Kismet entered her home in complete bliss. She lay on her small bed for a matter of moments with a stary gaze. She was lost at the thought of Javert as she went over the day's events. Her body was set a fire by the simple thought of his touch, and more, of his kiss on her cheek. In a dreamy mood she reached up to stroke the warm spot and as she did she was brought back to a violent reality. Her eyes filled with tears and her heart with agony. 'He must be lying. I am not beautifull, I am just an ugly old hag.' She began to cry, but then suddenly, thinking of tonight, she remembered that she only had an hour and she still needed to find a dress for the exquisite restaurant. She quickly ran to her closet and took out dresses examining them. To her discontent none of them were appropriate for the night ahead. She had one dress that was pretty enough for this night, but that was destroyed by Jacques. She began to cry knowing that she would never be more than some lonely cafe waitress who would never be married and never have children. 'But what do I care. I'm always on my own and no one's ever cared about me. I can get by.' She thought, kidding herself. She examined the dress hoping that it would be salvagable, but to her dispair, it was not. She finally put it to it's grave by tossing into the wastebasket.
The home where Kismet lived was divided into three parts. The first was the original house, which belonged to Mme. Curieux. Kismet's small home was added onto the building later and therefore was smaller due to lack of space. As you went outside Kismet's door you would notice a flight of stairs between Kismet's door and Mme. Curieux's door. These stairs lead to what was once the upper room of the house. This was made into yet another home for someone, thus increasing Mme. Curieux's profit. She rented this space out to a woman who worked in a factor on the outskirts of town. The woman was named Cecile Honte. She had helped Kismet move in and quickly became her best friend as the two decided to rely on each other. The rent in the upper home was more than that of Kismet's, but Cecile made enough to keep her life in a bougeious state, that is not rich, but more than poor. She was a beautiful girl of twenty with long dark brown hair and dark brown eyes to match. She had a very tall and thin figure as compared to Kismet's short, fuller figure. She usually was home in the evening after getting up around 5 am to go to the factory. It was a hard life, but it certainly had it's rewards.
On this glorious day for Kismet, Cecile was enjoying a cup of tea after a long hard day of work. She was startled by an urgent knock on the door. She opened it to find the tear stricken face of Kismet.
"Mon Dieu, Kismet what's wrong? Come in, please!" Cecile demanded, her tone wrought with worry.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you, Cecile, but I have an important date with a really handsome man tonight and I can't miss it!" Kismet sat down in the seat where Cecile was sitting moments before.
"My stars, Kismet, you young children must learn not to scare others with petty problems when there are far more serious....." Cecile suddenly gave a start as Kismet had pushed back the hair from the side of her face. "What the Hell happend to you? What is this scar?" Cecile demanded with an authoritative voice.
"Oh, this?" Kismet said while running her hand along it's fine line. "I'll tell you later, but right now I need your help. I have this date with a prominent man at La Rose," At the fancy name Cecile raised both eyebrows and listened more attentively. "But I don't have a nice dress to wear and I was wondering if maybe...."
"You want one of mine?" Cecile finished the request and Kismet nodded. "Well, you're welcome to them....but, and I really hate to say this, but you have...uh....a wider frame than I do. I'm not saying that you're fat, just....plump. And I'm much taller than you!" Kismet looked down at her lap in an almost disgrace.
"I was just hoping you had a little something. All of my dresses are much too plain." Cecile sighed.
"I might have a 'little something' in here for you to wear."
Cecile began the great search and once she had found a dress that was perfect she had Kismet try it on. Cecile pulled on the cord as hard as she could, but it wasn't long enough to close the dress. Kismet began to cry with no dress to wear. Cecile looked at her with a sad smile.
"I don't know what to do, Kismet. If you only have a half of an hour left and no dress...just cancel this date, no man could be worth putting yourself through all this." Cecile tried once more on the dress pulling the hardest she could.
"Oh.....ouch! It's no use, I'm just a fat cow." She pinched at her waist. Cecile put her arms around Kismet's shoulders and stared at her in the mirror with Kismet facing the mirror, her cheeks saturated in tears. Cecile gave Kismet a kiss on the cheek. "And what about this horrid scab...how will I ever hide that?" Cecile smiled.
"I think you still are more beautiful than me!" Cecile's face suddenly lit up. "Wait, maybe I have a piece of cord that'll work!" She exclaimed and ran to the fabric box she kept. "I'll simply use this this red because I don't have any green that'll match the dress. It won't look fabulous, but it'll have to do!" Kismet turned to her in protest.
