One week later…
Nicolas walked through his barn with tears streaming down his eyes. "Goodbye Lanny," He said. "You were such a good cow. You gave us lots of good milk." He pet the cow and the head and walked to the next pen. "Goodbye Snowbell. You're a very pretty horse. I'll miss riding you."
Just outside he knew Agathe was talking to a man from Germany who bought their farm and all of the animals. He also knew that soon a carriage would come by that would take him to the big city where he had to live. He ran his hand down the side of the barn. He didn't want to leave.
"Nicolas!" He heard Agathe call. "Our carriage is here! Get your things!"
Nicolas wiped his eyes. "Coming Agathe," He said. On the grass outside the barn sat a suitcase with all of the belongings Nicolas was taking with him. He picked up the case and walked around the house.
"There you are," Agathe said. "Come on let's go."
Nicolas was reluctant to move forward. "Can't we just stay here a little while longer?" He asked. "I don't want to leave the farm."
"Nicolas, the farm belongs to Herr Scholz," Agathe said. "We have to go. Your uncle is waiting for you in Paris."
Nicolas' goat, Madeline ran up to him and brushed her head against his leg. "Do I have to leave Madeline too?" Nicolas asked.
"That goat will do you know good in Paris," Agathe said. "Now come along."
"But Madeline's my favorite goat. She's my friend," Nicolas said.
"I know, Nicolas. But you'll meet lots of friends in Paris. There are many boys and girls there for you to play with." She patted the seat next to her in the carriage.
"Farewell, Madeline," Nicolas said, kissing the top of her head. "I have to go, but there is a nice man named Herr Scholz who will take care of you, okay? Be a good goat. Goodbye."
Nicolas stepped into the carriage, laying the suitcase at his feet. The carriage took off down the road. Nicolas stared out the window at the fields and meadows they drove past. Agathe put her hand on his shoulder. "Maman gave Madeline to me after Papa died," Nicolas said. "I was lonely. She was my friend."
They drove past more cottages and meadows. "Why can't you and me just live at the farm together, Agathe?" Nicolas asked.
"It doesn't work that way, Nicolas. I worked for your Mama. Now I'm going to live with my brother, and you are going to live with your uncle."
Nicolas didn't understand why this was. He had never met his uncle before. He didn't even know he had an uncle until last week. Agathe lived with him for almost five years. She was like a grandmother.
"What is my uncle like?" Nicolas asked.
"I don't know him," Agathe said. "I know he owns a shop in Paris. He makes fans."
The carriage turned around a corner and started down a road that Nicolas had never been down before. "How big is France, Agathe?" Nicolas asked.
"Quite big," Agathe said. "Alsace is on the very edge of France. There is much more country to the west and south. There are twenty-two regions. Alsace is just one of them. To get to Paris we must travel through Lorraine and Ile De France. That's where Paris is."
Nicolas sighed. "France is such a pretty country," He said. He rested his head against the back of his seat in the carriage. He yawned.
"Are you sleepy, Nicolas?" Agathe asked.
"No," Nicolas said. He yawned again. "How many different places have you been, Agathe?"
"I grew up in Normandie," Agathe said. "That's where I am going after I drop you off at your uncle's."
"Have you ever been to Paris?" Nicolas asked. Rain started to fall. Nicolas was glad he was in a covered carriage.
"I've passed through Paris before," Agathe said. "It is very large, with lots of buildings. I think you'll like it there."
"It sounds very different from the countryside," Nicolas said. "I don't know if I'll like it."
"You're so imaginative. I know you'll like it in Paris," Agathe said. She looked over at Nicolas who was fast asleep on the seat. "Poor Nicolas Feuilly," She sighed. The rain picked up, beating against the roof of the carriage and watering the meadows of the French countryside.