Everyone's Mama

[Raoul Edouard de Chagny]

Edouard had just finished two pints of ale and was feeling quite well. He had had a rough time of it, arguing with a few of the other residents and he was tired of that. He just wanted everyone to leave him alone. Perhaps Christine would be amenable to him staying in her suite tonight. He hadn't seen her for a while and he wondered if she was seeing Lenoir again. But he was in so good a mood that the thought didn't upset him very much. He was walking past the women's dormitories to get to his own suite, and it was very quiet.

Suddenly he head a voice call out. He couldn't make out what the person was saying, but it seemed like an older woman's voice. He hadn't met everyone who lived at the manor, and it seemed there were new people coming every day.

Edouard walked by the partially open door. Not to impinge on anyone's privacy, he stood only near the door, but not so he could see inside the room. "Is there any thing I may do for you, Madame? I will be happy to help..."

[mamma]

Slowly and silently Mamma awoke from her nap seeing that it was still daylight from what rays of light were allowed in through the open curtain window. Christine did not close them and that was fine. She could rest either way now. Often she did, dozing off on just a whim.

Now that she was awake once again, she sat there while coming out of that dreamy fog into reality. Glancing about wondering what she could do. No doubt Christine was attending to other things, whether taking more lessons from her Good Genius or household duties or something with Raoul.

Spotting her needlework on a table and out of reach. "Oh, heavens," she muttered with the usual adorable annoyance of an elderly person and a huff.
Silent for a moment but again, there was nothing of that housemaid. Where ever did that girl go, Mamma thought. So she began to call out for the caregiver. Over and over again she called out. Starting to get annoyed and frightened by no answer from the absent maid.

Her eyes shifted to the doorway with a mixed bright curiosity and bewilderment. Another man's voice. "Yes, Hello? Come in. Come in. Don't be sky," she replied in her usual innocent elderly voice. Curious to see who it was this time. Completely absent-minded about what Christine had said warning her about some unlikable residents.

[Raoul Edouard de Chagny]

Edouard heard the woman's voice calling for help. He poked his head in the room, hoping he would not frighten her. "Madame, may I be of some service? Would you be offended if I came in?"

He continued to stay outside the door until he was sure that the woman didn't mind him coming in. "My name is the Vicomte Raoul de Chagny," he said by way of introduction. I am on my way to see my wife, but I would be happy to help you with someting." He wished he had a glass full of water to take away the smell of ale on his breath. He thought perhaps the woman might be offended.

He peeked in and saw an elderly woman. She looked in no real distress, but apparently just needed someting. Still he restrained himself from coming in until bade by the woman to do so.

"Madame," he said again. "May I be of some service to you? May I enter your room?

[mamma]

Unmoved from the bed as her gaze remained towards the doorway. "Yes, please, do come in," she replied with a gentle tone to her elderly voice.

The mention of his name perked her up considerably. "Raoul? Raoul de Chagny?!?" the tone in her voice reflected her surprise and excitement. "Oh, my good young man! Please, please! Do come in!" So excited to finally see Raoul once again. She pondered how long it has been since last she looked upon his face.

But the surprise upon her face was evident, "My goodness! You have changed, haven't you!" but smiled nevertheless. Holding her hands out to him. "Oh, come... come here and let me have a good look at you. Hmm?" Pausing a moment. "Christine failed to mention she was married to you already. I know she had talked about it. I hope her Good Genius was none too upset with your marriage." The old woman smiled as she looked at Raoul. Not realizing this was a different Raoul de Chagny.

[Raoul Edouard de Chagny]

Edouard entered and saw the woman who had sp0ken to him from inside the room. She was an old woman, tiny and rather pretty for her age, which must be in the high eighties. He realized he had made a mistake by calling himself "Raoul" instead of "Edouard." She must be one of the Christine's grandmother. Or perhaps another of the Raouls. "Non, Madame, it's true, that's my name, but most of my friends and family call me "Edouard." I am undoubtedly not the Raoul de Chagny you are thinking of."

The old woman looked at Edouard and obviously didn't recognize him, thinking it had been too many years and he had changed too much.

