O Grandpa Do

All is not well in Belle's panier velo.

The frogs have damaged the carrot.

Stop jumping! cries Terence.

They stop. But it's too late now.

What's happened? asks Belle, slowing down.

Look! says Terence.

Belle stops altogether, and looks at the damage that the frogs have done to the carrot.

The carrot, already soft and flaccid from its river adventures, has turned mushy around the o-ring.

Ooh, says Belle. This is no good.

I know, says Terence. The frogs did it.

They never liked the carrot, says Belle. I shouldn't have put them together.

Now what? asks Terence.

Let me think, says Belle.

We're sorry, says the knowlesi. We thought it was rubbery.

It was, says Quiet-tartus. Rubbery. Until it went mushy.

Carrot! squeaks the carrot. 

I may have to throw it away, says Belle. Which would be a pity, as it was gift from that nice gardening woman.

How about we squeeze it? says Terence. Then the mushy bits will ooze out.

But will it still hang together? asks Belle. I guess there's one way to find out.

She picks up the carrot. Presses its two ends together. The mushy parts ooze out.

She wipes away the mushy parts with her finger.

Wipes her finger on her bicycle seat. 

Yuck. Regrets it.

Checks the carrot. Has it remained in one piece?

Well yes, but only thanks to a thin fibrous core down the middle.

Give it to me, says Terence.

She gives it to Terence.

Terence holds the carrot by two sad feathery carrot leaves.

Swings it.

The o-ring falls off.

Terence puts the o-ring back into his pocket.

Carrot, murmurs the carrot.

Give it here, says Belle. I'll tie it to your damp shorts at the back of my back pack. If it dries out in the wind, it might stiffen up again.

Stiffen up again, saya Terence. Hear that, frogs?

Stiffen up again, says the knowlesi. Let us pray.

We don't need to pray, says Quiet-tartus. What are you?

Ommmm, says the knowlesi.

That's not praying, says Terence. This is praying: O grandpa, do something!

Please do something, says Belle.

Please do something, says Terence. I don't usually say that.

You don't usually say O grandpa do something, says Belle.

Because it doesn't work, says Terence.

It might this time, says Belle. 

She ties the fine-waisted carrot to Terence damp shorts, (which are almost dry now), and continues cycling towards Le Havre.

The carrot looks back along the road they have travelled, hoping to glimpse Terence's grandpa.

A Matter Of Suspension

Belle is preparing to leave, when Nico returns with the carrot.

A canoeist had it, says Nico. The tide's turned, so I've brought it to you.

A canoeist? says Roo-kai. That explains why I couldn't find it. 

But I didn't see the frogs, says Nico. 

Don't worry, says Belle. The frogs have come back.

Including Parsley? says Nico.

Yes, says Belle. 

Here I am, says Parsley. Let's go.

In my pocket? asks Nico.

Pocket is fine, says Parsley.

Goodbye, says Quiet-tartus.

Goodbye Parsley, says the knowlesi. 

Have a good life, says Parsley.

They do have a good life, says Terence.

Not as good as back home, says the knowlesi.

True, says Quiet-tartus. Back home, we're endangered. 

Yes, says the knowlesi. Whereas here, no one knows who we are.

I'm off then, says Nico, dropping Parsley into his pocket. 

She waves to her frog friends, through the hole.

Wait, says Terence. This is for you to put in your Musée.

He hands Nico his sketch of impressionist sausages.

Thanks, says Nico. I'll hang it next to the Sisley.

That would be so cool, says Belle. Wouldn't it Terence?

Yes, says Terence. Can you make it so people can see the back too?

I'm sure I can, says Nico. It's just a matter of suspension.

Yay! says Terence. Everyone will know I'm good at sketching AND bird spotting.

But not writing, says Quiet-tartus.

I'll take care of that, says Nico. Au revoir. Let's keep in touch!

Yes, let's, says Belle. I'll call you when we get to Le Havre.

Carrot! says the carrot.

Time to go.

Nico cycles off towards Rouen, in that direction.

Belle cycles towards Le Havre, with Terence, two frogs and the carrot, in her panier velo.

The frogs bounce up and down on the carrot, which is soon in a very bad way.

Nothing For The Daughter

Shall we get going? asks Belle.

I won't come much further, says Nico. 

It was nice of you to come this far, says Belle.

I have enjoyed it, says Nico. But yes, look at the time. I should probably head back right now.

Bye, then, says Belle. Hey, what about Parsley?

What about Parsley? says Nico. 

Could you take her back to where we found her? asks Belle.

If she wants to go, says Nico. Where is she now?

Still down at the river, says Roo-kai, looking up from Terence's impressionist sausages.

