Life's Sweet Simplicity

Terence finds a beetle.

It is sitting on a prickle bush and does not run away.

Look! A beetle! says Terence.

Jeanne Jugan stops picking up moules.

So it is! A shieldbug! says Jeanne Jugan.

She resumes the retrieval.

Hello, shield beetle, says Terence. 

Bug, says the beetle.

Do you want to be my beetle? asks Terence.

No, says the beetle.

I'm going to have a ride on a pony, says Terence.

Good for you, says the beetle. I'm staying here till the weather gets colder. Then I'll hibernate. What colour am I right now?

A bit purple, says Terence. 

A bit? asks the beetle.

And a bit green, says Terence. What are you supposed to be?

Pale green in autumn, says the beetle. 

Are you talking to that shieldbug? asks Jeanne Jugan.

Yes, says Terence.

Do you want to collect it? asks Jeanne Jugan.

Say no! says the beetle.

No, says Terence. It's staying here to get colder.

Then say goodbye to it, says Jeanne Jugan.

Goodbye, bug, says Terence.

Jeanne Jugan lifts Terence onto her back panier.

Can I face the other way? asks Terence.

Why.... oh yes, all right, says Jeanne Jugan. 

She turns him and reclamps him to the panier. 

(with a clamp)

You may as well carry the moules too. They're getting quite smelly, says Jeanne Jugan.

Now Terence is not looking at Jeanne Jugan's bottom (a good thing), but holding a bag of stinky old moules (a bad).

The beetle watches Terence grow small in the distance,

And rejoices in life's sweet simplicity.