Some geezer with a thick beard and grubby
beanie started playing peekaboo with me
in Cheadle Hulme Costa. He put a hand
over his eyes then removed it but, the more
I smiled with no teeth, he upped his game.
He angled his head behind a Christmas hot
Chocolate promotional stand then returned
into view with shocked eyes and a round mouth,
then started jumping out from behind
a cream-coloured pillar waving his fingers.
He then began squatting down to the ground
and leaping out from a set of table and chairs.
He spilt his tea doing that one and I spat
Jammie Dodger crumbs out of my gob.
Mum grinned at me, her back to the geezer,
and told Aunt Kathy how she always makes me
laugh without moving a muscle.

© Carl Burkitt 2023