Her jumper says
she’s a part of the Caffeine Club.
A man with no ring on his finger will walk
over in unscuffed Nike Air trainers to ask her,
What’s the first rule of Caffeine Club?
She will take the hair out of her eyes,
scan the field for her toddler trying to escape,
stop her baby picking up chewing gum from the floor.
He will repeat the question.
She will say nothing.

© Carl Burkitt 2023