Little Nicholas Page #2

O n the little table?

I thought...

-Look, it's not sure.

O n the table or the dresser?

Then we shouldn't have bought a TV.

We're still making car payments.

Should I return it or set it down?

Don't hurry me!

I hate being hurried.

But things always work out.

Ok, put it there.

Well, usually.

Nicholas?

Yes?

Never get married.

-Ok.

Nicholas, I think you should write

Mr. Moucheboume a thank you note.

"Dear Sir..."

No, "Dear Mr. Moucheboume..."

No, that's too familiar.

"My dear Mr. Moucheboume..."

Hang on... Honey!

"Dear Sir", "Dear Mr. Moucheboume"

or "My dear Mr. Moucheboume"?

Don't shout! I'm in the kitchen.

"Dear Sir"

or "Dear Mr. Moucheboume"...

"Dear Mr. Moucheboume".

-lsn't that too familiar?

Isn't "Dear Sir" better?

-Then why ask?

Ok, write:

"Dear Sir", comma, new line,

"lt was with surprise

that I had the great surpr..." No.

"lt was with joy..."

No. "lt was with pleasure...

"that I had the great surprise..."

No. "The immense surprise..."

Why not "colossal surprise"

while you're at it?

"The great surprise...

"of receiving your lovely gift..."

No. "Your..."

"Terrific gift"?

-No, "your marvelous gift".

He's right,

"terrific" is more natural.

Can we write this letter in peace?

"Your lovely gift", period.

New paragraph.

"My respects..." No.

"Respectfully yours..."

Hang on...

"Respectfully yours"

or "My sincere respects"?

Put:
"My sincere respects".

Then you sign it.

Nicholas, please.

Nicholas...

Stop it with that god-awful toy!

I'll never get that promotion.

What if we invited

the Moucheboumes for dinner?

Maybe your boss

would see you differently.

"One day, he even took the trash out

without moaning.

"That's unusual..."

Honey, I'll get it.

-Thank you, darling.

That's sweet of you.

Which cups should I take?

-Don't worry, I'll get them.

No, I insist.

You'll never find them, love,

I'll do it.

I'm going to have a brother!

-When?

I don't know.

But it's just like Joachim said.

Where is Joachim anyhow?

Children!

Stand in line and follow me.

Today you're going to have

a medical examination.

Miss! Joachim isn't here.

Yes, I know.

Come on now, follow me.

No talking!

What happened to Joachim?

It must be his little brother.

Maybe his parents abandoned him

in the woods like Tom Thumb.

Does it hurt?

You better believe it.

They had to strap us down.

I don't want to go!

I want my mommy!

Agnan, what's wrong with you?

Calm down.

I won't see the doctor!

If you see go the doctor

like a good boy,

I'll test you in math.

On fractions?

Yes.

-O k.

Ok, children. Let's go.

I'll show you some images.

And you'll tell me what you see.

Are you ready?

What do you see?

My father's car.

My father's boat.

My father's airplane.

Cough.

Very good.

Cough.

All right.

Cough...

I'm listening.

I don't know. I didn't study.

Just tell me

what runs through your head.

Should I say a date?

A date? You see a date?

I don't know.

"A date."

And here?

It's not me.

It's not you...

Ok.

And this?

What's wrong?

It's not fair. It's not me

who made all those spots.

Next.

Take your glasses off.

Take them off, I said.

Is this related to your father too?

No. It's my mother's coat.

Which my father bought.

Next.

Without the sandwich,

it'll tip the scales.

It's a little boy,

who finds a seed and plants it.

And the seed grows

into a little baby that starts to grow

and grow and grow...

Until it's a big giant

who catches the little boy

and eats him alive.

I simply walked up to him and said,

"Why don't you and your wife

come for dinner one night?"

What did he say?

-"Excellent idea."

"I'll tell my wife."

-I'm so happy!

Tell me, what type of woman

is Mrs. Moucheboume?

No idea. I never met her.

I mean,

is she the sophisticated type or...

I said, I don't know.

Don't worry, there's no problem.

But I am getting worried.

Everything has to be perfect.

What about Nicholas?

What'll we do with him?

Will he stay with us?

-No, it's out of the question.

He can't sit still.

-Oh my God...

I'm afraid already.

Here.

Nicholas...

You're not eating?

You need to keep your strength up.

How about a walk in the woods

next weekend?

Be like Agnan, start kissing up.

Yeah, buy your mother a present.

Like some salami,

or a nice baked ham.

That way, she won't have the heart

to abandon you.

No! You should buy her a ring.

That's what my father does.

It always works.

But I only have three francs.

Hello.

Can I help you?

-I'd like some flowers for my mom.

How sweet, she's lucky.

It's so she won't abandon him.

How much are roses?

-Three francs.

Great! I'll take them.

No. Three francs for one rose.

Can you lend me some money?

I'll pay you back.

I just have enough for a snack.

And you?

-I'm broke.

Sure. You just don't want to.

-It's my money.

Stingy rat.

-Stingy yourself.

You're lucky I'm holding the flowers.

Calm down.

-I'll hold them for you.

Don't touch me or...

Murderer!

Your flower is very pretty, sweetheart.

Clotaire was right,

the Agnan technique worked.

I did everything I could

to make Mom happy.

I even agreed to wear my blue suit,

the one I look like a nitwit in,

and go to Mrs. Courteplaque's.

Look how cute he is.

He's the one

who insisted on coming.

Let me give you a kiss.

Marie-Edwige, there you are.

That's Marie-Edwige.

She's very pretty

but she's just a girl.

Take Nicholas to your room to play.

What shall we play?

We could play nurse.

We'll pretend it's wartime.

You can be wounded

and I'll heal you

and save you despite the danger.

I'd rather play cards.

Ok. What can you play?

I can play "War".

I know a much better game.

Marie-Edwige's game

had very complicated rules.

For example,

she could look at my hand

and exchange certain cards.

But not me.

And the cards didn't have

the same value as usual.

She could take my king

with her three.

But...

-What?

There were penalties too.

Come on, giddy-up, horsey!

And I always lost.

It's sticky.

-Don't move!

Later on, Marie-Edwige's girlfriends

came over.

Hello!

Then the fun really started.

But at one point...

I thought I might have

to change schools.

Goodbye, Nicholas.

Bye, Nicholas.

See you soon, Nicholas.

Goodbye, Nicholas.

Well, bye.

Goodbye, Marie-Edwige,

I had a swell time with you,

you're very pretty

and I hope to see you again soon.

Actually,

I think it was more like...

I'm so proud of you.

Mom was very pleased.

But it still wasn't enough.

Tomorrow,

we'll go for a walk in the woods.

Nicholas. What are you doing?

Open the door.

Come on, open the door.

Open the door!

Very funny. Come on, open it.

Open this car door at once!

I don't believe it.

Open it, for God's sake!

Stop shouting, you'll scare him.

Nicholas, it's me, your mother.

Open the door.

Come on, son, stop being silly.

How are we going to get home?

Mom and Dad spent the rest

of the afternoon arguing.

I could tell that Mom

didn't want to abandon me,

but I knew

Dad would persuade her in the end.

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