Sleeper
Two little girls in prams with mums on the bus.
One’s asleep sucking her dummy – an overgrown baby,
the other’s wide awake, dummy free and looking for someone to play with.
She strokes the face of the sleeper
who doesn’t stir.
She pulls out her dummy.
She knows she’s pushing it.
She gets a half-hearted telling-off.
Dummy goes back in.
She wants a proper reaction.
She pokes the sleeper’s eyes to try and open them.
Surprised tears announce the rude awakening.
“I squashed her eyes,” she explains with a smile.
Mum is embarrassed now.
I look out of the window.
