Three Glorious Days
Three Glorious Days
based on a true story
Staring down the scope of his old shotgun, Henri Renfro sighted his unsuspecting target with the cunning and craft of a seasoned veteran. Though just a young man, 12-year-old Henri hunted the coveted rabbit with a cool sense of calm like men many years his senior. Times were tough on the Renfro family farm in 19th century France and killing a tasty hare or “bunny meat” as they called it, was a delicious treat compared to the bland potatoes and beans harvested from his family’s meager garden. Pulling the trigger, his weapon let out a might crack and his prey fell. He let out a “whoop” and bounded over to recover his prize kill. Dinner would be special tonight! As he bounded home through the woods, his thoughts spilled over to the hushed conversations he had heard his mother and father sharing together. He had heard exciting words like “revolution”, “rioting” and “protest”. While somewhat unsure of the exact meanings of these terms, he could tell by the fervency in which his father spoke, that something was brewing and how he wished to be a part of it! Entering the small farmhouse, Henri proudly held up his prize catch to his mother and announced that they would be eating like kings tonight. His mother laughed at his enthusiasm and proudly announced to the rest of the family of the delicious meal ahead of them. She instructed Jason to take his fathers hunting knife and skin the rabbit to as she prepared the fire. He took pride in the fact that his parents trusted him with this important responsibility of preparing the food for cooking. He skillfully dissected the rabbit, being sure to save the fur for a hat he was planning to make for his younger brother Louis, than brought the meat to his mother for cooking. Over supper that night, Henri noticed deeper than normal lines in his father’s brow. He could tell that his father was rather preoccupied with other thoughts in spite of his playfully conversing with Louis and Henri’s 2-year-old sister Maria. His father gave his mother regular worried looks and Henri’s curiosity grew with each concerned gaze between his father and mother. He knew something was brewing and he could hardly contain his inquisitiveness! His mother had Henri and Louis wash the dishes following the meal as she and father drifted outside and onto the front porch. He could again hear them talking in hushed, yet fervent, tones and did his best to pick up any words he could make out. He heard his father mention King Charles, Paris and trouble brewing in the big city. How his heart raced as he tried to imagine what it would be like, just for a few hours, to walk the streets of that big city just over the distant hill that he had only heard stories about! What could be going on that was so important and secretive? Were they in danger and was father a part of whatever was concerning him so? Henri could only rely on his 12-year-old imagery to fill in the unknown details. Henri had long been snuggled in his bed when he heard a loud commotion at the farmhouse front door. Maria let out a startled wail while Louis ran straight for his mother burying his head into her gown. Henri quickly leapt out of his bed and inched toward the door ducking behind a chest of drawers to see what was causing the ruckus. In the darkness, he could make out 2 silhouettes talking passionately with his father and heard them appealing him to join them on there quest. He held his breath as he heard his father protest but eventually give in to the men’s pleading. Before he knew it, his father kissed his mother on the forehead, headed out into the pitch darkness and thundered away on horseback. Henri breathlessly inched back to his bed and lay as still as possible excitingly taking in what he had just witnessed. The only sound he could hear was the whimpering of his young sister and the pounding of his heart in his own ears. So many questions swirled around in his head and sleep would not come for a very long time. Finally, he drifted off with thoughts of intrigue and adventure pressing into his dreams. Early the next morning, his mother wakened him with a word and Henri sat up in bed with a start. He looked at his mother with pleading eyes and begged her to tell him what all the excitement was about from the previous night. She briefly shared details of father needing to go to the big city and help in an important assignment. Henri knew she was holding back many details and implored her for more but to no avail. She prodded Henri out of bed and to the breakfast table as there would be more chores today because of father’s absence. Henri continued to plead with his mother to let him know what was going on and finally she hushed him with a stern look and sent him outside to milk the cow and tend to the chickens. He sullenly agreed and trudged outside with his mind frantically searching for answers to his questions. As Henri dove into his daily chores, he began to concoct a plan