A new baby was on the way and I can't say I was thrilled. There was already me and Azelma, why bother having another. Mama didn't even tell us that she was with child until it was clearly obvious. You'd think she thought we wouldn't notice the change! The silvery winter was melting away into spring green. Mother grew rounder by the day. I overheard her say that she hoped it was a girl. Ha! I didn't really care what it would be. But I already had a sister who stuck to me like nails to wood and fallowed me wherever I went. I didn't need another.
I guess my wish was granted. The baby came that spring. It was a boy, to Mama's disappointment. Mother never cared for little boys, which was why I took caution not to mention my friendship with Michele to her. I knew she would disapprove of it. Papa named the boy Gavroche. I didn't think much about him at first, but slowly after a few months he grew, unloved, but happy. He had sweet brown eyes and dimples. His hair was the same color as mine, he also had my nose by the looks of it.
We were a lot alike he and I. Once he learned to crawl, all he wanted to do was to get into mischief. Often getting Mama angry, he was. Papa didn't pay any attention to him, nor me or Azelma for that matter. He was under a lot of stress about business and customers.
I spent lots of that summer watching Gavroche, and if I wasn't with him I was with I was in the village with Michele, with and without his friends. I would often take Gavroche into the yard and Michele would stop by to play with him. "One day when you grow up, you will come with me and be one of the boys." He would tell him, though he knew Gavroche couldn't understand. "Maybe you could take him swimming." Oh I was bold, to say that. Michele looked up quickly and looked me straight in the eye. Was that a chuckle I heard? "So," he said "it was you in the woods." My eyes went as wide as saucers! He knew! "I knew" he said, grinning. Was he reading my mind! "I thought I saw you in the bushes. You are just a little cat, aren't you? Curious, silent and crafty." I must have looked a fright. He was laughing! Well I would not be laughed at! "How dare you!" I scolded. "I am nothing of the sort!" He laughed again. "Eponine, you're so naïve. Any girl would have been screaming at the sight that you witnessed. But I admit that I am impressed, Ma petite.
Michele lay back on the grass. I had impressed him, as I have many times. I hugged Gavroche in my lap.
I found out that day that Mama was again with child. This one should be born next winter. Another baby. Wasn't three enough? I had now a brother and a sister. Perhaps this one won't make it. I remember a woman we knew who had child in the winter and it died the next day. Or perhaps she'd have a miscarriage. But I knew I shouldn't have hoped for such awful things, it's too cruel. If it makes Mama happy, let her have all the babies she wants.
Summer past away, the weather grew colder and days shorter. More customers came to seek shelter from the bitter winds. By now, I have turned eight. Azelma was seven. I was happy for Papa had just given me a kitten. It was white with black patches. Papa gave her to me because our beloved dog Kannel had died of old age.
Sometimes when I was very happy and the Inn was full, Azelma and I would dance and sing for customers, which would earn us a few coins. Mama still loved to show us off that way. When I was curtsying for my applauding audience, I saw Cosette sitting under the table with her knitting in her lap. She was too clapping quietly. I gave her a little smile and curtsied toward her.
That night Mama had made pastries. After eating one, I took two more upstairs, one for me, the other for Gavroche. I put my pastry in my dress pocket. Azelma, Gavroche and me, we all shared the same bedroom. Azelma had already fallen asleep on her bed. On the other side of the room was Gavy's cradle. "Gavroche? Are you awake?" I whispered. He woke up licking his lips. I could tell Mama hadn't fed him. He gladly took the pastry I brought him.
I was about to get ready for bed but I remembered I left my dolly downstairs. After retrieving it, I past the little storage room next to the kitchen where the potatoes, flour and the fire wood was kept. It was also where Cosette slept at night. That's where I saw her.
She was lying on sack of straw. She seemed so small, all curled up, asleep. So thin, she probably hadn't eaten that night. I felt my pastry in my pocket. I'm sure Cosette was hungry. If she was slow doing her chores, Mama would deny her meals.
To this day, I'm not sure why I did it. But I did. I took the pastry from my pocket and placed it next to the sleeping Cosette. She sniffed in her sleep, any minute she would wake up to discover the treat. When she began to stir, I fled.
