Chapter 9 ✎

I think it was a migrating flock of wild birds that helped him leave. 🔊✎ On the morning of his departure, he tidied his planet thoroughly. 🔊✎ He carefully cleaned out his active volcanos. 🔊✎ He had two volcanos that were still active. They were useful for cooking his breakfast in the morning. 🔊✎ He also had an extinct volcano. But, as he said, “You never know!” 🔊✎ So he cleaned out the extinct volcano too. 🔊✎ If you clean them out well, volcanos burn quietly and regularly, without any eruptions. 🔊✎ Volcanic eruptions are like chimney fires. 🔊✎ Of course, here on Earth we’re far too small to be able to clean out our volcanos. 🔊✎ That’s why they cause us so much trouble. 🔊✎

Feeling rather sad, the little prince also pulled up the last baobab shoots. 🔊✎ He thought he would never come back. 🔊✎ But on this particular morning all his familiar chores were suddenly very dear to him. 🔊✎ And when he watered the flower a last time and prepared to put her under the glass cover, he found he was almost crying. 🔊✎

“Goodbye,” he said to the flower. 🔊✎

But she did n’t answer. 🔊✎

“Goodbye,” he said again. 🔊✎

The flower coughed. But it was n’t because she had a cold. 🔊✎

“I have been dumb,” she said in the end. “I am sorry. Try to be happy.” 🔊✎

He was surprised she was n’t trying to make him feel bad. 🔊✎ He stood there not knowing what to say, the glass cover in his hand. 🔊✎ He did n’t understand this quiet softness. 🔊✎

“Yes, I love you of course,” said the flower. 🔊✎ “You did n’t know, it was my fault. It does n’t matter. 🔊✎ But you have been just as dumb as I have. 🔊✎ Try to be happy. 🔊✎ And do n’t worry about that cover. I do n’t want it anymore.” 🔊✎

“But the wind…”

“I’m not really sick. The cold night air will do me good. I’m a flower.” 🔊✎

“But the animals…” 🔊✎

“Well, I’ll have to put up with two or three caterpillars if I want to meet a butterfly. I hear they’re beautiful. 🔊✎ If I do n’t do that, who will I have to talk to? You’ll be far away. 🔊✎ As for the big animals, I’m not scared. I have my thorns.” 🔊✎ And she naively showed him her four thorns. 🔊✎ Then she added:

“Do n’t hang around like that, it’s annoying. You’ve decided to leave. So leave.” 🔊✎

She did n’t want him to see her cry. She was such a proud flower. 🔊✎