Stare Back

Stare back, she says

when I say,

They keep staring

staring at me

looking round the corner

being sneaky

spying on me

Who? she says.

Children, strange children,

children looking at me while I play.

Children who want to play, she says.

So, I stare back, I stare back and they run away.

Gone, I say. It worked. I stared back and they ran.

Thanks, Nan.

She goes outside and the children are back again,

back staring at me and my Nan.

Hello, she says. This is my grandaughter, come to stay.

You want to play with her?

They do. And I get stuck. Get stuck playing with them.

Thanks, Nan.

Mum, they are staring at me.

Who? I say.

Children, strange children, looking round the corner, staring at me playing.

Stare back! I say

And she does.

Words and image by Jay Cool, December 2024

Inspired by the words ‘stare’ and ‘back’ in a Boxing Day family game of Scrabble, and childhood memories of staying with my grandmother at Fordhouses in Wolverhampton.