Perhaps I felt guilty. That I was to live in comfort while she lived in pain and labor. Perhaps I still felt love in my heart for her.
Ah, sweet December. I loved December. The snow had come early that year. It had come the night before and the whole village was covered in a blanket of white.
I was getting dressed to go outside and play when someone threw a snowball at my window pane. Azelma gave a shrieked. I opened my window to find nobody down on the ground below. "Up here!" I heard a voice whisper. I looked up to the tree next to the house, to the branch by my window. There sat Michele with his wide grin on his face.
"What are you doing!" I said to him "Azelma will tattle if she sees…"
"Mama, Mama! There is a horrible boy at the window!" Azelma yelled. Blast the little brat! She never knew about Michele. While she stood in the doorway, hollering, I turned back to the window. "Get out of here! You're going to be in trouble!" I whispered as loudly as I could. Michele nodded and climbed down the tree and waved back to me and then ran.
Mama came upstairs and into our room, slowly for she was heavy with child. The baby was due any time now. "What is she squawking about?" she asked, very agitated. Azelma took Mama's hand and pulled her to the window sill. I quickly moved to the other side of the room to finished dressing. I prayed the Michele was out of eye shot.
"Azelma, you little goose, you called me up here to show me a tree? I daresay I'm not amused."
"He was here, Mama! A horrid boy at the window! I saw him! He threw snow at us! Didn't he? Eponine, you saw him didn't you?" Azelma turned to me for support. I thought I could help her without getting me or Michele in trouble. Mon Diou! Must I think of everything! "I recall seeing a boy running away, after I heard the snowball it the window." I said. Mama went to the open window and brushed the snow off the glass with her hand. "Well" she said "he's gone now. You two go outside and play. The inn is too crowdedfor you to stay inside." Mama left and went back downstairs.
I ran downstairs, Azelma close behind me. "Where are we going?" she asked. I might have known that she would tag along. "To town, I want to look at the toy shop." I had five sou in my pocket and I wanted to buy some candy.
Dressed warmly, we headed down the road to the shop. Everybody was bustling about, Christmas shopping, buying gifts decorations, and delicious things to eat.
Soon we reached the toy shop. I saw a couple of girls around eleven or twelve years old. They were all cluttered at the window. I managed to push through the small crowd to see what the fuss was about. There in the window I saw the most stunning, most divine doll I had ever laid eyes upon. It had beautiful glass eyes, and long curls made from real human hair. Its long silk dress reached far down from the chair where it was displayed. It was truly a splendid doll.
I sighed, for I would never have such a doll. We could never afford it. I thought nobody in town could possibly afford such a treasure. Oh well. I bought some rock candy and some chocolate. Azelma begged me to share with her and like a sissy I gave in and gave her a piece.
On the way home we stopped in front of the home of one of the boys. Michele was there. He and his friends had built barricades of snow and were having a snow war. Fun! He looked at me and smiled right when he got hit in the head by a snowball! "Hey! Alright! You're dead Jean!" he yelled wiping the snow from his face. I laughed when Michele gave Jean a good hit in his…"Ouch!" I laughed as he held lower bits.
"Hey Eponine! C'mon! I need more on my side!" Michele said. I was overjoyed! I was just starting to walk over to him when I felt a tug on my arm. "Eponine, let's go home." Oh, Azelma. I forgot she was there. "'Ponine, don't go over there! Boys are mean! They'll get you all wet!"
"Don't be a goose Azelma! It's only snow. And I don't want to go home. You go." I walked on, Azelma just stood there. "Azelma," I turned around to face her "go home and don't tell Mama where I am." Azelma ran off. Good riddance. I didn't need her around to slow me down. I joined the boys in their game and had as much fun as I hadn't in a long time. I always enjoyed myself when I was with Michele. I found myself always wanting to be by his side.
When I arrived home I was soaking. Mama was sure I would catch my death. She quickly striped me of my wet clothes and put me in the tub of hot water. I was soon dried and dressed in warm linen and sitting by the fire. Azelma was playing with my new kitten. I never knew if she kept silent. But I didn't care.