Rémi is a young man. He goes to a photo studio one morning. He wants to take some photos for a new card. He walks into the waiting area and sits down. The waiting area is small and quiet. There are some chairs and a low table. A few magazines are on the table. Rémi picks up a magazine and reads it. Then a woman comes in. Her name is Sara. She sits down near Rémi. She also wants to take some photos. They both wait for the photographer. The photographer's name is Jo. Jo is still busy with another customer. Rémi and Sara do not talk at first. They just sit and wait quietly.

After a few minutes, Jo comes out. Jo smiles and says, "Sorry for the wait. Who is next?" Rémi stands up and says, "I am next." Sara also stands up. She says, "I think I am next." They both look at each other. Rémi says, "I came in first." Sara says, "No, I came in first. I was here before you." Jo looks at them and laughs a little. Jo says, "It is okay. We can check the book." Jo goes to the desk. Jo looks at the appointment book. The book shows the names and times. Rémi's name is in the book. Sara's name is also in the book. Their times are very close. Jo looks at the book again. Jo says, "Rémi, your time is at ten o'clock. Sara, your time is at ten past ten." Sara looks surprised. She says, "Oh!

I am sorry. I thought I was first." Rémi smiles. He says, "It is okay. No problem." Sara sits back down. Rémi follows Jo into the studio. He feels happy and relaxed now. His photos go well. After twenty minutes, Rémi comes back to the waiting area. He goes to the desk to pay. He takes out his money. At the same time, Sara also goes to the desk. She puts her money on the desk too. They both laugh. Rémi says, "We are doing it again!" Sara laughs and says, "You go first, Rémi. You were here before me this time!" They both smile. It is a funny end to a funny morning.

Rémi had been sitting in the photo studio's waiting area for nearly ten minutes when a woman named Sara walked in and took the seat closest to the door. The waiting area was modest but comfortable, with a row of padded chairs and a small desk where the receptionist usually sat. That morning, however, the desk was empty, and a handwritten note explained that the photographer, Jo, would be with them shortly. Rémi had glanced at Sara when she came in, nodded politely, and returned to scrolling through his phone. Neither of them spoke for a while, the only sound being the faint click of a camera coming from behind the studio door. When the door finally opened and Jo appeared, both Rémi and Sara immediately rose from their seats at exactly the same moment. Jo smiled warmly and said, "Apologies for keeping you both waiting.

Who do I have first?" Rémi stepped forward and said, "That would be me — I arrived quite a bit earlier." Sara frowned slightly and replied, "Actually, I believe I was here before you. I came in, found the desk unmanned, and sat down." Rémi looked genuinely puzzled, as he was certain he had been waiting longer. Jo, sensing that the situation could easily become awkward, suggested checking the appointment schedule. After a moment of searching through a well-worn notebook on the desk, Jo looked up and said, "Rémi, your slot is listed at ten, and Sara, yours is at ten past. That settles it, I think." Sara gave a small, gracious laugh and said, "Well, it seems the book knows best. After you, Rémi." Rémi followed Jo into the studio feeling quietly relieved, and the session went smoothly.

The photos came out well, and Rémi was back in the waiting area within half an hour. He approached the desk to settle the bill and had just reached into his jacket pocket when Sara stepped up to the desk at precisely the same moment, purse already in hand. They stared at each other for a brief second before both burst out laughing. "Not again," Rémi said, shaking his head with a grin. Sara held up her hand and said, "Honestly, you go first — I insist. You have clearly earned priority today." Rémi paid, thanked Jo, and held the door open for Sara on his way out. It had been a small mix-up, really, but somehow it had made the whole morning feel a little warmer than expected.