For Maggie - who will never know

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 20 February 2011 13:01:48

Somewhere, deep in the French countryside, lives Monsieur Jacques.

He has a tiny cabin, close to a pond where a flotilla of ducks move about the water, gently quacking in the spring sunshine. Close at hand he can hear the chickens clucking and tutting to each other as they scratch in the dust and argue over a  juicy worm. And in the field next door lives Henri, the friendly goat.

As all goats do, Henri eats most things. Unlike most goats, Henri is particularly partial to bananas. Each evening, as the sun drops below the church spire on the hillside opposite, M Jacques collects the browned, leopard spotted banana that the local greengrocer gave him. ("For Henri, m'sieur, the greengrocer whispers shyly, as he hands the fruit over every morning) He tucks it gently into his breast pocket, gnarled end peeping out from behind the carefully folded spotted handkerchief, and then strolls towards the field to feed it to Henri.

As M. Jacques approaches, Henri heaves himself to his feet. He knows that there is a treat for him. He watches M. Jacques intently as the banana is peeled and then, on gentle outstretched hand, is offered to him. Henri's soft lips nibble at the banana and his gooseberry eyes shine with the pleasure. Finally comes what is for Henri the best part of all - the skin. He chews thoughtfully, all the while savouring the taste of this, his evening treat.

As the last morsel is devoured, M. Jacques tips his hat to the contented creature, and slowly meanders back to his cabin, where a glass of Guignolet is already poured and awaits him on the small lace mat, made by his late wife.