Braveheart: a short children's story

Chapter One:

Long before humans came to explore the Drakensberg, the mouse town of Camembert was founded at the base of an enormous oak tree. In the beginning, Camembert was home to just a few mouse families, but quickly grew to become one of the most famous of all mouse towns. After all, it’s founders did discover the Drakensberg.

Camembert was renowned for many things. Mice-folk came from far and wide to marvel at The Rainbow Nooks: every front door in Camembert was painted a different colour. In the morning sunlight, the doors shone brightly, like a rainbow caught in the roots of the tree. Underneath one lifted root, small shops were tucked away. To the human eye, the mouse town was hardly noticeable. The town was cosy and snug, and life was good.

Perhaps the most famous of all Camembert legends was Nicholas the mouse. His is the tale of how an ordinary mouse became extraordinary.

Nicholas’ home had a red door with a brass doorknob, and a rusty silver bell. His favourite room was the library, where he ate chocolate cake crumbs and drank rooibos tea while reading his beloved books. Nicholas’ library wasn’t grand, but it was special. Every possible shelf was stuffed with a book, and in the middle of the library was a squashy red chair with a patchwork quilt thrown over it.

Nicholas was a well-groomed mouse, although his whiskers were always untidy. His favourite item of clothing was his green jacket and matching scarf for winter. For summer he even had a swimming costume with lovely blue stripes on it. However, his appearance hardly mattered because he did not have many friends; his interactions were limited to the human girl who lived in the house next to the oak tree, because she gave him his favourite almond nuts to eat.

A long time before this story began, Nicholas had written a book called Cat and Mouse: A Game of Friendship. He had interviewed several stray cats and proven that cats and mice could be friends. But, the Mouse Government declared that the book would influence the younger mice into dangerous relationships with cats. The important mice in Camembert banned the book and did not let anyone speak to Nicholas, which is why he is lonely.

Clementine was the only mouse who talked to Nicholas. She was a beautiful mouse with the longest whiskers and the daintiest ears in Camembert. Her father was Mr Mozzarella, the mayor of Camembert. Nicholas was desperately in love with Clementine, but she thought that they were just friends. Clementine was the reason that Nicholas tried so hard to look fashionable in his charming outfits.

Chapter Two:

One day, Nicholas went along the winding path to the little grocery shop that was tucked away in a hole in the wall. He had run out of koeksister crumbs. The shop was owned by Oom Pieter, a portly mouse with short, bristly whiskers and an ever-present red cap. Nicholas smiled at him as he put acorns and koeksister crumbs in his basket. Oom Pieter nodded at Nicholas but did not speak because of the Mouse Government’s law. Nicholas was just deciding on whether he should treat himself to some dried fruit when the doorbell jingled and Clementine came in, wearing a pretty green dress with aloe flowers sewed onto the collar.

“Hello Nicholas,” she whispered prettily.

“H-hello Clementine,” Nicholas stammered nervously.

While Nicholas tried even harder to concentrate on the dried fruit in front of him, Oom Pieter told Clementine that the town mice had been gossiping about Ozlo the Owl returning to Camembert to hunt. This was shocking news, because Ozlo was known for his hunger for mice. A mouse called Francois had been eaten by Ozlo many years ago, and his son Gregory had been nervous and twitchy for a long time after that.

Clementine’s whiskers started trembling as Oom Pieter told her the news, and she decided on the spot to make posters to warn the mice folk about Ozlo. The owl was fearsome, with long chocolatey wings and a very sharp beak. His claws were like thorns from the largest tree in the mountains, and his shrill call was like an arrow to the heart, or so the only two survivors of his attacks said.

While the other two mice were talking, Nicholas was trying very hard to muster up the courage to ask Clementine if she would like to have tea with him. Giving himself an imaginary pat on the back, he straightened his green jacket, thrust out his chest and marched up to her. Clementine looked a little bit alarmed at the strange way Nicholas was standing, but did not giggle because she was a very polite mouse. Nicholas cleared his throat and took a deep breath. Unfortunately, as he did so one of the buttons on his jacket popped, and his chest deflated slightly. Clementine couldn’t help but let out a little squeak of laughter when that happened!

“Um, Clementine…would you like to come and have t-tea with m-me?”, he stuttered. The longest pause in the world took place as he anxiously waited to Clementine to answer.

Clementine blushed a deep shade of rose-pink as she said, “Oh! I’d like that very much, but I’m afraid my father wouldn't!”

“Oh cheese crackers and cheddar, don’t worry about it then”, Nicholas said sadly.

Clementine apologised repeatedly, and Nicholas made his way back home with a sore heart.

Chapter Three:

The next morning, Nicholas decided to polish his great-grandfather’s armour from the Mouse War, to keep his thoughts off Clementine. The set of armour was kept in the far corner of Nicholas’ library. It was beautiful, with a shiny acorn shield and shoulder guards. A mighty sword made from a large acacia thorn completed the set.

While polishing, Nicholas repeated facts about the war, so as to keep his mind preoccupied. Far from being distracted however, Nicholas found himself thinking about Clementine, and wondering if she would like him if he was brave, like a great war hero.

“Oh, pull yourself together, Nicholas! A beautiful mouse like Clementine wouldn’t like an ordinary one like you,” Nicholas scolded himself.

