’70s
motorway service
annexe
so small
we stood
we all stood
an angular door
we could not see
beyond
black metal table legs
dark formica tops
vinyl floor
pea boil dissected
uneaten meals
black wooden trays
abandoned
a pissed–off teenage boy
swept some neatly to the floor
where we were to walk
“s’il te plais
s’il te plais”
a yorkshireman voice
unseen
at the till
my mother
unhelpfully
“t’seal plays
t’seal plays
arf arf”