"And I am married to a Christine, but undoubtedly not the one you know. Is she your granddaughter?" Then he frowned in confusion. "Who is the Good Genius you speak of? " Could this be how they spoke of their Erik? It certainly would not be Erik Lenoir. He was more of an Evil Genius...

[mamma]

Now Mamma was utterly confused and doing such a bewildering act to an elderly lady was making the poor fragile old woman beyond the range of confusion. The look upon her face said it all. Almost a sort of catatonic, deer-in-the-headlight look before she finally blinked a couple times then smiled. A weak little giggle, "Oh, Raoul! You such a wicked sense of humor my boy!" Giggled weakly again and motioned for him to come forward as she wanted to hear everything that's happened with him lately.

"Granddaughter? Heavens! Have you forgotten already, dear young man? I took her in after her father died, poor Monsieur Daaé, God bless and rest his soul." She looked rather somber and made a cross that was mighty typical of practicing Catholics.
Then a smile spread upon the old woman's lips with a twinkle in her eyes. "Christine's Good Genius? Surely she's mentioned her Angel of Music to you? Her Good Genius?!"

[Raoul Edouard de Chagny]

"I see. So you are Christine's adopted mother." Edouard of course knew about Gustave Daaé. Christine's father, the violinist, whom his own son had been named after. But the old woman was getting the two very similar families confused and he was not sure he could entangle the confusion. Even if all of them were here in her room, undoubtedly she would still be confused. So he decided to play along as he expected she would probably forget everything in a short time anyway.

"Yes, tell me more about this Good Genius. Would his name be Erik by any chance? Has he helped Christine or hurt her?" Edouard expected that since some of these things had happened in the past, she might be able to recall them.

"And it was very good and kind of you to take her in after the passing of her father. I know she is very grateful for that." Edouard was aware that he was speaking of another Christine than his own, but he expected the thoughts about that would be the same.

Then the old woman mentioned "Angel of Music." Edouard frowned. It seemed all iterations of the Eriks used that term. And most of them, at least the ones Edouard had met, were hardly Angels. How could they deceive their Christines that way? The thought made him want to find Lenoir and smash his fist in that bastard's masked face. But Edouard hid his thoughts and smiled at the old lady and patted her hands. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

[mamma]

The look upon Mamma's face was constantly priceless. Gazing up at the man whom she believed to be the Raoul she knew with such a darling deer-in-the-headlight look it was almost comical. She snickered finally and dramatically flopped a hand in Raoul's direction. "Heavens, young man! Have you forgotten me so soon?" Then she leaned forward a little with a sheepish-girlish grin. "Christine has been caring for me, too. She's such a good girl." Then sat back up and shifted her head about as though mildly distraught, batting her eyes some with a disappointed face and frown. "I can't say the same out that girl of a Housekeeper though. She's been lacking in her duties as of late!" Mamma stated not looking at Raoul. "Shall simply have to let her go if ever she shows herself." Shaking her head slightly with a 'tsk' sort of sound and a slight flop of her hands in her lap as though something under them caused them to jump.

Turning her head to look at Raoul once again as he inquired about Christine's Good Genius. She smiled momentarily before a look of shock overtook the old woman's face at the mention of the name 'Erik'. It almost looked as though she'd been struck by the back of a hand. Resting a hand upon the side of her face and a slightly distant gaze for a moment. Perhaps she was thinking. That name almost sounded familiar. "Erik. Erik." she pondered slowly repeating that name, "Now where have I heard that name before." furrowing her brow but it was rather difficult to tell with some of those wrinkles that crisscrossed her ageing face.
After a moment unable to draw up that name in her memory, she shook her head and blinked her eyes at the same time dashing off that thought for it was futile for her to recall with her poor memory.

Once again turning her gaze upon Raoul Edouard with a grin, "Oh, Christine's Good Genius would never harm her! He's been giving her lessons to sing better." Slightly leaning better with a grin. "Just as her dear father promised her, the Angel of Music indeed came to guide her."

