Christmas Eve, it was finally here at last! I could smell Mama baking Ginger doe in the kitchen. I put my shoes by the fireplace, first thing. That was my favorite part. You put your shoes by the fireplace, for Papa Noel to fill.

Oh the festivities of Montfemeil! Many people come to our home this time of year, to escape the winter cold. Extra chores…for Cosette.

I was sitting by the fire with Azelma and our little dolls. In my new Christmas dress. Upstairs was the new baby. I had a new brother. From downstairs I could hear him screaming. Like Gavroche, this boy would not be loved by Mama. "Go and see what he's crying about!" Papa said. "Oh let him scream!" Mama yelled. "I care nothing for the brat!"

Gavroche however was crawling around the inn somewhere and was likely getting into trouble. I would often catch him in the kitchen, trying to snatch something to eat. I guessed he was in his favorite hiding place, behind the potato sacks.

It was a dark night. Nobody would dare go out without a lantern. For a long while I stared into the fire. "Hey! You! Girl, have you given my horse water?" The loud bellow shook me from the depths of my mind. It was a man addressing Cosette. I turned around and saw her. She was sweeping the floor with her huge broom which was much bigger then herself. She was to polish the floor once it was rid of the dust. She looked to the man, shaking. "O-oui, M-monsieur. He drank the h-hole buck-k-ket f-full." She stuttered.

"Oh that's a lie! I always know when my horse hasn't had water!" The man wasn't taking any pity for Cosette. She turned her eyes to the floor. "I…I did give him w-water M-monsieur. I did r-really. I did!" I could see how frightened Cosette was as the man glared down at her. "For a puny wench, you tell lies bigger than a house!"

"Cosette!" my Mama shrilled "I've heard of your lying. I ought to whip you raw for it, but I haven't the time. Go out and fetch water for his horse!"

"B-but, Madam, th-there is n-no water." Cosette was shaking again. Mama pointed out the door. "Go and get some. Here's fifteen sou, go pick up a loaf of bread from the baker on your way back."

I felt a chill down my spine. Cosette was to go to the spring in the woods, into this black velvet night, into the icy cold. And Cosette had no shawl. She was quivering, her legs bare, hand and feet chafed and red. She had no stockings under her wooden shoes. She was wearing only a thin torn blouse and skirt full of holes. On her head she wore a cloth bonnet.

Cosette stood in the doorway, the sharp, biting wind blew her hair. "What are you waiting for, you little wretch? GET OUT!" Mama hollered. And out the waif ran. I watched her through the window as she fled carrying the huge bucket, until her small ragged body disappeared into the night.

I went and sat down by the fire again. Azelma fiddled with her doll. I felt disturbed. Cosette has gone into the woods many times before. But she had never in the dark of night. She could never see through the foggy blackness tonight. And it was so deadly cold. The spring was far from the inn. I shuddered. Michele and the boys had told me tales of those woods being haunted. They say there is a white lady with red eyes, who screams the names of her lost babies. John Paul claimed that he had seen a big man with an ax that runs mad through the forest, chasing children for his super. I was interrupted from my thoughts when Gavroche crawled into my lap. "'Ponine, 'ere I am." He said.

"There you are." I cooed, giving him a squeeze.

I sat on the rug by the fireplace, Gavroche by my side and Azelma on the other. It must have been nearly an hour before I felt the cold winter air upon my skin. I turned around and saw Cosette coming through the door. Then I noticed that she had brought somebody with her. A strange man stepped through the door after her. He wore a long yellow coat and his boots were rather muddy. Mama looked down at Cosette. "Oh, it's you, is it? Well you took your time! Been playing I suppose, you little beggar!" she glared at her. Cosette's hands shook, holding the bucket that was now full of water. She looked up at Mama. "Madam, here is a gentleman who was coming to lodge." She gestured to the strange man. Mama didn't even the notice the man. "Oh, Monsieur. Come in." she smiled.

"Have you a room?" that man asked in a low, weary voice.

"Monsieur, I'm sorry but we're out of room."

"Put me in the garret or stable if you must. I will pay as if I had a room."

"Forty sou?" my mother asked. It seemed odd that this stranger would ask for the stable.

"If that be the price, then forty sou. I shall want some supper."

"And if you're willing to pay for it, very well. I don't lodge poor people for less. Oh I forgot the bread. Cosette. Cosette!" Cosette turned as white as a sheet at the sound of her name. She had brought no bread. "Oh…oh, Madam…the-the bakery w-was c-closed." She stuttered. "You should have knocked!" Mama scolded.

"I…I did knock M-madam, but he d-didn't open…"

"I'll find out tomorrow if that's true! You had better not be giving me your false tongue! Well give me my fifteen sou." At that command Cosette searched her pocket, but presented nothing. Mother was growing impatient. "Did you hear me? Did you lose it or did you steal it from me!" Her face was reddening.

"I-It's g-gone Madam…"

"What!"

