Anatole goes on an Errand

Anatole lived in a remote village and had never seen a monkey.

One day, his mother, la fermière, asked Anatole to deliver a basket of fresh fruits to the local chateau.

Comtesse Césarie, of Chateau Raymond, was very fond of such delicacies. She was old, somewhat original and not very pretty. She had as a companion a little monkey that she dressed as a small child. Coco wore matching pants and vest of blue velour and an elegant red casquette decorated with golden tassels.

And so, off went Anatole. Once at the chateau, a servant opened the massive oak door and Anatole was invited to wait in the large entrance. It was then that he saw Coco on a chair. Anatole assumed that Coco was one of the small Masters of the chateau.

Anatole put the fruit basket on the table. The monkey started to eat the figs at once. At that very moment, Comtesse Césarie entered.

“ Madame” said the boy very politely “ I am bringing you a basket of pears and apples from my mother Marianna. She has added a few figs, but…”

“Where are the figs?” asked the elderly lady who enjoyed figs most of all.

Anatole scratched his head wondering if he should reply or not. Finally he ventured,” Your son ate them.”

Madame Césarie started to laugh. She called Coco who jumped upon her shoulder. When Anatole saw the long tail running down la Comtesse’s arm, he realized that the creature was an animal. He was very confused and knew he had made a faux pas.

“Coco, my little monkey”, added la Comtesse, “ thank this nice boy for his wonderful gift.”

Coco made a little dance and hopped on Anatole’s shoulder. It was a visit that all would remember for a long time.