Business

In Ossett.
Our Town.

There’s a woman
who runs a café.

Martha.

She has the smile
of Eden.
The joy
of possibility.

She cooks curry,
bakes bread
chilli peppers
hot,
red.

Oh,
and she’s
black.

A different business here.
A good business.

But.
There are other people
who walk in
through
her door.

Then
out.

Don’t settle.

Because of race,
fear.
The Daily Mail.

A lack of grace.

Bad business.

Martha puts
a sign
on her door.

“I am a black woman…
If you are allergic to black people,
don’t come in.”

An honest,
heartbroken business.

Meanwhile.
other people
from Ossett,
slap
hatred
on the coffee table.

Nasty opportunistic business.

Up the hill,
on Kingsway.
A woman receives an email.
Telling that Ossett
has won an award
for great culture.

The woman goes
for bittersweet lunch
with good friends
Irene and Kerry.

And they chat to Martha
in the sunshine
about other things.

The hotness of the peppers.
The business of love.