The interview (morning)

Turn right into Millfleet. Left into Church Street
then right onto Boal Quay.
See the river.

See 18 miles at 24.2p each.

There is no parking,
not even in marked
bays
and time
is tight

Right at the top (mind the white
van)
cling tight
to the bend
and
stop.

Feed the machine: it’s only short stay
so all day
's expensive.

Push the door. It’s dark blue, heavy.
A tiny blonde behind the glass
smiles. ‘It’s Sue you want’, she says.

Sue has a pass.

There is history in the room Sue shows me to
(it’s in guidebooks
and tour groups look
through its windows)
and five women, nervous.

Coffee in long thin sachets. Hot
water in a flask act-
ivated by a firm press on top.
Nobody moves.

Fliss and Lottie arrive, jolly.
‘Hello!’ they say.
‘We’re here to tell you
what it’s like. There’ll be two short written exercises
during the course of the morning and the rest
of the time
we can deal with your questions.’

There are no right answers,
apparently.

The best place to sit is directly opposite
Fliss while
Lottie smiles.

I am to the right of Fliss, watching.