I found it after lunch, the grown-ups too
busy to notice. Only a tiny gap, enough
for me, just five, too small for big people
And thick bushes to hide me from the
House and any stray tigers or bears
on the other side of the hedge
The Big Adventure, with a ripe plum
in my pocket from the orchard
at the end of Grandma’s garden
I could hide here for days. They called
and searched. I think I fell asleep.
It was when I hear them say ‘police’
that I struggled back again.
It must have been late. I was hungry
and bored with hide and seek
They tell me I just stood there by the
hedge, grubby knees and tousled hair
and asked, ‘So what’s for tea?’