The social services gave her coupons
to go buy her son an Islander jumper and boots,
now that late October had morning frost on yellowing fields.

At the shop,
when it was her turn to be served,
she was told to step aside:
“Paying costumers first”.
Her shame burned the boy’s cheeks.

On the way home
she broke the silence between them:
“When you are poor you have to tolerate rude people.”
The twelve year old didn’t answer.