I'll see if I can find her, says Nico.

He stands up and walks down to the river.

A canoeist is dragging his canoe out of the water.

Bonjour! says Nico. Have you seen a small green spotted frog?

Non, says the canoeist. Only this carrot.

Alors! says Nico. That's it!

It cannot be a frog, says the canoeist. It is a carrot.

Desolé says Nico. What I mean is, that this is our carrot, which is travelling to Le Havre independently.

You may have it, says the canoeist. But as the tide has just turned, I would not recommend that your carrot returns to the river. Do you have a bicycle?

I do, says Nico. It is back there, a short distance. But I have decided to return to Rouen, as I have an early start at work tomorrow,

Does the carrot really need to go to Le Havre? asks the canoeist.

Its companions are going, says Nico. In particular, a kind hearted young woman who is following a pebble.

A pebble, says the canoeist. How does one.....?

And an infant, says Nico. A remarkable infant who sketches.....

But the pebble, says the canoeist. Are you suggesting it moves?

It moves very well, says Nico. I gave it a lift for some of the way, but it's chosen to walk the next part, with its cousin.

Its cousin! say the canoeist.

In fact I believe the pebble normally rides its own bicycle, says Nico, but it lost its wheels in a Tour de France crash. 

The canoeist says nothing. What is there to say?

I see you look sceptical, says Nico, but take a look at this carrot. See this o-ring jammed round its tail? This o-ring is one of the the wheels of the damaged bicycle.

How did it get round the carrot? asks the canoeist.

You know that pond with a waterfall, in Square Verdrel? says Nico. The carrot was in the water, needing to be rescued.The infant leaned over too far and fell in. The wheel fell out of the infant's pocket, and the carrot manoeuvred itself into it. Or so I heard. I was in the Museé des Beaux Arts with the young woman, showing her the impressionist paintings.

A satisfying story, says the canoeist. And now I must go. I intended to give the carrot to my daughter, but now, as I won't have the carrot, I must stop at a green grocers on my way home. Au revoir, mon ami. I hope you find your frog.

The canoeist ties his canoe to a tree, and heads off to find a green grocer. 

Nico walks back to Belle with the wet flaccid carrot.

At least he has that. Too bad about the frog.

Impressionist Sausages

They cycle through woodlands, past fields, and villages.

They see cows, horses, orchards, thatched cottages, and long views of the river.

This area was an inspiration for Sisley, says Nico.

THE Sisley? asks Belle.

Ha ha, laughs Terence.

What's so funny? asks Belle. 

Sizzly Sausages, says Terence.

Terence can be annoying. Belle now sees the beautiful landscape as it might have been painted by Sizzly.

 Sausage cows, (long and brown), sausage horses ( curved and brown), thatched cottages( pink sausages at the windows) , and the river, (a never ending sausage, a work of art on its own).

Honestly Terence, says Belle.

Why don't you try sketching, says Nico. 

I don't have an itch, says Terence.

Sketching is making a drawing, says Nico. It will be a change from bird spotting.

Okay, says Terence. Can we stop while I do it?

It is time for a break, says Belle. Let's sit here and look at the river, while Terence sketches.

They stop.

Terence sits on the grass and spreads out the paper bag, which once held his damp shorts, and on which is his short list of birds. He turns it over, and starts sketching in ( he imagines) the manner of Sizzly.

The three frogs are enjoying their freedom. 

Let's race to the river! cries Parsley. Go!

She hops towards the river.

Quiet-tartus and the knowlesi look at one another. What a cheater! 

Nico takes Baby Pierre and Ouvert out of his pocket, and sets them down on the grass.

We might walk on from here, says Baby Pierre. The open road beats travelling in a pocket.

Yes, says Ouvert. Now we know.

Are you sure? asks Belle.

Yes, says Baby Pierre. O for a life on the open road!

Okay, says Belle. See you in Le Havre.

The pebbles head off. 

Hey! calls Nico. Le Havre is that way!

They change direction.

Terence has filled his whole paper with impressionist sausages, when  Roo-kai returns from watching the frog race.

Who won? asks Terence.

Parsley, says Roo-kai. But the bad news is, I couldn't see the carrot.

The river here is tidal, says Nico. It may have gone backwards.

Like Baby Pierre and Ouvert, says Terence.

Have they gone? asks Roo-kai. 

Yes, says Belle. Perhaps you could keep an eye out.

Roo-kai sighs. 

Carrot floating backwards. Frogs racing. Pebbles rolling forward.

But he cheers up when he sees Terence's Sizzly. 

Canoeist Canoeing

Roo-kai flies back to the others.

