It was cold and windy and Jean's birthday was coming up. Fantine wanted to knit him a scarf. Javert was over at her house and they were talking. Fantine's long golden hair was braided and shoved underneath a cap. Javert's black hair was windswept and was poking into his eyes.
"How long is that scarf going to be?" Javert asked.
"Long," Fantine said. "It's cold out and Jean doesn't even have a coat!"
Javert frowned, "That's awful! I should get him a coat, or something."
Fantine nodded, "His favorite color is green, so you can go look at them in the store."
"Alright, I'll ask my mom to take me," Javert said. "My dad is working."
"He's a police officer, right?" Fantine asked.
Javert nodded. Fantine grinned, "That's cool! Hey, I've noticed that your parents don't really look like you."
Javert nodded and glanced at the ground, "I'm adopted."
"Oh," Fantine said softly. "Do you know who your real parents were?"
Javert shook his head, "I asked one time. They said my dad was a convict and my mom was a Gypsy. I was born in a prison, and then sent into the adoption center."
Fantine hugged him, "Well, I'm glad you're here! You're a great friend!" She said, smiling.
Javert shrugged, "Thanks."
Fantine jumped up, "We should hurry up to get Jean's presents. I'm almost done the scarf; you should hurry up to grab the scarf!"
"Okay," Javert got up.
His mom took him to the clothing store and he looked around for a coat. He found a big warm green coat, and they were waiting in line to check it out.
A man pushed forward and moved to the doors.
"Stop thief!" A voice cried out. Security officers raced after the man, who was clutching a shirt in his hands.
"He's getting away!" Javert cried out. He looked up at his mother who was clutching his hand tightly.
"Don't run off now," she scolded.
Javert frowned and looked at the doors again. The line moved on and they paid for their jacket.
XXX
Jean was a little excited about his birthday. He didn't expect much and didn't really like celebrating. His family made him a simple cake and gave him a few presents. Fantine and Javert gave him their presents, which he liked a lot.
Jean's favorite teacher ever was Mr. Myriel. Mr. Myriel would talk to him and he treated Jean as an equal, not a little kid. Jean liked talking to Mr. Myriel, and he learned some valuable life lessons.
Mr. Myriel gave Jean a card and a toy car to play with for his birthday. While Fantine and Javert knew Mr. Myriel, they weren't as close to him as Jean was.
Jean, Javert, and Fantine were in Jean's room, playing with the toy car and talking.
"You're older than us now," Fantine said.
Jean laughed, "Yeah, I am."
"I saw a crime today," Javert said. Fantine and Jean grew silent and looked at him. Javert nodded, "He didn't get away. If I was older, I could have helped."
"What did he steal?" Fantine asked.
"A shirt," Javert said.
"Maybe he needed it," Jean said, "It's cold out."
"Or maybe he was giving it to a child in need," Fantine said.
Javert frowned, "Well, stealing is wrong."
"Ooooo Christmas is coming up!" Fantine said, happily. "What are your plans?"
Jean shrugged, "Nothing, usually."
"We sometimes go to the neighborhood party," Javert said.
"Well, Félix has invited me and my sister to his party," Fantine said, grinning. "I can't wait to go!"
"Lucky you," Jean said.
Fantine frowned, "I think Félix will let me bring you two. He's very nice."
Jean and Javert shared glances but didn't say anything.
XXX
Fantine eventually got permission from Félix to bring Jean and Javert to the party.
Fantine dressed up in a beautiful dress. She put her hair down and put a red ribbon in it. Favourite, Dahlia, and Zéphine were all wearing nice dresses with ribbons in their hair as well. They waited for Listolier, Fameuil, Blachevelle, and Félix to pick them up.
Jean dressed in his nicest clothes, which just mean anything that didn't have a stain or tear in it. He wore his new green coat and his scarf. Javert dressed casual, with a large back coat on and a hat perched on his head.
The two boys got to the party earlier and just stood there, awkwardly.
"You guys came!" Fantine ran over to them and hugged them both. "Isn't this great!"
"Yeah," Jean said.
"I have to leave early," Javert mumbled.
"I don't, since Jeanne is at her own party," Jean said. "I'm allowed to stay out later."
"Good!" Fantine said.
Favourite rushed over to them, "Hush now, we're going to sing Christmas songs!"
They all gathered around the living room and everyone was excited. Jean and Javert hadn't been to a celebration like this ever, so they were unsure of how it was going to happen.
Fantine's dad stood up and began conducting them as they started to sing Petit Papa Noël.
"C'est la belle nuit de Noel
La neige etend son manteau blanc
Et les yeux leves vers le ciel
A genoux, les petits enfants
Avant de fermer les paupieres
Font une derniere priere.
Petit papa Noel
Quand tu descendras du ciel
Avec des jouets par milliers
N'oublie pas mon petit soulier.
Mais avant de partir
Il faudra bien te couvrir
Dehors tu vas avoir si froid
C'est un peu a cause de moi.
Il me tarde que le jour se leve
Pour voir si tu m'as apporte
Tous les beaux joujoux que je vois en reve
Et que je t'ai commandes.
Petit papa Noel
Quand tu descendras du ciel
Avec des jouets par milliers
N'oublie pas mon petit soulier.
Mais avant de partir
Il faudra bien te couvrir
Dehors tu vas avoir si froid
C'est un peu a cause de moi.
Le marchand de sable est passe
Les enfants vont faire dodo
Et tu vas pouvoir commencer
Avec ta hotte sur le dos
Au son des cloches des eglises
Ta distribution de surprises.
Et quand tu seras sur ton beau nuage
Viens d'abord sur notre maison
Je n'ai pas ete tous les jours tres sage
Mais j'en demande pardon.
Petit papa Noel
Quand tu descendras du ciel
Avec des jouets par milliers
N'oublie pas mon petit soulier.
Mais avant de partir
Il faudra bien te couvrir
Dehors tu vas avoir si froid
C'est un peu a cause de moi."
Everyone there had raised their voices in the song. After that one they sang Le petit renne au nez rouge, Mon beau sapin, and Vive le Vent.
"This was a lot of fun," Jean said.
Javert nodded, "I have to go now. Merry Christmas." He turned and left.
"Merry Christmas!" Jean called out after him.