ABANDONED. Boy (poor), baker's apprentice, hard life, dreams of a better.

[Hari]

Hi,

This is either a short story or part of a novel.

I read a chapter or extract in English literature study at school as a 15 - 17 year old in 1990 - 1991.

The part we read described a boy, probably an apprentice or delivery boy, probably of a baker. The story was set in France or Italy, and described the
hard life the boy had to lead.

The boy's, or the baker's, name was Jean-Pierre [something] (or maybe Jean-Paul [something]?).

I have a misty recollection that the baker was described as being overweight, and while not exactly harsh towards the boy, was not particularly
over-kind either.

While there could be many stories like this, here's what can help narrow it down.

The boy is described occasionally stopping by the sea, dreaming of a better life, and on one occasion he claps his hands, shouts "cho!", and frightens a lizard among the rocks by the sea.

I'm fairly certain the expression was "Cho!" - with or without the exclamation mark - as i thought it was an odd expression at the time.

Given the context of this story, it's also possible that the original work is not in English, and that what we had read was a translation.

I have searched the net for over 2 years for it. I badly want to read it again.

Best,
Hari.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Do you ever see any of your old teachers? If so, perhaps one of them could remember what the book of stories was. At least, which edition it was. Or they can help you get in touch with your old English teacher.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Hari, are you still looking for this short story or novel part?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Lobstergirl wrote: "Hari, are you still looking for this short story or novel part?"

No response in 2+ years. Moving to Abandoned.