Le Petit Chapeau

The Toymaker

My Father cleaned the last glasses of our customer's, and i said goodbye to Mr. Dubois „my son" he say „don't be afraid of your father, i wish you a good night and i hope i see you soon, send greetings to your sister," i raise my hand to wave, „i will send your greetings to her and good night Mr. Dubois. He closed the door and the bell ring, it feels like the bell would start a fight between my father and me, i am nervous and i know this will not gonna end well, but i have to try to tell him that i want leave France the end of the Month when all goes like i thought it would be going to be my first Travel to many countries and cities. I put the table on the place and my father walk's towards me i hear his footsteps, „i have to  talk with you it's urgent, Listen Emilian i am not the youngest anymore and i will say it straight, i want you to take over the Café as soon as possible, my bones doesn't work like in the past i can help you with little things but i can't do the work anymore, so that's my offer to you, you will start next week with it, i will talk to the notary about the papers and i overwrite it to you, so it doesn't give's problems with the bank and the money, you have to pay the debts that's all what i have to say we should go home, maybe your sister prepared the dinner, we should take a coach too, it's pretty cold outside." Never my father talked that much with me, but i stopped him in his actions. „Father i don't want to work here, i want leave France the end of the Month i was planning it for a long time, actually when grandfather was on his deathbed, i told him that i want open a hatter shop in England, here in France i see no future for me, grandfather was happy to hear my idea, and i want make it true, i made a promise to Mr. Du- „NONSENSE" my father screamed loud that i shut up immediately, „YOU DON'T GO ANYWHERE, you stay here with your sister and me you take over this Café end of the discussion. „No father", he turns around with a red face, now his patience was over, „What did you SAY, „NO" ARE YOU KIDDING ME, I AM YOUR FATHER AND YOU STILL LIVE UNDER MY HOUSE, RESPECT THE RULES EMILIAN. „FATHER"
Now i was the one who scream, „I LEAVE FRANCE ANYWAY WHAT YOU SAY" i try to say it calmly, „father now listen to me, when mom died i know you wish i was on her side, do you think i am not seeing how you treat me since her death, like a dog who follows your commands, i want live father, i want make my own history and i can't when you chained me here on this place i hate much, i can't take over the Café i don't want it." My father looked at me with eyes wide and his mouth open, i took a deep breath „father i make a promise to Mr. Dubois and i want make grandfather proud, i want to be a hatter, grandfather teach me all what i have to know to make my dream a success, i leave France anyway when you say no, i know you don't care you want only someone who pay your debts for your own mistake, but i am not the one, search someone other to treat like a dog, but i don't play this part, so shall we go home i am starving already. Father say with a serious expression in his voice, but he turn his face so i can't see him, „you don't go home, i don't want you in my house tonight, go in a hotel or to someone else, yes you are right i don't care, so excuse me i leave now. I stand in the middle of the Café seeing my father leaving and the bell rings, so the fight was over, i felt an empty heart, i know i can't hate him but for now i do, i took my hat, my jacket and my walking stick from the wardrobe, and i open the door and a cold wind and raindrops are falling down on me, i knew i should skip the work today but now it's to late for regret's, i don't know where to go, and it's getting dark quickly, i start to walk and now i felt the tears running down my face, i hate my feelings towards my father, i love and hate him at the same time, it's not a good relationship but i still care for him, why don't he see that, maybe it's better, soon the night was over my head and the rain start to get heavy, i saw a little store open and i decided to go in and waiting till the rain ends. When i opened the door i hear music and i smell lemon's, a man walked towards me, his face had a light smile and his eyes shining looking at me. „Oh good evening Sir, searching a place to get over the rain huh?" he laughs. I turned a bit red „well yes" i said very shy „HAHA you don't have to be shy, a toymaker like me know well when a man is in trouble. Toymaker? I look around and i saw beautiful toy's around me doll's in beautiful dresses, Marionettes in light woods clothes, wooden clocks in all heights and bright colors, i could smell the fresh wood. „i am sorry for disturbing you in the middle of the night," he laughs again, „don't worry my son, you look pretty young, oh excuse my manners my name is Hugo Moulin. I bowed down „my name is Emilian Lavigne nice to meet you!" He's eyes went wide „wait Lavigne? You mean from the Café Lavigne? „ah you know the Café?" he laughs again „of course i know the Café, the question is who doesn't!?, it's the best Café in downtown, are you the owner? I looked down and i can't control my sadness and tears running down my face again. „Oh i see well come in, i make some tea and something to eat, i listen when you want talk about it, i can keep secrets" he wink to me and i dry my face, follow him deeper in the house. „ please take a seat, i make your tea and a bread," my stomach rumors when he say bread and i turned red hoping he didn't heard it, „to answer your question Mr. Moulin.." „Hugo, you can call me Hugo, Moulin is my father" „well Hugo, i am not the owner, it's my father, Guillaume Lavigne. Hugo looked at me with a sad smile, „something happened between you and your father right?" i sighed, „yes we had a discussion and we go apart, he doesn't take me serious." Hugo put's the tea cup and the plate with bread, cheese and olives on the table, „tell me, sometimes it's better to let it out believe me!" i sighed again and took a deep breath, „i have a dream my grandfather was a great hatter before he died, he teach me and i love to create new hat's to invent new designs and idea's, my mother supported me on this too, only my father was not happy, he bought the Café from a friend with high debt's now he want that i take over it, but i won't, i want leave France and start a hatter shop in England like my grandfather did" Hugo nodded „so you talked with your father, and how i see your face it doesn't went well huh?" i nodded „well Emilian eat first and drink, i prepare a room for you" i choked on my tea „wait are you serious? His laugh come back, „of course you can i don't think the rain end soon, and it's pretty late, so you can be calm, you don't bother me if you think that."
I smiled „i appreciate your offer thank you." with a smile Hugo vanished to prepare my room, i looked outside the window thinking of my sister, i hope she don't worry that much about me, tomorrow i go home and i clear the situation, but for now, i drink my tea and eat some olive's, soon i get tired and something catches my eyes, a little music box, i stood up and stroke over the lid, it was making with a high gloss finish, and some stars was carved in it, she was beautiful. „You like  the box?" i jumped up and i hold my chest. „HAhAHa i didn't mean to scare you, i donate to you, i can't sell her many don't like the music she plays" i opened the box and she played Custom song one of my favorites. „I love it, thank you i don't know how pay it back, you are so kind to me." Hugo stroke his chin, „i know how you can pay it back, i want a hat from your store in England." My heart beats fast „YES i promise i make a unique one for you" he smiled „now now, you should go to bed, the bed is fresh and cozy i wish you a good night the bathroom is upstairs third door on the right." i go upstairs, to take over my clothes and put it on a chair, my mind go heavy and i yawn, „time to go to bed tomorrow is a new day we see what happened" with this word's in my mind i fell asleep soon.