Mr Fitch has given Nicolas a special place on the naughty step. His problem is fundamentally one of character, rather than behaviour, although his recent outbursts of name-calling and foot-stamping have been duly noted.
Nicolas is desperate to be liked, especially by Angela, perhaps because she comes from a wealthy family and likes to keep supplies of his favourite sweeties hidden about her person. But Angela knows what he’s after and openly resents his snide remarks about her friend David. What upset Nicolas was the fact that David hadn’t promised all his sweeties (a different variety) to the rest of the class, as Nicolas had. In fact Nicolas had promised far more than he could possibly afford to buy from the tuck-shop. He only did it to impress Angela. And when David happened to mention it, Nicolas said David was just as poor as he was.
It has been noticed that the jar of Nicolas’ and Angela’s favourite sweeties in the tuck-shop is now empty – which is anticipated to lead to even more difficulties in class next term. Some, poorer pupils will probably change their allegiance altogether; others, including Nicolas, will be compelled to beg from Angela. Which won’t worry David one bit and could lead to more unpleasantness, no doubt instigated by Nicolas again.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Well Janus, I don’t get politics but put it your way and I understand it. I’m even looking forward to next term!
Nice one.
OZ
According to the Open Europe blog, Poland is very worried about the sweetie jar. It doesn’t understand why it and other countries should be contributing sweeties if only Angela and le petit Nicolas get to distribute them.
An observation from this land seemingly governed by “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”
Perhaps being “A Nation of Grocer’s” (sorry, couldn’t resist that one) is not altogether a bad thing if the sweeties are in short supply.
Look, let’s cut to the chase. It’s all about protecting La Belle France, which is why the Magyar dwarf is so stridently up on his hind legs. Les Grenouilles are desperately seeking an accord behind which they can hide Gallic failures, with every one else (the whole world according to Madam Christine Lagarde) picking up the bill.
More and more countries are opposed to France gobbling all the sweeties. You can’t be a soi-disant economic power house as well as being the biggest recipient of Common Agricultural Policy funding at the same time, which is exactly the trick France is trying to pull. It will all end in tears, hopefully.
OZ
Araminta #2 – Indeed!