You walked silently toward the double doors that led to your father's room. You didn't know how he would react if you woke him up. He always hated being woken up, saying that he needed his 'beauty sleep.' You paused, extended your arm towards the doorknob, and contemplated what would happen if you went in there. He would either let you in and help you get back to sleep or send you back to your room. You could only hope for the first option.
You knocked quietly on the door and slowly opened it. "Papa?" you called out quietly.
"Hmmm?" came the sleepy voice of your father, France. "Qui a-t'-il, ma petite fleur?"1
"Je ne peux pas dormir,"2 you responded softly.
He sat up from under the thick red comforter covering his bed and beckoned you over with a tired voice.
"Pourquoi es-tu toujours debout?"3 he asked, stifling a yawn.
"Je ne sais pas. Je ne suis pas fatigué, je suppose."4
"Vraiment? Comment puis-je t'aider à dormir, alors ?"5
"Est-ce que tu pourrais me chanter une berceuse, s'il-te plaît?"6
France smiled. "Si tu veux."7
He reached over and lifted you up, placing your small form on the bed next to him. You immediately snuggled up to his warmth, causing France to chuckle softly, ruffling your hair. "What song do you want me to sing?"
You thought for a second. "How many are you willing to sing?"
He laughed. "It depends on how quickly you fall asleep."
"Could you sing 'Blanc, belle rose'8 and 'Doucement s'en va le jour'9?"
"D'accord."10
France took a second to remember the lyrics to the songs you wanted him to sing. Then, he began.
"Là-haut, là-haut sur la montagne
Là-haut, là-haut sur la montagne
Il y a des moutons blancs
Blanc, blanc, blanc, belle rose
Il y a des moutons blancs
Blanc, blanc, blanc et rose et blanc.
C'est la bergère qui les garde
C'est la bergère qui les garde
Elle est habillée de blanc
Blanc, blanc, blanc, belle rose
Elle est habillée de blanc
Blanc, blanc, blanc et rose et blanc.
Un beau monsieur qui la regarde
Un beau monsieur qui la regarde
"Combien gagnez-vous par an ?"
Blanc, blanc, blanc, belle rose
"Combien gagnez-vous par an ?"
Blanc, blanc, blanc et rose et blanc.
"Mon beau monsieur, j' gagne pas grand chose
Mon beau monsieur, j' gagne pas grand chose
Je gagne cinq cents francs par an"
Blanc, blanc, blanc, belle rose
"Je gagne cinq cents francs par an"
Blanc, blanc, blanc et rose et blanc.
"Venez chez moi belle bergère
Venez chez moi belle bergère
Vous en gagnerez six cents"
Blanc, blanc, blanc, belle rose
"Vous en gagnerez six cents"
Blanc, blanc, blanc et rose et blanc.
"Mon beau monsieur j' suis chez mon père
Mon beau monsieur j' suis chez mon père
Et j'y resterai tout l' temps"
Blanc, blanc, blanc, belle rose
"Et j'y resterai tout l' temps"
Blanc, blanc, blanc et rose et blanc."11
France looked to see if you were still awake, and sure enough, you were. He nodded slightly, and started the second song that you requested.
"Doucement, doucement,
Doucement s'en va le jour
Doucement, doucement
À pas de velours.
La rainette dit
Sa chanson de nuit
Et le lièvre fuit
Sans un bruit.
Doucement, doucement,
Doucement s'en va le jour
Doucement, doucement
À pas de velours.
Dans le creux des nids
Les oiseaux blottis
Se sont endormis
Bonne nuit."12
You were barely awake; the soothing, deep voice that only belonged to your father had soothed you.
"Je t'aime, papa."13
He smiled tiredly. "Je t'aime aussi."14
Hmm... I don't think that I've ever heard that one. I'll have to look it up.
Wait a second... how the hell isn't there a cute France icon?!?