Faces of Children (Visages d'enfants)

FACES OF CHILDREN

Saint-Luc, a village in the Upper Valais.

The mayor's house.

On this spring morning, all those not kept away by toil have come..

Because there is sorrow in the house.

The mayor, Pierre Amsler.

His son, Jean.

His daughter, Pierrette.

A neighbor.

The mother of the two children.

Where is Mama?

"She's away on a trip."

"She’s had a shock, nothing life-threatening.

A few days’ rest and she’ll be herself again."

Canon Taillier, the priest of Vissoy, was Jean’s godfather.

And for Amsler, life returned to normal

and he managed as well as could be expected.

It hurt him to see his children left on their own,

his home poorly cared for.

"And this torn sleeve!"

Every night, Jean whispered a prayer to his mother.

Staring at the portrait as he did,

he thought it came to life and smiled at him.

Like every Sunday.

Saint Martin’s day, when the tenant farmers pay their rent.

Her daughter, Arlette.

"I can’t pay."

"The accident that cost my husband his life

was blamed on his carelessness."

"So the insurance company, invoking the regulations,

didn’t pay anything."

And spring returned.

Amsler often cut through Jeanne Dutois’ fields.

The first Sunday in June.

"Jean, I have business to see to. You go alone."

"If you agree, we could be married before Saint John’s Day."

"I’m going to spend a few days with my old friend, Father Porchet.

How are the children?"

"I’m going to remarry."

"The house is empty

and there’s no one to take care of little Pierrette.

It would be the best thing for the children."

“What about Jean... Did you tell him?”

“No, not yet.”

“He’s such a sensitive child.

I think you’d better prepare him gently.”

The next day.

“You have things to talk about. I’ll get out of your way.”

“Well?”

“Would you speak to Jean?

I think you’d explain it better than me.

He’s a good boy, but he’s so sensitive.”

“I have an idea! I’ll take Jean with me to Vissoy for a few weeks.

Then I can gently break the news to him there.”

“And when he comes home, things will have returned to normal,

and he’ll adapt without too much trouble to the new situation.”

The next day, at dawn, the priest set off with his godson.

Having got through the pass, they went down into the next valley.

By nightfall, they could see the belltower of Vissoy.

At the end of the hay harvesting,

Saint-Luc celebrated the marriage of its mayor.

“When you get home, you’ll find some changes, Jean.

Your father is going to remarry."

“Your duty, my child, is to also think of your loved ones.”

“Do you want your sister Pierrette to be brought up badly,

and your papa living sad and alone for the rest of his life?”

“Do I have to call her Mama, too?”

“Well then... call her mother.”

At the end of the month...