It had been a productive day at the Palace of Justice.
Using his
trademark methods to make people talk, Claude Frollo
finally got all the necessary information out of Esmeralda.
Now, he
could finally apprehend that gypsy villain and make him pay
for
his crimes.
However, the man was nowhere to be found.
Patience...He'll
show his face again...He'll truly regret he tangled with
Claude Frollo!
Esmeralda had left town. For reasons of his own, Claude
decided to let
her go. Little does she know that she's being used. If
I know her,
she'll go directly to that gypsy 'king'. And I'll be ready
for them
all...
He then focused on Renée de Chateaupers. Poor
child...losing her
parents...then her
brothers. At least she has Phoebus...
Phoebus had managed to pick up the pieces of his life and
return to his
job as caretaker of the d'Arcy estate. For some odd reason, Claude had offered
Phoebus his
old post as Captain of the Guard. Even the King made some
noises about
the possibility of appointing Phoebus to a plum position
within the
Royal Army, but Phoebus politely refused. As he told
Claude, "With all
due respects, sir, I feel I need to be with Renée." Claude
agreed;
Renée had not fully recovered from the loss of her
brother.
Quasimodo had taken up American dialect. He found it
amusing to recite
the poetry of the American Heartland; somehow, Claude
couldn't help but
smile at his young charge's new-found hobby. It was Danisha
who uncovered
that talent -- she should be here, now, listening to
Quasimodo imitate
the perfect Hoosier twang and drawl.
And what's become of Claude's postmodern American lady? She stays in touch
with Her Man
whenever she can, sending him notes and little gifts to
amuse him.
He unlocked the drawer that contained mementos of her; he
took out that
curious sterling silver device.
Hmm...I wonder what she's doing now...
Claude Frollo then took something else from the drawer.
I had meant to
give this to her before she left. Well...my work is
complete, and I
would like to see her again. After all, she did invite me
to
Thanksgiving dinner...
Claude Frollo stood in the center of his study, pushed a
red button,
and, in a flash of white light, he was gone...
Where am I?
Claude Frollo found himself walking down a now-quiet
hallway of a 20th
Century American high school. It was nearly four o'clock;
school had
been out for over an hour. If I had made this trip
earlier, I'd be up
to my neck in boisterous adolescents!
A delighted
smile spread across his face as
climbed the stairs to her classroom.
Hmm...she must be working late. How many times have I
told her not to
work so hard. She should take her own advice. Now, which
one is her
room?
Claude Frollo found the door unlocked, the room empty,
papers and books
neatly piled on her desk. I told her to keep her door
locked...Why, ANYONE
could simply walk in and...Ah, what is this? Claude
picked up a book
then sat on a nearby table and started to read. She
should be here
soon....
What a way to start a weekend! I knew this would happen! Stupid copier!
I tried to get a jump start on the upcoming work week:
finish grading
papers, copying work for lessons. I wanted this extended
weekend to be
as carefree as possible. Besides, this was one
Thanksgiving I didn't
have to cook everything! Fern had invited me to share
dinner with her;
Jacki would be there, along with Kyle and his
girlfriend.
The photocopier kept jamming on me; I'd thought this would
be a quick
job then I'd be out the door.
Just need to get this paper
unstuck...Oh no!...Hope I didn't break a nail...Finally got
that job
done!
I took the elevator back to the third floor. Nearly
everyone was gone –– except me.
Pack up everything and go home! I wonder if Claude
got my message to come this weekend? This should be
fun...
I walked into my room, and was taken by surprise. Claude
Frollo! In my
classroom!
I immediately put down my stack of papers and threw my arms
around him.
"Honey! I wasn't expecting you until later this evening.
Claude kissed my lips and said, "My darling, I was so
anxious to see
you, and I wanted this to be a surprise."
We kissed each
other again;
then, Claude surveyed my room. "Charming classroom, Danisha," he
favorably
assessed. "It's well-organized, attractive..." He kissed
me again, then
picked up the book he was reading. "I see your students are
reading
Julius Caesar. Of course, M. Shakespeare
existed well after my time, but
I find his work truly fascinating."
I said nothing as he continued to look over my bulletin
boards and
bookshelfs. I quickly tidied my desk and gathered my purse
and coat.
"Baby", I finally said, "I want this to be a carefree
four-day holiday."
I added with an audible sigh, "Besides, I need the rest!"
Claude
Frollo laughed as we walked to my car.
Once home, I asked him about our Parisian friends. He
updated me on
Quasi, Renée, and Phoebus. Claude then told me that Jehan
has been
spending time with a young, wealthy widow. "He's in Italy -- Venezia --
of all
places! Apparently, Jehan is quite taken with her, or is
it she with
him..."
I could only comment, "So, Jehan Frollo's found himself a
'sugarmama'."
Claude broke down in laughter as he removed his hat and
cloak. I then
asked about Esmeralda. Claude sighed as he began building a
cozy fire.
"My dear, I gave that gypsy witch the...what's that
expression?" He
snapped his fingers as he recalled, "The 'works'!" A
wicked smile
spread across his face as Claude continued, "I had her
revealing things
that she'd long forgotten."
He then went on and
explained how he
had let Esmeralda go, all in a carefully orchestrated plot
to finally
capture the man who nearly killed Claude that winter. "I
wish you luck,
sugar", I said tenderly, kissing his cheek.
He then asked me about our exposé, a written account of
what really
happened that night following the Feast of Fools.
"I
already have the
initial installment in print, detailing how Malus, and that
other man, drugged
you, and fell for that imposter's scam. I've read Jules' confession,
and
all I can say is this –– The people of Paris will be
totally blown away
when they read this."
Claude then kissed me as he sneaked a few pecans while I
was putting a
pie together. "I knew I could count on you to set the
record straight." He then
paused, shifted his eyes from side to side, while slowly
chewing on a
pecan.
"Mmm...these are very good", said Claude, adding, "I hope
you are baking
two pies."
"Two pies? You plan on doin' some damage tomorrow?",
I asked playfully.
Claude Frollo then looked at me with sultry eyes and said
in a seductive
voice, "Now, Nisha, I had hoped to have a little taste tonight..."
He flashed a
dazzling smile at me as I went to the freezer and produced
another pie.
"This", I said, indicating the frozen pie, "is for
tomorrow. All I have
to do is bake it." Claude smiled again as I sashayed over
to him,
refilled his wine glass, and said in my own deep, sultry
voice, "This",
pointing to the freshly-assembled pie, "is for
tonight...afterwards..."
Claude's hand caressed my thigh as he asked, "After what,
precious
love?"
I
kissed him deeply, then cooingly replied, "You know what I
mean,
sugarbritches."
Later that evening, Claude and I shared pecan pie and hot
coffee. It
sure is good having him with here with me.
Claude
then produced something he had nearly forgotten to give to
give to me.
It looked like lace –– crocheted lace. But
this was unlike any lace I've ever seen.
"Jehan
416
brought
this back from his first trip to Italy. He said the nuns do
the most exquisite lacework." Claude handed me the lace,
adding, "Since you are intrigued by the needlearts, I'd
thought you'd like it."
I examined this 500-year-old
work of textile art, then embraced Claude Frollo and
expressed my gratitude.
Afterwards, Claude Frollo took a deep breath, gazed into my
eyes and said, "Darling Nisha! When you show how grateful
you are, you do so with such style!" That said, we
soon embarked on another night of passion and romance.
He always does such nice things for me. I wonder what he'll give me for Christmas? Hmmm...I wonder if Claude will like the Christmas present I bought him...sure glad I called that order in early. He's gonna be REALLY surprised!
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