Bewildered

Almost every day on the way home from school,
I take the kids to the "red" shop,
It's a chain shop like any other.
as I stand outside I notice a lady
walking along the pavement

She's sixtyish, old before her time.
Grey haired, glasses,
she's carrying a few extra pounds.
two grandchildren in tow,
clearly she cares.

Bewildered she looks,
trying to smile,
out of her depth,
fearing of the queues
and the volatility of the two
she has in tow.

Doing her best
full of love and care
glad she can hand them back
as she pulls out her purse.

The next day comes
I see the same again.
A different woman
two different kids,
sometimes one, sometimes three.
Yet just the same.