Rag and Bone

‘Rag and Bone.’

Mum was startled. ‘Haven’t heard that for a while. Quick, grab any old stuff we don’t need and take it out. He’ll give you a lolly.’

Polly and Suzie scrambled to gather up as much as they could: old games, a broken kettle, a bag of clothes they’d grown out of that was meant for charity.

After a while mum went to look.

The stuff was discarded by the roadside; of the girls there was no sight.

‘Rag and Bone man,’ said the old bloke opposite. ‘Hasn’t been one of them through here for 30 years past.’