelming urge to tear off his stuffy bandages and run around in the streets outside. It also certainly didn't help that he was partially disabled, unable to hold anything that needed both hands to work with, such as the puzzle box from the market that Courfeyrac had kindly gotten for him. Pouting at the unfinished trinket on the bedside table next to him, Gavroche raised his good leg and let it fall to the bed via gravity, listening to the sound of the bed creaking and momentarily curbing his boredom by building up momentum in an upward direction.
He forgot about the presence of another person in the guesthouse.
"What's going on here?"
Heart seizing up a little at the sound of the familiar voice, Gavroche abruptly stopped his bouncing and looked at the doorway with mortified eyes. He stuttered unconsciously as he tried to make out his words.
"M…monsieur Enjolras! Je…je suis désolé, I didn't…I didn't mean to disturb you!"
Enjolras was, in Gavroche's defense, a slightly terrifying sight. Black circles around his eyes after days of endless work, messy hair and a filthy red jacket, he looked more like a crazed scientist than a university student. In his hands, as usual, was a stack of papers with fresh scribbles. Clearly, he had been working on something when he had been interrupted.
"Is something wrong?"
Enjolras made cautious steps into the room. He had sensed days before that Gavroche wasn't yet completely comfortable with his presence at this point, and trod around the boy with caution. Gavroche merely stared back at him with timid eyes, praying that he wouldn't be scolded.
"I was a little bored, monsieur, so I…"
"…decided to…bounce…on the bed?"
Gavroche looked down, ashamed and embarrassed at how ridiculous the notion sounded coming from Enjolras' mouth.
"Yes, monsieur."
Of course he's bored, thought Enjolras to himself as he ran a hand through his unkempt hair. As far as he knew, kids liked to be out playing and running around, not stuck in a room with no company and nothing to do. Enjolras, unfortunately, had never been good with children. Racking his brain for some ideas on how to entertain the gamin, an idea sprung to his head.
"Hey, Gavroche, what do you know about French history?"
Gavroche stared quizzically back at Enjolras, shaking his head, which thankfully had more mobility now that Joly had deemed his neck stable enough to go without a neck brace.
"I've never been to school, monsieur Enjolras. I don't know anything about history."
"Well, every Frenchman needs to learn about our country's history and government, so here's an idea." Enjolras plopped himself down onto the seat next to the bed. "I'll tell you a few stories about our country, and maybe teach you a thing or two. Okay?"
Enjolras' willingness to teach him something new, an opportunity that was scarce for a boy who had never even learnt how to read or write, elevated Gavroche's spirits significantly, his expression reflecting that sentiment as he flashed Enjolras his best and brightest smile.
"Oui!"
Enjolras couldn't help but grin.
"Alright, then. Now, a long time ago…"
Grantaire smirked as he looked at the conflicted expression on Gavroche's face, as the young boy's excitement at learning something new clashed with slight guilt over the tender nature of the subject matter that had just be revealed to him. Grantaire could tell from the boy's face that he was dying to ask more questions, but was still hesitant to do so lest his sister or the other students find out about his venturing into territories completely inappropriate for children.
"Monsieur Grantaire?"
Wiping his alcohol-laden lips with the back of his hand, Grantaire placed his mug back down onto the table and looked up.
"Yes?"
"May I ask…erm…" Gavroche fiddled with the blanket between his fingers as he pondered how to properly phrase his question without sounding rude. "Why are you…willing to teach me about…all that?"
Grantaire, who had gotten very fond of the boy at this point, was wondering when the inquisitive young fellow would ask this question.
"I'm willing to talk about such things…because you'll eventually find out anyway."
"Monsieur?"
"Society is full of taboos…er…rules that must not be broken," Grantaire changed his choice of vocabulary at the perplexed look on Gavroche's face. "Children wonder about these things all the time, which is understandable, because adults always treat these things as something that children must be protected from. Now that…"
Grantaire raised a finger to emphasize his point.
"…is ridiculous to me."
"It is?"
"Yeah. Instead of letting children wonder and find out about these things in their own way through a completely unshielded manner and form, why not educate them about these things and teach them how to treat these matters with respect? I think that's the right way to do things. Now that being said…" Grantaire picked up his mug from the table yet again. "Perhaps it's best if you still do not inform your sister and my friends about what I've been telling you. I don't think they would approve of my…progressive educational methods."
He then winked sneakily at Gavroche, who responded with an enlightened and appreciative grin.
"Oui, monsieur Grantaire!"
"Good."
As he watched the older man sip from his cup, Gavroche couldn't help but stare at Grantaire with slight awe. In front of him sat an adult who was actually willing to share information about things that children like him wondered about for ages. How lucky was he to be in the presence of such a person!
Watching Grantaire sip from the mug, Gavroche's inquisitiveness resurfaced, this time with more confidence after Grantaire's explanation on his willingness to share.
"Erm…monsieur Grantaire, what's that?"
"What, this?" Grantaire used his free hand to point at the cup. "This is beer."
"My papa likes drinking it." Gavroche shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "It makes him more angry."
Pausing mid-sip at Gavroche's subdued tone of voice, Grantaire cursed himself inwardly for his insensitiveness. The boy had been abused by his father. The fact that his father was an alcoholic was not exactly surprising news to him, most abusive parents were in fact alcoholics. So what was he doing, parading around with the same drink that had caused their young charge so much pain?
"Your father isn't a very good drinker, then." Grantaire laughed awkwardly. "People only lose control when they don't know when to stop drinking. Otherwise, a little beer or alcohol is fine."
Eager to wipe off the morose expression that seemed incredibly unbecoming on a boy of eight, Grantaire had an epiphany. A very naughty epiphany, one that would undoubtly cause Joly to ban him from visiting Gavroche for all eternity. If it helped to cheer Gavroche up, however, the risk was likely to be worth it.
Turning around to ensure that the door to the room was tightly shut, Grantaire reached out and thrust the half-full mug at Gavroche, prompting him to take it.
"Try it."
The fear on Gavroche's face was unmistakable. How absolutely criminal would trying alcohol be! The thirst for knowledge bubbling within him, however, was unmistakable.
"Are you sure, monsieur Grantaire?"
"Absolutely. Just a sip, mind you. It's strong."
Hesitantly, Gavroche stuck out his left hand and held onto the mug tightly. Slowly raising it to his lips, Gavroche took in a deep breath before tipping the mug gently upwards, allowing a small stream of the yellowish liquid to enter his mouth.
His eyes then widened.
The taste was overwhelmingly strong, but Gavroche was now enlightened.
Grantaire grinned widely at the sight of Gavroche removing the mug from his lips and wiping his lips contemplatively with his sleeve, taking the first step into the world of adults.
Author's Note – Shorter chapter this time, but I wanted to go past the sentimental and proceed into the slightly comedic. It was then I realized that giving the students (five of them to work with, good grief) another purpose besides just being there to look after Gavroche would be advantageous. Over these few chapters I will explore teacher-student relationships, and gradually I'll build Gavroche's character up into the cheeky and ballsy young boy that we're all familiar with.
Reviews appreciated.