Guess what? says Terence. 

What? says Roo-kai.

I'm spotting birds, says Terence. See this paper.

He holds his paper aloft, so that Roo-kai can see it.

MELO, says Roo-kai. I don't know that one.

It's short for melodious warbler, says Belle. 

Ah, says Roo-kai. I have seen one or two birds between here and the river. Would you like to add them to your list?

Okay, says Terence.

That's cheating, says Quiet-tartus. Because you didn't see them.

We're a team, says Terence. 

Does that mean if I see a bird it can go on the list? asks Quiet-tartus.

No, says Terence. You're not in the bird-spotting team.

Ready, says Roo-kai. Where's your pencil?

It's a pen, says Terence. 

He waggles the pen. 

Golden oriole, says Roo-kai. And a lesser spotted woodpecker.

How about you go and check on the carrot, says Terence.

I just got back, says Roo-kai. The carrot was perfectly all right, I told it to enjoy itself. Why aren't you writing?

Your birds are too long, says Terence. 

Just write GO and PECK, says Roo-kai. 

I can't, it's too bumpy, says Terence.

Give me my pen, says Nico. I'll do it.

He stops.

And writes the names on Terence's list.

Isn't this nice? says Belle, as she waits for Nico to stop writing. I wonder if we're anywhere close to our carrot?

She looks across at the river nearby.

She sees a canoe, in which a canoeist is canoeing.

It might be the very one who picked up the carrot and is on his way home.

Planning to drop the carrot into a rubbish bin.

Or rethinking that plan.

He has a small daughter. Why not take it home, cut the top off  and let his daughter watch it grow in a saucer/

Of course, Belle knows nothing of that.

The River Rules

It is a horse.

It stands at the edge of the river.

It must live nearby.

Perhaps it knows the rules of the river.

Shall I approach it? wonders the carrot. Why not? Roo-kai told me to enjoy myself. 

It floats across to the horse.

Carrot! says the carrot, jauntily.

The horse stares.

A carrot! It likes a nice carrot. 

But this one looks as though it's spent too much time in the water.

And what is that green ring, on its tail?

A choker!

The horse backs away.

Carrot! cries the carrot.

If only an intermediary would appear. One that spoke both horse and carrot.

Then the carrot could ask it: Which side of the river is the correct side to be on? Will you please ask that horse?

And the intermediary would reply: 'Certainly', and, addressing the horse, would ask it that question.

And the horse would supply the answer.

And the intermediary would translate the answer into carrot.

Or the intermediary might itself know the answer, thinks the carrot. No need then for the horse.

The horse has gone off by now, anyway.

The carrot looks around. Perhaps it can learn the river rules by observation.

There are plenty of vessels in the river. There are dinghies, rowing boats and canoes. 

A canoe paddles by. Turns. Paddles back to the carrot.

The canoer leans out and picks up the carrot.

This old carrot should not be floating about in the Boucles, says the canoer.

I shall take it, and dispose of it properly.

O unlucky carrot!

How many canoers would bother to do that?

The Unknown Perils Of Meeting A Horse

Roo-kai flies high over the Boucles, with the carrot.

This is where you'll be going, says Roo-kai. 

Carrot! says the carrot.

I know what you're thinking, says Roo-kai. 

The carrot wonders what Roo-kai thinks it is thinking.

It's long way through all those meanders, says Roo-kai. And you can see there are bridges and ferries, so travelling by road would be faster. You can still change your mind.

Carrot! says the carrot.

No one will eat you, says Roo-kai. Especially not now.

The carrot wonders what Roo-kai means by 'especially not now'.

Then it remembers the o-ring, which is still jammed round its tail.

No, says Roo-kai. Not changing your mind? So where would you like me to drop you? How about here?

It is the curviest part of the first Boucle.

The carrot has not answered, so Roo-kai descends to the water, and drops him in gently.

I shall come back to check on you now and then, says Roo-kai. 

Carrot! says the carrot.

Don't mention it, says Roo-kai. And remember to enjoy yourself.

Carrot! says the carrot.

This is a picturesque part of Normandy, says Roo-kai. You'll pass abbeys, museums, thatched cottages and castles. You'll see meadows, and pollard trees, highland cattle and horses. You will see apple trees, plum trees and cherry trees. But pay attention to the river traffic, and keep to the correct side of the river..

The carrot has never been told which is the correct side of the river. and feels a moment of panic.

And what is a pollard tree? Will he get hayfever?

Too late to start saying words other than carrot now.

Roo-kai gives the carrot a push and takes off to join the others.

The carrot looks around, at the picturesqueness.

What's that on the bank there? A horse?