New neighbor

Author: Jean-Jacques Sempé (France)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: I can't remember how many times I've seen Jean-Jacques Sempé, but actually, I've known him since I was a child. Back then, I was still a little girl, and the laughter intertwined between Sempé and my father is etched deep in my memory. Therefore, I can say that Jean-Jacques Sempé, like Little Nicolas, is a part of my childhood. Their friendship began in the 1950s. Sempé described it as follows: "One day, I met René Goscinny, who had just returned from the United States, and we immediately became close friends." "Friends" became the key word for their upcoming new work. From 1959 to 1965, my father and Sempé wrote a weekly story for L'écho de la Loire newspaper, most of which were later published in the five-volume series The Adventures of Little Nicolas. During the writing and creation of Little Nicolas' stories, the two worked in perfect harmony, whether in Buenos Aires or Bordeaux. The scent of chalk brought back childhood memories for both authors. Their genius as creators allowed us to feel the joy of childhood in Nicolas' mischievous life. Before my father had a chance to describe his own childhood to me, his death prematurely ended my own childhood. On November 5, 1977, under a gloomy sky, the creator of Nicolas, Jojo, Cocodrilo, Fifi, and other characters passed away. But I believe that the author who created these vivid characters will never truly die. As a result, I have an infinite love for the world of Nicolas, a love that stems from the genuine affection we had for the people in our childhood. Tasting the humor of these two magicians will take me far, far away. After my father's death, Sempé became our loyal friend, and my mother maintained a deep friendship with him. When we had dinner with him, Jean-Jacques' laughter brought back the voices from the depths of my memory. However, not all of my father's stories were published. My mother, Gilbert Goscinny, once had an idea to publish the other 80 stories about this little guy that had never been released to the public, allowing readers to once again share her beloved Little Nicolas and his friends' stories. But once again, fate decided the course of events in another way. The clouds gathered once more, and my mother didn't get a chance to fulfill her dream. I met Sempé at a restaurant in Saint-Germain-des-Prés and showed him the manuscript of my father's stories, adorned with Sempé's illustrations. As he reread his own drawings after 40 years, what a smile it was! He was delighted to suggest working together with me. Together, we accompanied Nicolas to school, holding his hand. After a long period of rest, this famous little student didn't change much. Now, 80 stories and 205 illustrations continue to tell his story—his story and the story of his friends: Atchoum, Prunelle, Rire, Dorotée, Cocodrilo, Rigolo, and Ma?tre Cocorico. And Jojo takes center stage in this work. Jojo is the little boy with a wealthy father. When Nicolas was invited to his house for the first time, he described it as follows: "He has a kidney-shaped swimming pool and a living room as big as a restaurant." Prunelle, the gluttonous fat guy, remains one of Nicolas' best friends. "I told him, 'On Christmas Eve, my grandma, my aunt, and my uncle Ozen will be at my house.' Prunelle said, 'At my house, we have white sausage and turkey.'" Perhaps because I myself have become a mother to a little boy and a little girl, I feel it's time to share these hidden treasures with everyone. What better way to let children get to know their grandfather than this? Beyond personal reasons, publishing these unpublished stories is also a natural thing—to do so for those who once loved Little Nicolas and for the new generation of schoolchildren. The immense appeal of this work is not limited to children but also extends to the world of adults. The former see their own reflections in it, while the latter are reminded of their own past.