Bonfire night.

The little boy in the pushchair waiting

for fireworks to start in the dark

took off his beanie and sent it sailing

over the damp and muddy grass.

His mother picked it up and returned it

to his head to keep him warm

but impatiently he spurned it

and threw it even further away.

Mum retrieved it, back in place,

but a third time the hat went flying.

This time she kept it to herslf

and told him off quite sharply to his face.

Mum went back to her friends in suits.

He kicked off his boots.

The green bin truck pulled up beside the house.

Two orange eco-warriors jumped out.

I passed one "Wow, not many women do your job."

She smiled. Walked on.

I passed the second operative, a man.

"It must be nice to have a woman around."

He smiled. "It is."

Leaving the local leisure centre

I recognised the male manager

from the time a year ago

he banned me from the gym and so

I didn't bother to say hello.

The crush of customers made us wait

a little while to pass the gate

but then he did something to astound -

outside the exit he bent down

and picked up a dog-end from the ground.