School run. 8.40am 14th December 2009

I saw the head first,
or more accurately,
the rapidly moving jaw ;
Fierce it was, and even
through the twin defences
of her car window and mine
I could hear the machine gun
rattle of harsh unrelenting vitriol.

I waved the little green Volkswagen
Polo through, disrupting both the
flow of traffic and her bile for
a brief moment, and as she
caught my eye then looked quickly
away, the shame of exposure
communicated and passed
without the need for words.

Momentarily, time froze,
and the pale December sun
played delicate flicker-frame
on the boy child as he stumbled
from the car. He was nine,
perhaps ten and as he turned
and caught my stare, I saw
all the sadness and despair
of the world in his young eyes.

I nodded, then smiled and sent
my understanding and best wishes
without the need for words.
Fleetingly he smiled back,
rewarding me with a glimpse
into the sturdiness of his soul
before he turned and walked
swiftly towards the school gates ;
Never once looking back at
that little green Volkswagen Polo.