The Gift Of Finding

Terence and Roo-kai go inside.

Saint Méen is clearing the table.

Guess what? says Terence. 

We saw, says Belle. You nearly fell into the field with the pony.

It ate all the sugar, says Terence. And then ran away.

Just as well, says Belle. You weren't wearing a helmet.

And you haven't had a lesson, says Saint Maclou.

I had a lesson, says Terence. It was Don't believe ponies.

You just had a bad start, says Saint Méen.

I'll speak to Madame Ponty, says Saint Maclou.

He goes out.

We'd better be going, says Pierre-Louis. Ready, Arthur?

Arthur picks up a leftover potato fritter, and shoves it into his pocket. 

He's ready.

You've forgotten something, says Belle.

The frogs! says Terence. 

Where are they? asks Arthur.

Where were they when you saw last them? asks Saint Méen.

Don't ask me, says Arthur. Belle had them.

I put them down by the pile of potatoes when I got here, says Belle. 

Outside? says Pierre-Louis. They could be anywhere. We shall miss our train!

Terence runs into the back garden.

No pile of potatoes.

He runs back inside.

The potatoes are missing! criesTerence.

We ate them, remember, says Belle. You helped me peel them.

A terrible thought strikes Terence.

He had been talking, while he was peeling. 

And not looking at what he was peeling.

He has peeled his own frogs!

And then they have been boiled, mashed and eaten by the grownups. 

You all ate them! cries Terence. 

No, says Belle. We would have noticed. So would you. You had some soup.

It tasted funny, says Terence.

That was the food colour, says Saint Méen. Let's split up, and look for them.

Why don't you give us the gift of finding? says Terence.

Alas, says Saint Méen. Maclou and I cannot give the gift of finding.

Really? says Pierre-Louis, I would have thought it was easier than giving the gift of speech.

And what would you know about it? asks Saint Méen.

Nothing apparently, says Pierre-Louis.

He goes outside and starts calling the frogs. 

Frogs! 

He must have forgotten their frog names.