Waiting For Something Montparnassey

The three pieces of worm have been eaten.

The frogs hop back up.

Arthur and Pierre-Louis finish off the cider.

Now one of us must depart, says Pierre-Louis. 

Me, says the rana. I shall miss you all. Goodbye.

You can't just hop away on this busy pavement, says Pierre-Louis. We'll look for some greenery.

Arthur points at a tree.

We can do better than that, says Pierre-Louis. Just round the corner is the Eglise Notre-Dame des Champs, with a grassed area in front of it.

Church! says the rana. O, I don't know....

There will be other frogs, says Pierre-Louis. And water.

Okay, says the rana, but first, may I hear that fine poem again?

You can keep it, says Arthur.

He starts folding the poem. 

The waiter comes up behind him.

How did you like it?

I liked it so much I'm giving it to this frog, says Arthur. 

That is not encouraging, says the waiter.

The frog liked it, says Arthur.

Yes, says the rana. We all liked it. Because we were in it. This poem will be a reminder of the time we frogs spent together.

But there is only one copy, says the waiter. Would you like me to make you two more?

Yes, says the rana, then each of my frog friends can have one.

We only need one copy, says Quiet-tartus. We share things.

The waiter hurries away. He intends to make two copies, one for Arthur.

But while he is busy trying to remember how his poem went, exactly, (did it mention the war? or did he ditch that line altogether?) ....

Arthur, Pierre-Louis and the frogs have headed off down the footpath to the Eglise Notre-Dame des Champs.

Arthur and Pierre-Louis set the frogs down on a low wall. 

There are painters ( painting) and writers (writing)  and tourists with cameras, all waiting for something Montparnassey to happen.

And it happens.

The rana unfolds his poem, 'Montparnasse'. 

He reads it in French.

The writers and painters love it because they are in it.

Those who don't speak French conjure up long-haired cats and their combs.