After polishing the armour, Nicholas sat down in his armchair with his freshly bought koeksister crumb and started reading about the different types of cheeses in the world. He had just read the first, very interesting, chapter about Brie when his doorbell rang. Nicholas was startled as no one ever visited him anymore.

He pattered over to the door and looked through the peephole. It was Clementine!

After nearly fainting with delight and shock, Nicholas hurriedly brushed the crumbs off of his shirt, and tried to make his whiskers look neat. He opened the door and welcomed Clementine in, while trying not to look too pleased.

Nicholas showed Clementine to the living room, and then hurried to the kitchen to set out a tray of koeksister crumbs and orange juice. In his fluster he knocked over a tea cup, and thanked the stars that Clementine hadn’t seen. Pulling himself together again, he carefully took the tray.

While enjoying her crumb, Clementine told Nicholas that her father thought that she was visiting her friend Thandi. Nicholas felt very happy that Clementine actually wanted to visit him. They talked and talked for what seemed like hours, about everything from the birds to the mountains around them. Nicholas lent Clementine a few books, and even shared his thoughts on his favourite book, “War and Peas”, which was also Clementine’s favourite. After a few wonderful hours, they noticed the sun had nearly set.

“Oh my whiskers, look at the time!” Clementine exclaimed. “I’d better hurry”.

She promised to come again to visit Nicholas in a couple of days, and then scampered home.

Chapter Four:

Several leisurely days later, Nicholas was reading in the sun and waiting for Clementine to arrive. It was a gorgeous bright day, and he was looking forward to showing Clementine his vegetable patch. He nearly dropped Mouse Weekly when he noticed an enormous shadow swooping over the town. Squinting up at the sky, Nicholas saw that it was Ozlo the Owl! Terrified, he dropped his newspaper and scampered inside, bolting his door behind him.

Ozlo was now perched on a branch in a tree a little further away; he seemed to be looking at something on the ground…

Through his peephole, Nicholas saw with horror that Clementine was walking towards his house, and she hadn’t noticed Ozlo yet. Suddenly Ozlo swooped down and hurtled towards Clementine.

Thinking only to save Clementine, Nicholas yelled, “Hide, Clementine! Quick! It’s Ozlo!”

Clementine shrieked and dived into a nearby nook. Ozlo quickly pulled out of his dive, showcasing his skill as he wheeled up into the sky. He swooped again to land and patrolled outside the hole, waiting for her to come out.

“Help me Nicholas!”, cried Clementine.

Thinking fast, Nicholas dashed to the library to put on his great-grandfather’s armour. As he fiddled with the clasps, he thought, finally I am going to do something brave.

With the armour clanking, he raced outside shouting, “Hold onto your whiskers, Clementine! I’m coming!”

Clementine squealed as Ozlo took a swipe at her with his claws. Nicholas charged at Ozlo with a mighty bellow, and Ozlo was so surprised that he was distracted from Clementine.

“Leave her alone, Ozlo! It’s me you want, not Clementine,” Nicholas shouted bravely.

Ozlo pecked at Nicholas, but he dodged as quickly and pierced Ozlo’s foot with his sword. Ozlo flinched and Nicholas attacked again, courage swelling in his chest. Feeling alive with bravery, Nicholas parried Ozlo’s attempted swipe with his talons. As he did so, one of Ozlo’s chocolate feathers fell to the ground.

“Do not ever come to Camembert again Ozlo, or I will be here to challenge you!”, Nicholas roared. After a moment’s hesitation, Ozlo decided to obey the fearsome mouse. With one last parting call, he flew away to nurse his wound, and his pride.

Nicholas picked up the feather and helped Clementine out of the hole. “Are you all right Clementine?”, he asked.

Clementine gratefully replied, “I have never been more all right! That was so brave of you Nicholas, you have saved my life!”

During the great battle, the mice-folk had been peering out of their windows in terror, and now they all started to come out, in order to congratulate the hero. Shotus and exclamations could be heard as they realised it was Nicholas underneath the helmet, and how brave he had been. The younger mice marvelled at the huge feather, and Nicholas’ magnificent armour.

Someone squeaked, “we need to take him to Mr Mozzarella!”

And so Nicholas was picked up by one of the strongest mice, and carried on his shoulders to the mayor’s house. Every mouse in the crowd was chanting the words, “Nicholas, our hero!”

When Mr Mozzarella heard of Nicholas’ bravery, he knew that a great reward was deserved. The Mouse Government presented Nicholas with a medal of bravery, and lifted the law that prevented him from speaking to the other mice. All was well in Camembert. Just one thing was missing...

Chapter Five:

Several days later, the town was in a flutter, because of the grand celebration that was to take place. The wedding of Nicholas and Clementine was the talk of the town.

Guests walked through an archway, made from an exposed tree root, to get to the wedding. The sky was a clear blue, and the humming of the river nearby followed them along the path. The trail opened up to a small clearing in between a ring of enormous dandelions. There were clouds of white butterflies that floated around the clearing, and all of the guests were overjoyed to be there. A band of crickets were playing instruments and a grasshopper was singing beautifully, while the guests snacked on the most delicious cheeses and nuts.

There was a loud gasp of wonder when Clementine arrived in an exquisite white dress. Her whiskers were shining with the silvery dust from a friendly moth. Nicholas was handsome in a smart blue suit. The whole town said that two mice had never been more in love, or more perfect for one another.

Grandmother mice would tell the young mice of that wonderful day years later, and of Nicholas, who was always brave for the ones that he loved.

The end.