Having no trouble in the shift of topic as she smiled at Raoul Edouard. "Yes, oh, yes, young man,' she replied with a warm, mild yet content tone in her voice. Her face then turned a into a little mix of disappointment and annoyance then mellowed with a content visage as she reached out to take and pat Raoul Edouard's "Yes, yes. Oh, be a dear, Monsieur de Changy and bring me some tea and a consummé or biscuits. I admit, I'm famished." Looking at Raoul Edouard with a slight childish pout,"I would never trouble you but that Housekeeper again has disappeared!" Shaking her head as she sat back in the bed, resting her hands in her lap. "Useless. Absolutely useless," shaking her head still as she was talking about the absent maid she was rather familiar with.

[Raoul Edouard de Chagny]

The old woman moved from one topic to another and Edouard was ready to address a topic when she would start another conversation. He knew she thought he was the other Raoul, but it didn't matter. He liked her and didn't mind spending some time conversing wiht her, even if she wouldn't remembver it long.

"Yes, Christine is indeed a lovely girl," agreed Edouard. "I am sure she would do anything for you that she was able to do." Then the woman brought up the notion of a Housekeeper whom she said was rather lacking in her duties. He frowned. He hadn't even known there was a housekeeper about. If there was, he would certainly like her services to keep h is suite tidy. Of course there was Christine Emilie, but he hated to make her work now, after her illness, and besides she was a Vicomtess and shouldn't be working in any case. "What is this housekeeper's name, Madame? I would surely like to find out what she is doing with her time if she is not working..."

"So this Good Genius, this Angel of Music is a music teacher who is teaching Christine to sing? Well that's quite lovely of him..." Edouard said the last with a bit of sarcasm, which he hoped would be lost on the old lady. Edouard had wondered why Christine's father, indeed all the Christine's fathers had perpetuated this dangerous myth.

It was a bit difficult to completely communicate with the old lady. But Edouard asked again if he could bring her something.

[mamma]

Mamma could only smile with that innocent, slightly proud radiance. She still adored Christine as the daughter she always wanted. Adorable Christine who was always so loving. "She is such a good girl."

Now she looked a little bewildered trying so hard to recall the housekeeper's name. Took the old woman a while to even ponder this, softly rambling off names that never seemed to hit the mark. Finally that usual flicker of her eyes and shaking her head, "I don't remember." The poor woman looked so confused. Why could she not remember the maid's name?!?

Once again, talk about Christine's Good Genius brought such a bright look to her face. "Yes!" As though it were a eureka moment or a revelation. "Yes, He has! Just as her dear departed father - God bless and rest his soul - promised." Keeping that warm, delighted pride. "It is such a blessing. The Angel has been very good to Christine."

Something he could get for her? Her face lit up with delight. "Oh, yes, dear." leaning over to take his hand and pat it, too, with the other hand. "Would you be kind enough to get me some tea and a little something to eat, Monsieur de Chagny?"

[Raoul Edouard de Chagny]

"It's all right if you don't remember the maid's name. I am sure it will come to you. If not, when I find out who she is, I shall certainly give her a good scolding that she has not been doing her duties." He wasn't sure if this was a made who was at the mansion or someone from the old lady's earlier life. And if she were here, was she really slacking in her duties? He wasn't sure how much to believe.

Then she started talking about the Good Genius again. "Tell me, Madame, what does this Good Genius fellow look like?" He suspected it must be one of the Eriks, but he wasn't sure which one.

Her face lit up when he asked if he could bring her something and she responded happily. "Certainly, Madame. Whatever you would care for. Do you have any preference on the type of tea or what you would like to eat?" said Edouard. "Tell me, do you go to the kitchen with help? Or should I bring it here to you?"

[mamma]

Smiling up at Raoul Edouard as she took his hand and patted it gently, "You are a good young man, Monsieur de Chagny. " Letting go of his hand as she sat back a little in bed still smiling, "I can see why Christine fancies you so much." Looking rather coy and sheepish then it faded away into a sort of minor disappointment and realization. "We shall simply have to hire another girl."

Turning her head to look at Raoul Edouard with a look of shock. "Heavens, Monsieur de Chagny!" resting her hand upon her chest, "One does not see an Angel from Heaven! One can hear an Angel IF they are pure enough! But to see an Angel?" shakes her head almost as if she could not believe the young man asked that question.

