Les Miserables Revolution

Chapter 1

*8 years have passed since Jean Valjean's interactions with the bishop*

{Gabrielle} 

"Gabrielle, my beautiful little girl. Stay right here. Papa and I shall see you quite soon. We'll come back. Don't worry," my mother says. She wipes away a tear. She gives me a hug and a peck on my forehead. 

"I won't, but how long will you be gone?" I ask. They seem different as they're leaving this time.  

"We'll be back soon. I love you Gabrielle. Now stay here, don't wander. France is lovely, but much too big we'll return to you. On our return, we must leave with haste though. No hesitation. Stay here," he commands. 

"Yes, Papa," I reply. 

They're leaving again. They always leave at night.  

It's unusually cold tonight though. The wind is blowing sharply. The dress I wear that is now a dark green and brown color is so torn it provides little protection from the cold. The dark cobblestone street that I sit on is freezing. People are wandering the streets buying and selling things. 

*If only I had a jacket,* I thought *I'd be able to suffer this cold.*  

I don't understand why it is they always leave though. My parents always leaving me at nighttime. They seemed different this time though. We've been living on the streets of France for 4 months and now we're leaving? Sounds like back to England. I guess they leave me because they think I'd get lost in all the darkness. A nine year old girl could keep up probably. The door to the building suddenly bursts open. The woman who owns the building steps out, broom in her hand. 

"What are you doing here?! No, no, no! Leave here! Your people are unwelcome!" says the woman. She hits me with the broom. "You and you're no-good parents get out of here! Thieves are unwelcome here! Move along!" she screams. 

"But Madame" I reply "I must stay here. My parents left and they told me too."  

She takes one look around. Her eyes fall on me. "How old are you exactly?" she asks. 

"I'm nine years old, Madame."  

She mutters something unintelligible under her breath. "Come inside."  

I do as she says. If I don't, who knows, she might smack me with the broom again.  

I follow into the building. It's not a very large room but it sure is warm. There's a fireplace on the far wall, the room is made of wood, there's a stove and a table for eating. My eyes fall to the food and mouth drops open. All the food. I've never seen that much food at one time besides in the market to be sold. There are five rolls in a wooden bowl, another bowl that has some sort of soup. A glass of water is laid out beside it.  

The woman looks at me and looks at the direction of where I'm staring. "What's your name?" she asks.  

"Gabrielle," I say simply. "What's your name?" I ask.  

"I am Madame Rosalie," she replied. 

"That's a pretty name!" I reply. It truly is. She smiles at my remark.  

"Tell me, Gabrielle, have you eaten today?" she asks. 

I look down at the floor. "No." 

"It's 7 in the evening. When was the last time you had something to eat?"  

"Two days ago." I stare at floor. I speak truly. She knows it too.  

"Well...sit at the table and eat something," she says. This was more than I had hoped for. I was hoping for a roll.  

Thinking this might be a trick I walked slowly and sat slowly down. I gingerly picked up a roll looked it over.