X

I don’t know when my charm started

Maybe it was the fact that I got so much attention when I was young

People in the palm of my hand

Toddlers at story time gathered round as 4 year old me read aloud in passionate voice

I know it got triggered one day

Concert in oxford park

Wanting to get near the bands

And mummy slips off

Alone

Into VIP area

Smoozes with the band Blue.

It was at that point

I realised

Charm

And a little bit of ignorance

Can get you anywhere

Fast forward to watching daytime tv

Resulting in X factor audition tickets

Turns out watching Maury (US version of Jeremy Kyle) can be valuable

Sweating hot in line

Seeing cameras in places

Hands on hips

Knowing eyes making contact

Cheeky Dallas morning news interview in place

pushing through crowds inside

mad dash for seat

close

but not close enough

push past the adolescent boys in Sperry’s and polo shirts

fire in my eyes

down the stairs to

Joanne

Just your average usher

Now

My new best friend

English charm

Patience my child

Center seats nearer the front

the hilarity of auditions

so much more vibrant than tv

the cutting yet true jabs of Simon

compliment Paula’s sweet sincerity

taping ends

crowd disperse

catch Simon heading towards audience

cat-like body traverses crowd

body in place

to shake hand

make brief polite conversation

“It’s nice to hear a familiar accent”

Charm

And a little bit of ignorance

(cheeky English accent)

Can get you anywhere

If you are willing to step out.

Imagine if I used my powers for good.