The true story of Louis, the toad

Luiz Ruffato

The True

Story of Louis,

the Toad

Illustrations Talita Hoffmann

The True Story of Louis, the Toad

Luiz Ruffato Illustrations Talita Hoffmann

The True Story of Louis, the Toad

Copyright © Luiz Ruffato, 2014 All rights reserved to EDITORA FTD S.A. Rua Rui Barbosa, 156 — Bela Vista — São Paulo — SP CEP 01326-010 — Tel. (0-55-11) 3598-6000 Caixa Postal 65149 — CEP da Caixa Postal 01390-970 www.ftd.com.br CONTACTS

Director Ricardo Tavares de Oliveira Publisher Isabel Lopes Coelho Foreign rights Tassia Oliveira foreignrights@ftd.com.br

For Helena

Once upon a time there was a distant kingdom, lost in the middle of a forest. There lived a king who was very kind, who ruled over his land justly, wisely and generously. He lived in an enormous castle and, with the queen, he went on long outings on Sunday, when he visited his subjects, listened to their complaints, resolved conflicts and helped widows and the poor as well as the sick.

Although he did not let on, the king felt great sadness: he belonged to one of the oldest families in the world and dreamed of having a son, who would inherit his kingdom and would keep it united, as it had been for the twenty-three generations before. The queen, however, could not get pregnant. They tried to overcome the problem by turning to the most famous doctors (and even to the most famous magicians), but to no avail.

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Until one morning, the queen, strolling in the gardens of the Summer Palace, heard a bird singing a song she had never heard before. As she paid close attention, she realized that the melody formed verses, that went more or less like this: Soon, soon, A child will be born.

Never more, never more, Another child will come.

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Frightened, but very happy, she ran to announce to her husband that she was pregnant.

The king then decreed two full weeks of holiday. He freed prisoners, distributed food, abolished taxes and opened the borders so other peoples could share his immense joy.

Months went by among so much delight that nobody noticed the arrival of the big day.

The royal midwife slowly walked into the waiting room and let the king know that the baby had just been born.

“But it’s a girl”, she warned.

Although at first surprised, the king did not show any disappointment. He went down the halls screaming: “The child is born and it’s a girl! It was born and it’s a girl!”

He immediately asked the court musician to compose songs that expressed his happiness and that praised his daughter ’s beauty.

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For one month, the king —who really liked horses— went riding in his land with his advisor spreading the good news.

He would stop at every village, the church bell was calling all citizens, and, from the pulpit, very moved, the king would tell the story of the birth of princess Juliana —for that was her name—, which would, one day, sit in his throne.

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The king had three sisters who lived in another castle, which was as big as his own. They had never married, because it was said that, in no place on Earth, was there a man who was truly worthy of marrying them. They were very demanding, grumpy and fed on the pettiest feelings: envy, hate, vanity, greed and pride.

As time went by, they became more witch-like.

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On a Spring afternoon, the three sisters arrived at the Royal Palace on a majestic carriage pulled by six white horse. They were richly dressed, their bodies laden with gold and diamond jewelry. They headed for the princess’ room, where they curtsied to Juliana, who lay in a lavish but simple crib, and then after drinking tea with the king and queen, the oldest ones of them said:

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