My friend, Louise

Made me a bet

That she would not be

The last baguette.

‍

“Fair enough,” I said,

“But let’s not forget,

Those 15 euros

You’ve not paid me yet.”

‍

8 o’clock, 9 o’clock,

10 o’clock passed

The hours went by,

So very fast.

‍

Customers came,

And customers went,

Enticed by the lingering

Fresh bread scent.

‍

As time went by,

Others joined in the bet

That Louise would not be

The last baguette.

‍

But a wager was made

By Jacques the croissant,

“I know you’ll be last,”

He said as a taunt.

‍

“D’accord,” said Henri,

With a tone quite smug,

“And if I’m wrong,

I’ll swallow a bug.”

‍

As the arguing escalated

In the petite boulangerie,

They acted like wild animals

In a ménagerie.

‍

Pastries, tarte,

Brioche, and éclair,

Yelled over each other

Without a care.

‍

But suddenly,

To everyone’s surprise,

A young girl walked in,

With big blue eyes.

‍

“Une baguette, s’il vous plaît,”

She said with ease,

Pointing at none other than,

The baguette Louise.

‍

The shopkeeper spun around

Looking at the bread rack,

And grabbed Louise

From the top of the stack.

‍

Some of them cheered,

And some of them jeered,

But what happened next

Was what they all feared.

‍

The sweet little girl

Took a big giant bite

Right out of Louise,

What a horrible sight!

‍

So the next time you make

An imprudent bet,

It’s neither good nor bad,

To be the last baguette.