to get answers to his many questions. He knew his plan would never be accepted by his mother and that a long restriction could be in order, but he could no longer contain his curiosity and excitement. He had to take matters into his own hands. He had to get to That night at the dinner table, mother did her best to pretend everything was as usual but the children knew otherwise. Henri was especially quiet as he continued to work out the details of the course of action he had decided to take. “Henri,” his mother’s voice interrupted his deep thoughts, “Would you please finish your supper than help Maria take her bath?” Henri, quickly agreed taking Maria by the hand and leading her to the washtub. He absentmindedly bathed his sister, accidently getting to much soap in her hair and almost overflowing the tub with bubbles. Maria laughed playfully but Henri was in no mood to play. He had planning to do. The moon was just a sliver that night which worked well to Henri’s advantage. He had spent the rest of the evening slyly gathering a few items, some food, a thin blanket, his knife, pocket watch and gunpowder for the rifle he strategically left outside in the tool shed. He had to be so careful that mother, or even his little brother Louis, didn’t notice his actions. After he was sure, doubly sure, that everyone was deep asleep, Henri slowly crept out of bed, carefully gathered the few belongings and quiet as a mouse crept to, then out, the front door. His time carefully stalking prey in the back woods was certainly paying off as he quietly led, Bess, there old farm horse, out of her stable and grabbing his rifle, carefully led her towards the direction of the distant hill. The morning light was beginning to appear as Henri crested the hill and for the first time in his life, saw the majestic scene of the big city, Paris! Henri, though exhausted from his long, sleepless night, drew back his breath and felt his heart begin to beat wildly with anticipation. Was it really possible he was finally here? What sights, sounds and smells now lay just ahead of him? He urged Bess on with renewed enthusiasm and headed for the streets of Paris. As he approached the city, he was met with a strange quietness. It was like there was anticipation in the air but Henri had no idea why. Mothers and small children peered out their shuttered windows at the sight of a young boy riding a large, old horse down the mostly empty streets. Henri smiled at some but was met with cold ominous stares. Henri began to feel nervous and wonder whether he had made a big mistake. Was there danger here? How was he ever going to find his father in the vast array of streets, houses and buildings. What was he to do if his meager food supply ran out? Henri had no time to answer these questions as suddenly he heard angry shouts rising from the street just ahead. Henri’s heart leapt to his throat as he jerked Bess into a small ally, dismounted and carefully peeked around the corner to try to get a view of where the sound was coming from. The shouting began to get louder and louder as more voices joined in the confusing chorus. Then, to Henri’s horror he heard a shot ring out causing the uproar to intensify in volume. Henri held his breath and he could hear voices above the ruckus ordering the rowdy crowd to pull back. The shouting only continued. Peering with anticipation, he finally saw the crowd move into the street on which he had just been traveling. Another shot! At this, poor Bess, confused and agitated by all the noise, bolted out onto the street and sped in the opposite direction of the crowd. Henri called out in alarm but it was too late. Bess was gone. Henri was now in a near panic as the crowd moved down the street toward the ally in which he was hiding. He could now see a band of soldiers, slowly coming behind the crowd doing there best to control the throng of protesters. As the crowd moved past, Henri ducked deeper into the ally to be sure no one could see the young boy hiding. He trembled with fear praying no one would see his small shadow in the doorway of the alley. The crowd showed no interest in stopping to investigate people or details along the way but only to occasionally perform random acts of vandalism, such as smashing a window or knocking over the street lamps. As they pressed on, Henri now saw the soldiers begin to pass. They were a haggard bunch and looked quite unprepared to handle such a raucous crowd. He eyed the few weapons they carried with them causing him to clutch his trusty rifle closer to his chest. As the band of soldiers moved past Henri’s hiding spot, he cautiously crept toward the street and poked his head around the corner of the building. He heard more shouts from the crowd and it seemed their anger was pointed toward King Charles with calls for the guillotine. Henri was quite confused by all the shouting but still curious as to what was causing the scene and if his father was somehow involved. At the thought of his father, Henri