‌Stuart stops.

At the age of seven Stuart stopped. Completely.

Not just at the kerb Or at a full stop

Or when he applied the brakes on his bike But everything.

His teachers were concerned that he would get behind. Mum thought it might be dangerous.

As she hadn’t heard of many other people who had stopped And gone on to do well.

Dad tried to talk him round

But it was ‘worse than talking to a brick wall,’ he said to Mum later

While he took a photo of a plover On their afternoon walk

When the light was just right. The doctor

Had a theory.

‘Boys stop when they start thinking,’ he said. But Stuart didn’t hear.

He was thinking very hard.

November 27, 2023