A Choice to Make
“I am here to ask if anybody knows a Patricia Cutstone?” an obviously well off, striking young man with a perfect French accent asked in the lobby of the Harlem Newsgirls Lodging House. Several girls turned to look at him and then went back to their conversations.
“I don’t know no Patricia’s around these parts, but I know I’ve seen you before.” Blue stated from the stairs. “Flash, we’ve seen him before right?” she asked looking over at her friends.
“I do not believe so, I just arrived here today.” he watched as several girls make their way up the stares. “She must be here, may I go and see for myself? I received word from her that she was staying here.”
“Sure kid, but I tell you, there ain’t any Patricia ‘round here.” Blue stood up and signaled the young man to follow. “Are you sure I’ve never seen you before?” The young man laughed slightly to himself as he made his way up stares. When he reached the door at the top of the stares he looked around at the busy room.
“Holy tarnation! It’s Flo Thibeaux.” Ep said jumping down from her bunk leaving her picture she was working on half finished for the entire world to see, something she never does.
“’Ponine, I knew I would find you here.” he said giving her a hug.
“You said you were looking for a Patricia, not Ep.” Blue pointed out somewhat defensively as she headed back down the stares.
“I received you letter yesterday that you were coming. I did not expect you so soon,” she said leading him to the window. “Wow, it’s great to see you, and this side of the ocean too, I never thought that would happen.” Her English seemed to clean right up as she talked to the young Frenchmen. She made her way up the fire escape to the roof with Flo following silently behind her the entire way. “You did not tell me in your letter what it is that brings you to the States…” she said fading away expecting him to answer her nonchalant question.
“I am here to check into the ‘Ponine Hotel.” he stated almost in a question. She nodded back at him. “For two people?” Ep’s face sunk and you could almost see her heart drop as well. “The second room will be for my youngest sister Kylie. It will not be for long, just till I find Jannie.” He explained.
“Oh yes, I remember that the rest of your family lives here, in New York.” she paused for a second looking deep in his eyes and he smiled. “When will you be checking in sir?” she said as a quick change of subject.
“Tonight if that is at all possible?” he asked. She nodded her head and started back for the fire escape. “It is good to see you again ‘Ponine.” he said instead of following her.
“It has been a long time, hasn’t it?” she turned but did not look up at him. “How long are you here?” she asked almost as if making a point.
“’Ponine, why does that have to matter? I mean you never could stay in one place for long, now you do. You always said you would come back to France if you settled down, you did not. When I received your letter saying that you were living in New York…”
“Flo, that is not fair for you to put it on me. I couldn’t go back to France, not after I found Harlem.” Slowly her New York street slang began to come back. “Don’t you even think I didn’t think ‘bout it ‘cuase I did.” her voice began to get slightly louder.
“Well what kept you?” he yelled. “Obviously there had to be something or maybe someone that kept you.”
“No, for the first time I belonged, I fit in. There were girls just like me here, girls that had nobody else, and we’re a family now. That’s why I stayed here, that’s why I can’t go back to France.” Ep screamed back.
“Hey Flo,” came a weak voice of a young girl from below on the street.
“Up the fire escape.” he called down to the voice. He turned back to Ep, “I’ll be here till I find my other sister.” he said answer Ep’s question she asked before they started yelling. He looked over the edge at the young girl climbing up as Ep made her way the other side of the roof. They both seemed to cool down as they went to their own separate corners. “You never could be tamed, you were as wild as an ally cat. I miss the excitement that comes with you when ever you found yourself in our home.” He walked across the roof by her. “They did it, they tamed you.” She turned to face him and looked up into his deep blue eyes. “The offer stands till I must leave; Come back to France with me.” His eyes pleaded for her answer, but he knew he would have to wait.
“A newsie, a girl newsie. I’m staying with a newsie. Flo, you said fifth avenue.” a young girl near the age of 11 said, as she looked Ep up and down in slight disgust.
“Oh you’ll get Fifth Avenue.” Ep said looking down at the girl. “My name is Eponine, you may call me Ep… and you are?” she offered her hand to shake.
“Kylie Thibeaux, born and raised in New York; not on the streets.” she said looking at the extended hand and not offering her own.
“I like her, she has spunk.” Ep said to Flo as she once again headed for the fire escape. As she started down the fire escape, she looked over at Flo who was watching the sun set on the other side of the sky “Paris France,” she thought "or Harlem; Flo, or my family. You can’t have it all, but which does a person need more?” she asked herself asks she looked back down the fire escape. “You two coming or do you actually want to stay on top the lodging house tonight.”
“Now this is what I call living right!” Kylie said as the three walked up to number 17 Fifth Ave. “How did a newsie, get to have a place like this?” she said looking over at Ep, of whom she hadn’t decided if she like or not.
“I think the question should be how did a young lady of this stature become a newsie.” Flo corrected as Ep unlocked the door to the big house.
“Long story.” Ep exclaimed as she made her way up a grand stare case. “Your rooms are upstairs. She led them upstairs and went into a room to turn on a lamp. “Kylie, this is your room.” Ep picked up the fragile doll off the bed. She left the room and went into the next door down the hall. “Flo, this is your room,” she said turning on a lamp with one hand, still holding the doll in the other. Flo stopped in the doorway and watched as Ep made her way to the second lamp on the desk in the corner and turned it on.
“Would you allow me to treat you to a dinner tonight?” He asked. She turned and looked him in the eye for a second and then looked away. “Only the finest French cuisine. ‘Ponine, please allow me to take you to dinner. Kylie will be fine here, she is tired and will go strait to bed.” slowly she nodded her head and then headed out the room. Flo looked at her almost hurt.
“Well, you don’t expect me to wear this out for French food.” she said with a smile. He smiled back.
“I will meet you down stares then after I tuck Kylie in for the night.” he responded going into the room his sister was staying in. She was already asleep on the bed so he backed out quietly. Ep smiled at him from the door across the study as he closed the door to the room. “Do you have any formal evening wear?” she nodded in response. “How about we go all out tonight.” They both disappeared behind their respective doors.
“How do I know what to do about him? I haven’t seen him in at least five years. I spent many hours drawing pictures of us in France, and in New York. It was always a given that he was the person my father had picked out for me, but this is my choice to make. Nobody can tell me what to do. I can think of many reasons to stay, and only one reason to go. Is that one reason enough? Why should I have to give up my whole world for him?” she thought to herself as she changed into a simple evening gown that had once belonged to her mother.
“Was I wrong to make her choose between me and New York? I have waited so long to find her and I do not want to leave without her, but it has been a long time. I have not much in France to keep me from staying here with here. I have reason enough for going back, but only one reason to stay. Is that one reason enough? Is she worth my whole world?” he thought to himself as he slipped a small box into the pocket of his tux pants.
...more to come!
