He rushes in from the rain
and pushes to the front of the queue.
He orders a coffee,
tuts that it has to be made
before the till has even tasted his change.
He folds his fingers into a hoof
and punches his phone
until it calls one of his contacts.
What? You told me 11, not 10.30. You idiot!
He rushes out of the cafe
so fast
his charity staff lanyard falls
out of his coal-coloured chinos.

Carl Burkitt 2023