The sun was hot in the sky on July 15, 1819. It shined it's bright rays onto the French countryside of Alsace. The grass was long and luscious. A child could lie in the grass and be completely lost to the world.
That's where Nicolas Feiully found himself that day. He liked to go into the green meadow outside his cottage and immerse himself in the grass. All of his troubles seemed to go away. He was one with the earth.
"Did you know that if you stare up at the clouds for long enough you can see pictures in them?" He asked. There were no people around, just a little white goat that lay beside him. "See Madeline, there's a duck, and a barn, and that cloud looks like a goat like you."
The goat bleated and rested her head on Nicolas' stomach. "Do you ever get lonely Madeline?" Nicolas asked. "Do you ever wish you had other goat friends to play with? Maybe next time Agathe goes to Strasbourg we will go along and look at all of the goats in the market."
Madeline got up and started running around the meadow. "You're right, Madeline," Nicolas said. "We should get moving. Let's gather some eggs for Mama." He stood up and started running toward his little stone cottage. The goat followed him.
The chicken coup stood behind the cottage. Nicolas started to open the door but he heard an old woman call his name. "Nicolas! Nicolas Feuilly!"
Nicolas jumped down from the coup and ran to the front of the cottage. Agathe, his housekeeper and nanny, was attaching their horses to the cart. "What is it Agathe? Where are you going?"
Agathe climbed into the cart. Her face was tired and sweaty. "You're Mother's illness has taken a turn for the worse. I'm going to Strasbourg to get the doctor."
"Can I come along?" Nicolas asked.
"No," Agathe said. "I need you to stay with your Mother. Make sure she drinks lots of water. If she asks you for something, get it for her."
"Yes, Agathe," Nicolas said. He ran into the house as Agathe pulled the cart down the road. Nicolas walked into the front room and opened the door to his Mother's room.
His Mother lay on her bed with her eyes closed. Her face was wet and so was her hair. She heard the door open. "Agathe?" She asked quietly.
"No, Maman. Nicolas," the boy said. He walked closer to his Mother.
Mrs. Feuilly lifted her hand and stroked Nicolas' face. "My son," She said weakly.
Nicolas was afraid to touch his Mother. He didn't want to hurt her. He didn't understand why she had suddenly become so sick. Just last week she was perfectly fine. But she had developed a cough and found herself getting frequently nautious. Her body started to become sore and lately she didn't want to even leave her bed. "Drink some water," He told his Mother.
"No no no," His Mother said. "I'm not thirsty. I'm tired."
"Then get some rest," Nicolas said. "Do you want a cold cloth to put on your forehead? Or a warm cloth? Is there anything you need?"
"My son," She said again. "I don't need anything. I just- will you tell me a story?"
"Yes Maman," Nicolas said. He sat down on the bed. "Once there was a king. He was a very rich king, but a very greedy king. He had everything he could have ever wanted, but it wasn't enough for him. Something was missing. He didn't know what. Then he got an idea. He sent out a proclamation saying that everyone in his kingdom had to give him a gift. He said it had to be a gift grand enough to please a king. So everyone in the kingdom searched and searched for the perfect gift to bring. They brought him fine plates, fabrics, and riches. But one man didn't know what to bring. He was a very poor farmer who struggled to feed his family. He had no money to spend, or items fit for a king. So he decided to give the king the only thing he had- an old cow named Gretta. He walked Gretta all the way to the king's palace and presented her to the king. The king was furious. 'This cow is not good enough for a king!' He shouted. The man begged the king to accept the gift for it was all he had. The king finally accepted. But just as he did the man's little daughter came out from behind the man and said 'Please don't take my cow, she's my friend.' Then the king started to cry. The man asked the king why he was crying the king said 'I have finally realized what is missing. I don't have a friend.' Then the little girl said 'I'll be your friend' and the man said 'I'll be your friend too.' They all become friends and the king wasn't greedy anymore."
When Nicolas finished his story, his Mother was asleep. He kissed her forehead and ran his hand along her back until Agathe appeared at the door with the doctor from Strasbourg. "She's sleeping," Nicolas said.
"Thank you for watching her Nicolas," Agathe said. "You may go now."
"Yes, Agathe," Nicolas said. "Is there anything you need me to get?"
"Just go play," Agathe said. Nicolas nodded and walked out of the room. He stopped in the front room where Madeline the goat was waiting for him.
"Hello, Madeline," Feuilly said. "Agathe told me to play, but I don't feel like playing right now. Maman is very ill, you know. I told her a story. She's sleeping now." He sat down at the table and drummed his fingers on it's surface.
He thought back to the night six years ago when his Father was struck with phenomena. It was a cold night and the fire in the fireplace kept going out. Nicolas sat on his Mother's lap on the same chair he was on now. Nicolas didn't understand why his Mother was so worried. He thought that since the doctor was with him, it was assured that Father would get better. He remembered falling asleep on Mother's lap and being shaken awake by his Mother in the middle of the night. "You're Father is not here anymore. He's in heaven," His Mother had told him.
Back then, Nicolas wasn't quite sure what death was. Once a fox came through and killed all of their chickens. Another time a baby cow was born dead. But his Father wasn't a chicken or calf. He was a strong man. He could pull the plow all by himself and lift a grown cow out of the mud.
His Mother wasn't nearly as strong as his Father was. She got tired easily and sick easily. But Nicolas had never seen her this sick. He wanted to see how she was. He walked back into her room.
"How's Maman?" Nicolas asked.
"Shh Nicolas," Agathe told him. She stood in front of him to block his view. Nicolas looked to the side of Agathe. His Mother had a blanket over her head.
Nicolas took a few steps back. "Is she dead?" He asked.
"Nicolas," Agathe started to say but it was too late.
"She is isn't she? She's dead!" Nicolas grabbed Madeline the Goat and ran out of the cottage with tears in his eyes.
Agathe watched him from the door. "Nicolas! Nicolas Feuilly!" She shouted after him.
Nicolas ran to the meadow and fell down into the grass. He could see his Mother's face when he looked into the clouds.