My Grandpop
leans against the counter
in the barber shop
while Mr Chambers
carefully snips the hair
from around my ear.
Grandpop says,
‘In my day, Alex,
my dad would take to me
with sheep shears
and, Bob’s your uncle,
I’d be shorn true
and booted outdoors to work.’
Mr Chambers laughs
and carefully snips at my fringe.
Grandpop says,
‘In my day
us kids didn’t have iPads
and iPhones and iPoodles,
or whatever they’re called.
We had a bat, a ball and a bike.
Too many gadgets, too much . . .’
Grandpop’s mobile phone beeps
with a text message.
He moves away from the counter
and pulls it out of his overalls
and starts to text back.
Mr Chambers sprays a mist of water
on my hair
and snips on top.
Grandpop finishes texting
and slips the phone into his pocket.
‘Now, what was I saying?’ he asks.
Mr Chambers winks at me and says,
‘Football, you were talking about footy.’