What Are The Boucles?

First, Belle stops at a boutique that sells clothes for children.

She takes Terence inside.

Nico waits outside in the street with the bikes.

When Belle and Terence come out, Terence is wearing new shorts, and Belle is carrying a damp paper bag.

Nice shorts, says Nico. What's on them?  Eagles? 

They're parrots, says Terence.

The birds are not parrots. But hey.

Nice shorts, says Baby Pierre, peering out from Nico's front pocket.

Orange, says Ouvert.

It's not orange, says Terence. 

True, says Quiet-tartus. It's more like sweet potato.

Ha ha! laughs the knowlesi.

Do they have to come? asks Terence.

Of course they do, says Belle. Frogs, please stop teasing Terence. 

I wasn't, says Parsley.

I know you weren't says Belle. It seems French frogs have better manners.

Shall we go? asks Nico. Who's got the carrot?

Don't you have it? asks Belle.

No, says Nico. 

Panic. Where is the carrot?

Looking for the carrot? asks Roo-kai, from the branch of a street tree.

Yes, says Belle. 

It's asked me to take it back to the river, says Roo-kai.

Is it up in the tree with you? asks Belle.

Yes, says Roo-kai. There's just one problem.

What is it? asks Belle.

It's jammed into an o-ring, says Roo-kai.

My o-ring, shouts Baby Pierre.

It didn't know whose it was, says Roo-kai. It thought it was a lifebuoy that Terence had dropped into the pond in order to save it.

Yes, says Terence. I just didn't know.

Well it doesn't matter, says Belle. In fact the o-ring might be useful for the carrot as it makes its way through the Boucles.

Yes it will certainly help, says Nico. Tell it not to worry.

Hear that? says Roo-kai.

Carrot, says the carrot.

Could you not try to say yes? asks Roo-kai. Like I taught you?

The carrot would love to say yes. 

Bur what it really wants is to ask a question.

What are the Boucles?