I put the handset back in it’s cradle.

Wowee! “We’d like to offer you the job,”

he’d said, “Of a character in a giant snow globe.

Right – there’ll be you, a fir tree and a fairytale

house, kinda like a lodge, no uniform, wear

what you like, duffle coat, scarf, bobble hat –

something – anything Christmassy, snow globey –

as long as it keeps the visitors happy.”

 

“Yippee,” I said, when I put the phone down.

 

Then the induction, the health and safety stuff,

the others – who’d done it before –

“What - you’ve never had the spinning room?”

then laughing. Leaning in, “I’ll give you a tip,

they’ll try to get you to wear a scarf, but don’t”

Then a practice session – Barney banging

the door open – yelling, “Seasick time.”