slouched back into the alley and squeezed his eyes shut to stop the tears from falling. He thought of his sweet mother he had left behind and his 2 siblings that he was already beginning to miss. His rumbling stomach was also reminding him that the meager food rations he had packed were not near sufficient for his growing appetite. He did his best to push his surging emotions out of his mind and to plan his next course of action. After collecting his thoughts, Henri, willed himself out of the alley and into the street again. The noise of the crowd and the soldiers was now throbbing from the next block and Henri, his imagination swelling again, carefully moved down the street toward the sound. He passed stores and cafes with broken windows and plundered shelves. A concert hall was now missing letters from its name. He saw a tipped over cart and when he stopped to investigate, he found to his delight there was food inside. Looking around he quickly grabbed a foil wrapped object and a candy stick and hurried on his way. Quickly unwrapping his treasure, he found an odd shaped tube-like object in a funny shaped piece of bread. Biting into it, his eyes grew wide at the delicious fare he had found. What a thrill to be in Paris he thought! His temporary happy thoughts were again harshly interrupted by another sudden burst of gunfire and more loud shouts. This time the gunfire continued as more loud cries and crashes followed. Buoyed by new found courage, he rushed to the next corner to investigate this latest disturbance. The scene he came upon was a spectacle like he had ever seen. Roof tiles, flower pots and other debris was being rained down from the rooftops of the tall city buildings, onto the small, unsuspecting band of soldiers. They were wilding firing their weapons toward the falling objects as they tried in vain to find cover. Henri watched in amazement as crowds of common people continued their assault and to his surprise the soldiers soon began to flee. This only spurred to the rioters on as they now pursued the beat down military men down side alleys and corridors. With the soldiers now gone, the crowd of rioters that still remained, continued their march down street after street calling for the dismissal of there unpopular king. Henri tailed a distance behind hoping that fate might lead him to his father. The sun was beginning to go down behind the taller buildings and Henri was worried about possibly having to spend the night in this large confusing city. His legs were also becoming quite weary from the sleepless night and adrenaline filled day that he had taken part in. Stopping beside an alley way to rest he leaned his head against the cold stone wall. Suddenly he felt a jerk from behind and someone placed a cold hand over his mouth yanking him into the alley way. His eyes were wide as the stranger pulled him deeper into the passageway and he did his best to let out a muffled shout but to no avail. The unknown person yanked Henri’s meager possessions and rifle out of Henri’s hands and tightened his grip pulling Henri along. Henri’s heart raced with fear as he stumbled to keep up with the stranger’s gait. The man stopped and pulled Henri to face him holding his finger to his lips motioning for Henri to remain silent. Henri didn’t know what to do but felt it might be best to follow the gruff man’s directions. Leading Henri through a confusing maze of side streets and alley ways, he finally motioned Henri to a back door of a run-down wooden building. Pushing Henri inside, Henri could see one lonely light bulb hanging from the ceiling and the sound of men’s voices coming from a back room. Henri was pushed gruffly through a small door way and right into the back of a man standing inside. As the man turned, Henri let out a shriek of surprise. “Father!” “Father It’s you!!” His father’s eyes creased with his huge smile as he lifted Henri into his arms. Henri’s eyes filled with tears of relief as he held his fathers’ neck tightly. He let himself go limp and the strong arms as his father cradled him. Henri and his father spent the rest of evening together going over the details of Henri’s day and the adventures he had been a part of and seen. Father, though disappointed with Henri’s leaving home unbeknownst to his mother, was relieved to have his son in his presence. He explained to Henri what all he had seen and tasted. That strange food, his father informed him, was call a “Hot dog”. Henri laughed at this. Father also explained to Henri of the uprising that had occurred in the city and how great change was coming to Paris and all of France. He informed Henri that they would be returning home tomorrow as his work there was completed. Henri smiled with joy in his heart. As much as he enjoyed seeing the big city with its buildings, people and strange foods, he couldn’t wait to see his mother, siblings and once again patrol the woods for their next king’s meal.
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