Sweet In Name

Pierre-Louis is still sitting under the tree. 

How long does it take to cook a few potatoes?

Potatoes are ready! calls Belle.

Just then his phone rings.

It's Arthur. But Pierre-Louis is not answering Arthur. Not now.

Let Arthur wait until after dinner.

Pierre-Louis enters the saints' kitchen.

We may have over-catered, says Saint Méen. 

Potato soup first, says Belle. Then roasted chunks of potato. Followed by potato fritters. And a sweet potato pie.

Sweet potato? says Pierre-Louis. I thought you only grew normal potatoes.

We do, says Saint Maclou. The sweet potato pie is sweet in name only.

I suppose you could sprinkle it with sugar, says Belle.

If we had any, says Saint Méen.

That would be a treat, says Saint Maclou. 

He places five soup bowls on the table.

Méen ladles out fragrant grey soup.

Yay! says Terence. Can my soup be red, like the last time?

Let me see, says Saint Maclou.

He goes into the pantry and comes out with a tiny red bottle.

One drop will do, says Saint Méen.

And it will. Terence's soup has a red blob in the middle. He stirs it with his finger.

Now his soup has a swirly red pattern.

Now it has zigzags.

Eventually, a uniform reddish-grey colour. 

The others have finished their soup and begun eating the roasted potatoes.

Salt, any one? asks Saint Méen.

Yes, please, says Pierre-Louis. What a shame Arthur is missing this wonderful dinner.

He'll be fine, says Belle. He's in some weird café.

Weird? Sounds like La Java, says Saint Maclou.

He's just tried to call me, says Pierre-Louis.

Call him, says Belle. Ask him to come, and bring sugar.

Yes!

How good would that be? 

If Arthur, having paid for his drinks, left La Java and cycled to the saint's cottage, arriving in time for the sweet potato pie, with some sugar.