"NO, Cecile, please I appriciate your kindness, but I couldn't possibly wear something unmatching to La Rose!" Cecile began removing the dress.
"Young child, stop this at once! You should be grateful I have something for you to wear! I'm sorry, but you ARE a little thick around the middle." Kismet slapped Cecile then stood back in horror. She had never struck anyone, but all the stress was mounting on her and she snapped.
"Oh, mon Dieu, I'm terribly sorry, Cecile, I never hit anyone. Here take your dress, I'm not worth to wear it." Kismet handed it to Cecile and collapsed at her feet crying harshly. Cecile bent over and took Kismet in her arms.
"I understand. No hard feeling. Kismet, I love you and would never trade you for anyone. Since I don't have children of my own you are mine. I have no sisters either, so you are my sister as well. And don't worry about the dress. I never wear it anymore. As far as I'm concerned I should have thrown it away a long time ago. I'm happy that someone will get some use of it! I will need some time to quickly hem the skirt, so go get your hair ready and I will meet you down there!" Cecile said pointedly as she had already begun to work sitting in her chair. Kismet ran to Cecile and gave her a big hug and a huge kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you so very much!"
Kismet almost fainted as she ran down the steps to her house, but her joy was cut short by the serious face of Mme. Curieux. "Bonsoir, Madame, is there anything I may help you with?" Mme. Curieux put on a sly smile and held out her hand.
"The rent, you said you had it." She watched as Kismet's face turned to one of horror, as hers turned into a twisted grin.
"Madame, yes I did say that I would have it, but someone stole all the money from the cafe and now..." Madame Curieux stopped Kismet's explanation by a quick slap to the cheek.
"You should not make promises which you cannot keep!" She spoke with a sharp tongue. Kismet's eyes filled with angry tears. Mme. Curieux averted the topic. "What are you in a hurry for?" Mme. wondered. Kismet let her into the small room and began to brush her hair, trying different styles while Mme. Curieux looked around suspiciously.
"I have a date with M. Javert!" Kismet said with an exstatic smile. She was so happy about her time that she was to spend with Javert, but her joy was brought to a quick end.
"You would dare go out with that bastard?" Kismet gave her a confused look.
"I don't understand. What do you mean?" She had begun to pin her hair up as Mme. continued her diabolical plan.
"Well, I suppose that you think you are his first love....oh no, he's a player. He has dated practically everyone in this town....well, except for respectable girls. He prefers the 'Ladies of the Night.' Never forget that he is a gypsy and it is his habit of raping, impregnating them and the leaving the woman he dates." Kismet's mouth dropped in shock. She couldn't believe this nice young man to be so mean. She wondered if Mme. Curieux was telling the truth.
"That couldn't be my Javert!" She exclaimed in defense.
"I am not a liar! That gypsy's parents were caught plundering this poor town of ours. They were evil thieves." Suddenly Kismet remembered the gypsies that took her in. They were no better than the people Mme. Curieux was describing. She walked behind Kismet and began putting a conservative hairstyle into Kismet's beautiful dark hair. "You know, I've heard that his parents still reside in that jail." Kismet's eyes widend with a wanting to visit them. To see if Mme. Curieux was indeed telling the truth. 'What am I to know?' Kismet thought. 'I am just the newcomer here. He might be a thieving gypsy. Tonight he could rob me blind and rape me, and I wouldn't be the wiser.' Mme. stopped the tying and asked. "Where are you going tonight, dear?" Kismet smiled. Whenever Mme. Curieux wanted something she always asked kindly.
"M. Javert is taking me to La Rose." Mme. Curieux almost fainted.
"How? He doesn't make that kind of money. Maybe he's leading you on! Don't go! Cancel your date. I'm warning you. I've been here for so long that I know you shouldn't go out with this boy!" Kismet took in every word that Mme. Curieux said.
"You're right." Mme. Curieux smiled sadistically at Kismet staring blankly at the floor, deep in her own thoughts. "What a fool I am ..." Kismet bit her lower lip as the tears swelled to her already red eyes.
"Oh, and also you have till tomorrow night to give me the rent you owe or else we will need to work out an arrangement. Perhaps you will work for me! That would be good for the both of us, that way you would lose some of those pounds that are hanging all over you and unbecoming of a young lady!" Mme. Curieux stepped out the door then added. "Tomorrow!" Kismet felt a chill go through her.
Cecile then entered with the dress.
"Kismet, I've got it finished and it will look radiant!" Kismet slowly sat down on her bed. "Well, you only have a few minutes left, come and put it on!" Kismet looked up and into Cecile's smiling friendly eyes and said in the most seriously saddend tones, "I'm never going out with this man."