Breakfast

Marla stirs a bowl of muesli,

tastes it, spits.

That’s pure sawdust.

I’m not eating that.

Have we any cake?

I could murder a Battenberg.

I’ll ask Mary to pick one

up on her way over.

It’s not meant to be dry, I tell her.

I do not remind her Mary will

never visit again.

What would be the point

in making her relive that pain?

She reaches for the carton of apple juice

and pours.

I wait for the reaction,

and when it is a sneaking smile,

leave her to enjoy her cereal.