"It m-must have f-from my p-pocket at the s-spring. Madam f-forgive me, please! It won't ever h-happen again!" I could see Cosette was fighting back her tears. Mama enraged "I should say not! I'll teach you for loosing my money! Azelma!" My sister's head went up quickly. "Go get my whip!" As Azelma ran to obey Mama's demands, Mama herself took Cosette by her wrist. Cosette was terrified, finally letting her tears run down her face. She struggled to get away. "No, no, no Madam! Please! Forgive me! Please don't hurt me Madam!" she begged but Mama showed no merci. Azelma brought out the long horse whip. Now yelling wasn't anything new in the tavern but the beating of a child for all to see didn't happen often. Mama usually would take Cosette where nobody would see then she would beat her. But this time Mama didn't seem to care who was watching. Everybody in the room was starring. Not that beating servants was unusual but to beat any child on Christmas Eve, it was just unheard of.

What I felt about this whole situation frightened me. But I didn't have time to think of my feelings. It was all just too loud. "No, Madam, please!" Cosette was out of breath from her crying. But before Mama could raise the whip, someone softly spoke up. "Madam, Madam." It was the stranger. "Forgive me. But I believe I saw something fall from the little girl's pocket. Here it is" he held some money in his hand. Mama looked puzzled. "Twenty sou?" she looked at the coin.

"Isn't that what you gave her?" the man asked.

"Oui, oui that's it. Cosette don't let that ever happen again! Go! Get back to work! Those stockings need to be finished or no supper." Mama took the coin. Cosette took off her shoes and slid under the table. She picked up her knitting needles and a ball of yarn and set to work.

That was peculiar. None of who I know of would ever rescue Cosette from a beating. Oh well. I picked up my dolly to play. Then I had an interesting idea. I spotted my cat on the table. I picked her up and brought her back to the fire place. I striped my doll of her dress and dressed my cat in it (a very difficult task) and called Azelma to my side. "This will be more fun than that doll." I said to her. I held my cat up "Look. Isn't she pretty? She moves just like a real baby. Now I'll be a lady and pretend I'm coming to see you. You will see little by little that she has whiskers and of course this will surprise you. Then you will see her ears and her tail. Then I will say 'oh madam! All little girls are like this nowadays!' Come Azelma, this will be fun." Azelma listened to my every word, and nodded.

During this little event, I had forgotten that I had left my naked doll unattended. And when I turned around to get it, it was gone. I looked around to see where it possibly could have gotten too. Then my eyes caught under the table. There was Cosette. But she wasn't working. She was holding something. It took me a second glance to see that it was my doll! Cosette, the filthy wretch, had taken my doll!

"Mama, Mama!" I called, pointing at Cosette. Mama came storming up and when she saw Cosette, her face grew fierce. "Why you little slut! How dare you even touch those dolls with your filthy hands! They are not for scum like you to play with!" She took the doll and slapped Cosette across the face. I looked around to see that the stranger in the yellow coat had disappeared.

Within a few minutes he returned. A gasp escaped my lips. My eyes went wide s did Azelma's. What he had brought with him, was the splendid doll that I saw in the toyshop window, in the village! It was the exact one! "Come." The man beckoned Cosette. Cosette stepped slowly toward him. Her eyes were as wide as silver plates as she stared at the dolly. The man held it out to her. "This is for you, Cosette." He said. All was silent. Mama, Papa, Azelma, the borders all stopped and stared. Even little Gavroche didn't stir.

Well, Cosette, aren't you going to take your lovely dolly?" I heard Mama's voice say with sickeningly fake sweetness. Cosette looked on the verge of tears. She just stood there! "Take it. It is yours." Mama went on. "Is it Madam? Is it true?" Cosette asked not taking her eyes of the doll. "Well he's giving it to, ain't he?" I could see, or thought I could see, a slight smile on Cosette's face. But it quickly faded. "Mm-Monsieur, is it really? I-is the l-lady m-mine?" The stranger nodded. Cosette hesitated then took the doll in her arms. "My Catherine" I heard her say.

I, of course, was speechless. What could I possibly say? How could this happen? Mama told Cosette to take the doll and keep it! That was the doll I always wanted and Cosette of all people got it! It puzzled me for the rest of the night. I heard my parents whispering but didn't get the opportunity to know what about. It was time for bed. I walked Gavroche upstairs while Azelma checked our shoes by the fire place. A silly thing Azelma is. She always likes to see if Papa Noel came early, which he never does.

I tucked Gavroche in with the baby who has long since fallen asleep. I changed into my night dress as Azelma walked in. "How much money do you think he'll leave us?" she asked, referring to Papa Noel. "Do you think he'll leave more then last year?" she asked.

"Oh, oui. Much more." I said. That satisfied her and she blew out our candle. Then all was quiet. I lay in the darkness. All of the borders had gone to their rooms and the house was still. I could hear new snow patting ever so softly on the window. For once all the house felt serene.