100 Word Story

0715: not so early, really. Stall owners build and van owners empty and discerning early shoppers check melons, consider shell-fish and balance baguettes. Conveniently situated in neatly inclined boxes are the ingredients for a ratatouille: aubergine, onions, garlic, courgette, tomatoes, herbs. An official wanders checking licenses, the sun gets higher and queues for plums are suddenly a little longer. Pierre pauses his meditative consideration of the scene, extinguishes his (surprisingly) American cigarette, leaves five euros for cafe espresso and croissant and wanders slowly, hands in pockets, to his tiny apartment behind the church. He has writing to do. Lots.