Another planet

Patrick and his parents

sit at the front table of the cafe

under an umbrella.

I sit across the road

in the shade of a chestnut

and watch them.

Patrick’s mum reads the paper,

while his dad receives a text message

every few minutes.

Patrick yawns and puts his feet

on the vacant chair.

‘Don’t you have something to do?’

Mr Lloyd-Davis asks.

Patrick shrugs.

‘There’s nothing to do in this dump.

Ever!’

He gets up and walks away.

Neither of his parents answer.

Patrick’s dad orders another espresso,

while his mum picks at her salad.

A stray dog walks to the table

hungry for scraps.

It nuzzles against Mrs Lloyd-Davis’s ankle.

She pulls a face

and says, ‘Gerald!’

He looks up and smacks the dog on the side.

The dog yelps,

more in fright than pain,

and slinks off towards the lake.

Mrs Lloyd-Davis wipes her ankle with a napkin

as I wonder which planet

these people come from.