Daylight robbery

With all of year ten crowded

into the planetarium shop

there’s too many people

for the person behind the counter

to keep watch.

Patrick and Angelo

stuff as many chocolate bars

as they dare into bulging pockets

and confidently walk out.

If there was a law against smirking

they’d be caught immediately

but no-one notices

except me and Manx.

He follows them to the cafe

where they scatter their bounty on the table.

I watch Manx sit down beside them

and see their faces change.

No matter how many times

they shake their heads

nothing persuades Manx.

His dad is friends with the owner.

Patrick slides the chocolates

across the table to Angelo

before walking away

to buy a coffee.

Angelo packs his pockets again

and returns to the shop

where he refills the racks

without anyone noticing.

Patrick sips his coffee

and talks to all the other boys

before we return to the bus.

On the trip back to school

it’s just Manx and me in the back row.

All of the usual suspects

gather around Angelo

and the rich boy

a few seats in front of us

and, when Manx isn’t looking,

Patrick turns

and waves a handful of chocolate bars

in my direction.