She does a couple of days a week
The money comes in handy
And the people make her work worthwhile
She knows their village and its seasons
Appreciates how this low land, becomes full and green
Then turns to golds and browns, flinted earth and frost
~
I’ve been a regular at the shop these past thirteen weeks
And she and I do not really speak
Bar necessities and niceties
Concerning the purchase of my essential shopping
For milk, bread and cheese
And occasional meats
~
Although there was one hot midday
When I raised concern about a heathland fire
On my cycle ride along the coast road
I’d seen smoking, orange tongues lapping at the horizon
I promised that I would take a look
And let her know how things turned out
~
The A-frame in the doorway, positioned to cause hesitation
One customer in the shop at any one time
Please use the hand sanitiser before entering
Instructions that cause me to take a stooped backward step
To press the cool gel from the squirter fixed outside the door
And return head-bowed, rubbing dry my hands like Lady Macbeth
~
Now we Brits can meet outdoors and ride buses and trains masked
As modern-day Dick Turpins, stealing time from open spaces
While back at the shop, each day brings some subtle shift
New display shelves, with books, gift wrapping
Local postcards, an extended range of locally bottled beer
And now a Perspex screen hung neatly from the ceiling
~
Separating shoppers from staff just a little bit more
Deflecting breathes over the till, distancing further
I put a bag of flour on the counter
Realised it too far from the scanner
Reached out to move it closer to her
As she reached beneath the screen and accidently touched my hand
~
We both recoiled before she took the bag
And I stepped back a stride surprised
At the warmth of contact that left a gentle glow
That stayed with me as I left the shop
And slowly walked up the empty lane
After thirteen weeks of distanced pain.
~
n.b. First physical contact with anyone after thirteen and a half weeks of social distancing during the Covid-19 Lockdown, 2020.
Chris Perry
21st June, 2020
Salthouse, Norfolk