She’s telling him he is an inspiration
to her. She says she runs for the bus occasionally
if she dawdles buckling up her sandals,
so she can’t imagine doing a 10k – not at her age,
and he’s bloody nine years older than her!
He changes the subject to grandchildren
and then to the coffee they’re drinking
and they agree it’s delicious and how
they would like to do it again sometime.
She repeats how inspired she is by him,
how he makes her want
to step out of the house again. He fiddles
with his wooden stirrer and asks if she
would like to try one of those
funny looking muffins. She would.

© Carl Burkitt 2023