Scene: Grosbreuil composting plant. The sun is beating down, and Jean-Marcel is driving round in circles with a hopelessly empty wheelbarrow...
Me: Jean-Marcel, what have you been doing with that empty wheelbarrow all this time?
Jean-Marcel (wiping his brow): Ah, is it that obvious?
Me: Let's just say it's starting to look intriguing... After coming and going without loading anything, I thought you were doing a scientific experiment on wheel wear.
Jean-Marcel (embarrassed laugh): Not at all... It's just that... As long as Annick's here, we have to look like we're working!
Me: Are you joking?
Jean-Marcel: Can you see her over there, at the corner of the hut? She's watching! If she sees me doing nothing, I'll end up with a shovel in my hand and an open-ended mission... So I pretend to be busy with my empty wheelbarrow.
Me (glancing around): Indeed, there she is... Arms crossed, piercing gaze... A real conductor of compost!
Jean-Marcel: Exactly! And do you know what? It's working! She sees me walking around, she must think I'm a model of efficiency.
Me: What if I shouted "Jean-Marcel! You've forgotten to load your wheelbarrow"?
Jean-Marcel (rolling his eyes): Then you'd really be a traitor...
With a burst of laughter, we all went our separate ways, while Jean-Marcel continued his rounds... A wheelbarrow as light as ever, but a well-honed ploy!
