Dear Sister,
I hope you still have d’Artagnan. I began to make an albatross for your theatre but it didn’t work out. If you get a chance to make one, they are seabirds with huge wings that used to fly over Paris millions of years ago. You will also need to make a cat like Grimaldi. Then you can put on this play.
THE NEW MUSKETEERS
D’ARTAGNAN: I tried to discover where the princess was hiding. But the Cardinal’s men were too many for me.
ALBATROSS: I soared above the city on my great wings. I looked right and left and right again even though there are no traffic lights in the sky. But not even a fairground to lay an egg on did I see.
GRIMALDI: The streets will be very quiet when all the children leave the city. But they will come back, with many fishes for me, the Cat Who Fishes. All the way from the seaside and the big river.
D’ARTAGNAN: The princess and I will triumph in the end and the Cardinal will lose much more than his foot this time.
ALBATROSS: The princess will also get a hat of ostrich feathers, which I will pluck from those crazy birds and bring to her all the way from Africa.
GRIMALDI: And I will eat the rest of the ostrich all by myself. Hey Diddle Diddle, the Cat and the Harp!
It’s not much of a play but I didn’t have time to do better. You can add anything you like to it, or change it.
I hope you are well. I’m learning lots of music and I’m sure you’re learning new things too. We’ll have lots to talk about when we see each other again.
I’m sending you this 50 francs for your ninth birthday even though that isn’t until March. Read what’s written on it and you’ll know it must be true.
Love from
Your brother
Dear Professor,
I’m sorry I was so much trouble to you. And for spoiling your good scarf. I didn’t tell you last night because I was afraid to, but I also lost your wife’s music case. I didn’t know it was hers when I took it. I am very sorry.
I am leaving you the last of my Deyrolle notebooks as a gift for Christmas. I’ve used up all the others. Will you mind them for me, but please not read them? Everything is in the trunk and so is my will. I wrote that when I came here first, when I was very afraid. I never had the books and the comics and the roller skates here with me anyway, so maybe it’s best to forget about the will. I have the money in case I need it and I’ve brought the flea circus carriages with me, because Papa made them for me. I know Signor Corrado wouldn’t mind.
If you ever meet him, or La Giaconda, or Alfredo again, please give them my love. I hope they are enjoying much success. I hope Tommaso got into Nadia’s school.
I know Mama and Papa would want to thank you from the bottom of their hearts so I will just have to do it for them. Mama was right – you are a great teacher of music.
I never had a grandfather but I’m sure you would be the best kind to have.
I hope you will be able to travel to the United States and meet your son in the end.
Wishing you well, and a happy Christmas too.
Love,
Jonas