"Go to the kitchen?" Looking at him rather blankly, "Good heavens, no! I haven't a way there, young man! Christine still has not found a wheeled chair. So, she brings me tea and dinners when she visits me. I know she is busy with the Wedding." Smiles sheepishly like a little girl.
Sits back up in her bed and waves a hand, "any black tea will be fine, Monsieur de Chagny. If you can find a little sweet desert and a little tea sandwich I would be grateful." Smiles at him with a warm, motherly type of smile.

[Raoul Edouard de Chagny]

Edouard smiled a bit sheepishly when Mamma Valerious complimented him with the words she really meant for another Raoul. But he supposed it didn't matter. "Yes we shall certainly hire someone else. In the meantime, I am sure that Christine and I can take care of your needs." Edouard was sure that the blonde Christine and her de Chagny would truly take care of this lovely old lady.

Mamma seemed shocked when Edouard asked about the "Good Genius." She said no one could see him because he was an angel. Edouard thought, "Indeed! If he were as much of an angel as Lenoir was, well, obviously the fellow had fooled Christine and Mamma Valerious... He knew how angelic Lenoir was.... "Yes of course you are correct," he murmured.

"And I shall be happy to bring you anything you wish. Will you be all right alone for a few moments while I go to the kitchen?"

Edouard left the old lady's room and went to the kitchen, finding the items she had asked for. He made tea in a lovely silverw teapot and a sandwich and found a very nice chocolate cake. He cut a piece of that for Mamma.He found a lovely shiny apple. He put everything on a tray and covered the sandwich and cake with a cloth napkin. He smiled at how domestic he had become since coming to the mansion. Well, he would have starved if he he hadn't learned to make food for himself and later for Gustave. Now he was doing it for someone he didn't even know. Welll, that was all right. The poor lady couldn't do it herself.

Edouard brought the food back to Mamma's room. "Here you are," said Edouard, as he placed it on a table near her bed. He poured tea for her and a cup for himself. "I hope you don't mind me joining you," he smiled.

[mamma]

Smiling at de Chagny with that darling old lady grin, wishing she could pat the side of his face or hand, "You are a good young man, Monsieur de Chagny." There was no dount in her mind that she'll be well cared for now. If only she could be mobile. Eh, no matter.

A slight brightening on her elderly, " Oh, would you Monsieur de Chagny?" Smiling at him,"Yes, yes of course! I can never thank you enough, young man." She always did like Raoul. This was such a good reason why.
"Tea would be nice," with that usual darling face of hers. "Some little cake or something light would be nice, too. Such a good young man you are, Monsieur de Chagny."

She waited patiently and rather absent-mindedly until he returned then she seemed to shift from a blank look while she hummed to a brightening visage. "You are such a dear, Monsieur de Chagny." And dug into the tea followed by the tea as she sat there. "Not at all. Not at all. I enjoy your good company, Monsieur de Chagny. I don't often get visitors." She stated as she enjoyed the tea and sandwich. "Is that all you will have?" Looking at the apple. Not really knowing what it tasted like any more since she can only softer foods nowadays. "You are looking a little lanky these days if you do not mind my saying, Monsieur de Chagny." It was bold of her to say so... but that was her thought process.

[Raoul Edouard de Chagny]

Edouard sat down beside the bed and sipped his tea. This was a pleasant interlude with Mamma Valerius. Not having had a particularly good relationship with his own father, who was quite aloof and his mother had died long ago, even before his father. It was nice to spend this time. The lady who was older than his mother would have been. Perhaps his grandmother. The grandparents, he had heard were always more interesting and loved their grandchildren in a different way than parents. Or so Edouard had heard. Not having known his own grandparents, he could only speculate. But this lady was indeed like what he had imagined a lovely grandmother to be.

Edouard realized, that when Mamma eschewed the apple, it was probably because it was too hard and crunchy for her to manipulate. He thought it would probably save her a bit of embarrassment if he ate it instead. "Would you mind terribly if I had the apple? Unless you'd like me to cut it up and we can share it..."

This was very nice. No pointed questions and teary eyes as from Christine, no confrontations as with Lenoir. The only thing he wouldn't like is if she expected him to entertain her every day and for many hours. That could become tedious.