(Several years after the previous episode)
The Inspector had a day off, so he devoted it to household chores, in particular, to doing his laundry. Having rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, he was busy washing and wrinsing when Cadeau, who had been dozing by the fireplace, suddenly jumped up and galloped to the entrance door – a sure sign that someone whom he knew quite well was coming over. A moment later the doorbell rang, and none other than Gavroche entered the small parlour. The lanky teenager has recently grown even taller , and now was fast shooting into a young man.
The unexpected guest glanced at Javert, who was still holding the bucket full of wet shirts, and his brown eyes widened in surprise.
"Didn't know you could do the laundry, Inspector!", Gavroche was definitely impressed.
" I can do many things, enough for not to be a burden to others and not to depend on hired help", was Javert welcome answer, while he put away the bucket and went to the kitchenette to make tea for them both.
"No offense, but isn't washing a female –I mean, woman's job, Inspector?", the youngster looked somewhat puzzled.
"And what of it?", Javert dried his hands by a towel and stooped to fix the kettle over the fire. "It's nothing wrong in doing what is considered to be woman's work by yourself, it's far worse to turn your flat into a hovel by neglecting that sort of work. When I was young, I couldn't afford a maidservant, so I got used to do everything by myself. But then, surely you didn't come all the way here to dicuss housekeeping, did you?"
The truth was that Gavroche came to the Inspector, because he really needed a piece of advice from an intelligent grown-up man who could tell him something worth hearing, and , although it took him some time to change his mind, he came to consider Javert exactly that. What he didn't know, though, was how to start the conversation about his problems.
While he was pondering, Javert took the teatray and put it on a small table. On seeing his favourite snacks being served, Cadeau looked up, his mouth watering instantly.
"How d'you manage to keep him in such a small room, Inspector?", the teenager wondered, caressing the thick white fur of his four-legged friend. The friend in question , in return, threatened to drown his buddy's face in saliva.
"To your place, Cadeau!", ordered Javert,throwing a piece of cheese to his pet. Having swallowed the piece in the air, Cadeau retreated back to his corner near the fire.
"Ain't he huge, eh? Even bigger than his daddy, for sure! By the way , you know, our Chou-Chou is getting really old, doesn't run or jump anymore…", Gavroche observed wistfully.
"How old is he?", Javert asked, inwardly flinching from the thought that in five or six years Cadeau will no longer be young either. Until he got a dog, Javert never fully realised how lonely he used to be.
"Lemme see… I was three when Cosette and I found him…so he must be fourteen, I reckon", Gavroshe counted.
"So, that means you are now seventeen, then?", the Inspector looked up.
"Yeah, and that's where the problem is", the youngster fidgeted in his chair, "I'm finishing school this year, and what next? Marius says I need to get ready for the University, and I..I guess I 've done enough schooling by now, at least for my own liking. So, I'm trying to work out what to do after school, sort of…"
"And what does Euphrasie say?"
"Cosette? But, Inspector, she's a girl…I mean, a woman! Not that I don't value her ideas, but what on Earth can she advise me? She hasn't got no experience in career choices, I'm afraid."
"And what can I possibly advise you?", Javert shrugged his shoulders. "I am neither teacher nor mentor, and certainly not a good choice for a father figure", he added in a softer tone. "As you know, I've been single all my life, and had never had children. Only a dog, and even that was your doing", he gave Gavroche a slight smirk.
"Oh, as for starting a family, it's none too late for you, Inspector!", the impertinent boy smirked at Javert in return, then adding in a more serious tone, "You know, I've been thinking a great deal lately…what if I choose to work in the police force? What d'ya think, M'sieur Javert?"
A strained silence hung in the air. Javert looked into his guest's eyes, and was struck by the sudden realisation that Gavroche, actually , very much reminded him of himself at the same age. It was weird, just as if he was looking into the eyes of his own seventeen-year-old self.
"I think", he finally uttered, "that it is not a very good idea. You know nothing of what it is to be a policeman"
"Then maybe you could drill me , Inspector, so that I'd know something at least?", was the boy's nonchalant reply.
"With pleasure", Javert stood up and began pacing across the room. "Imagine your superiour receiving a bribe and letting go a dangerous criminal whom you have arrested, risking your own life. Imagine a lawyer, deliberately failing the case in court, and a murderer or a thief being released and left unpunished. And, finally,", his voice grew more bitter, "imagine for a moment yourself making a mistake, …a grave mistake, ruining someone's life…and perhaps not even one person's life, as all people are interconnected, and then having to go on living with that guilt, going on doing your job, chasing away the gnawing thought that you may, in future, make another mistake, costing more lives, but still continue to fulfill your duty and to stay sane…" he stopped, his eyes clouded and face expression unreadable.
"But still, Inspector", Gavroche said quietly, "someone has to do this job, right?"
"Yes, someone has to", Javert sighed, as if exhausted by his speech. "But why should it be you?"
"And why should it have been you, M'sieur, in the first place?", Gavroche didn't give up.
"My choice of career was rather…limited, to put it mildly", Javert answered after a short pause. "You, on the contrary, have more opportunities…"
"Such as living at my foster brother-in-law's expence, you mean?", the teenager defiantly straightened his back. I'm not gonna be a burden on his or Cosette's shoulders, thank you very much! I'm not a little boy any longer, Inspector; I'm a man and I can do a man' job, and a respectable one, too!"
"In this case, you chose the wrong path, boy. People generally don't like or respect those who do dirty work for them. If you crave for respect or glory, you'd better get enlisted into the Legion. ", Javert shook his head.
Gavroche's eyes flashed fiercly.
"It's you who got me wrong, Inspector. I don't give a damn…sorry…I don't care for glory, or other folks' opinion and all that stuff. What I want is justice, and I won't be myself if I miss the chance to fight for it! I do know life ain't…isn't fair, M'sieur Javert, but I also believe I can make it more fair, so that guys like my so-called daddy wouldn't think they can do what they want and get away with it! And I believe there's a chance I can do this job right", he added in a quieter tone, "especially if you help me."
Javert only stared at the boy, as if again listening to his younger self. Despite his better judgement, he was truly moved.
"In this case", he said in dead earnest, but using a tone more gentle then usual, "you are welcome!"
