The Masked Gypsy part 2

Alvery awoke the next morning to the sound of Clopin singing. It was only five in the morning according to the bells of Notre Dame. She peered out her window only to see him sitting on a crate against the wall. He seemed to be trying to make up lyrics to a new song for a story. The marketplace was just opening and only the gypsies seemed to be out. Alvery could only tell it was the same gypsy by the jingling of the bells on his yellow top that covered the half purple and half pinkish-purple colored top he wore. His voice was soothing and very quiet, for him at least. Alvery got up from her bed and put some day clothes on. She threw on a cloak and traveled quickly down the staircase, careful to not wake anyone in the process.

Clopin tried to quiet his voice more and more as he couldn't figure out anymore lyrics. He took a bite of the apple he had bought for his breakfast and continued to replay his performance in his head. He still had an hour at least until he would have to perform. Usually he would start late since the children liked to sleep in on Saturdays. He leaned his head against the wall, heavy with sleep. The sleep overcame him and he clutched onto the apple as he tipped his hat down and tilted his head back to relax and fall into a deep sleep.

Alvery headed toward the door, grabbing a cloak and peeked out the window to see Clopin resting. A grin came across her face and she grabbed some noisemakers that they liked to use at the festivals. They had the same effect of the ones that gypsies use to escape except they don't create smoke. She walked outside and made her way toward the sleeping Clopin. She rose her hand and quickly through them down. " WHAT THE?!" Clopin fell into the small space that separated the crate from the wall. He lifted his hat, careful to keep his mask on, and looked up at Alvery who was trying to hide the pleasure on her face. Alvery looked down at Clopin and was suprised to see that he wasn't looking annoyed by her so much as what was behind her. She looked over her shoulder at a gypsy woman, around her age, laughing at Clopin. "Oh shut up, Camille," Clopin grumbled.

Camille stopped laughing, with a huge grin on her face and met the gaze of Alvery. " I have no clue who you are, but that was definitely a great prank!" Alvery gave her a small grin before turning back to Clopin who was struggling to get out of the small space he was stuck in. He leaned back, realizing he was definitely stuck, and looked over at Camille for help. Camille walked over slowly and stopped next to Alvery, still looking at Clopin. She bent down as if Clopin were a child or animal. " Aw, is little Clopie stuck?" Clopin sighed and rested his head on one of his hands. Camille reached out her hand to Clopin who took it eagerly. After he was on his feet Clopin took off to his cart either to get cleaned up or to hide from the embarrassment of the other two.

Camille turned to Alvery. " Who might you be? I've seen your face in the square before but I've never heard your name."

Alvery liked this gypsy mostly for the fact of teasing the gypsy man. " Alvery," she replied, looking toward Clopin's cart. " Who's he and what's your name?"

" I'm Camille and that goof was Clopin. I suppose that you were doing that out of revenge seeing with how much trouble that man can get into."

" Look who's talking," Clopin interrupted from his cart. He pulled the curtain to his door up and tied it so a part of it hung down. He then leaned up against the doorway to argue with Camille.

" Hey, at least I'M not the forgetful one!"
"What do you mean by that?"
" Hey, I just gave you a hint!"
" What hint?"
" That you forgot something," Camille responded with a smile.
" Do I not deserve another hint?"
" Hm... well I guess you can get another hint...Wait, Clopin, what's the date?"
" The sixth of January. Why do you ask?"
Camille met Alvery's eyes on that one. Alvery tried not to laugh. Everyone knew what the sixth of January was! She hated the holiday but it was definitely not easy to forget. They turned their heads back to Clopin who still looked as clueless as ever. "Fine, another hint... Hm..." Camille pointed to Notre Dame. Clopin turned around and then back at Camille with the same expression of confusion as he did before. " Clopin, I'm going to strangle you if you don't get this," Camille said frustrated. Clopin apparently couldn't contain himself anymore and started to laugh. Camille looked at Alvery who thought that Clopin had lost it.

Clopin grinned at Camille in that annoying grin that Alvery wanted to smack off. " I'm only pulling your leg, Camille. How can I forget the Festival of Fools?! Wow you can truly fall for anything!" Camille ran up the first two steps that led into the cart and took a swing at him, which he avoided quickly and dashed off toward town square to get ready for the Festival of Fools and Topsy Turvy day. Camille rolled her eyes and looked back to Alvery with a grin. " Have a great Topsy Turvy Day, mademoiselle," she said with a small curtsy and sprang off in Clopin's direction to help start the Festival of Fools.