Before the farmers arrive

Clowns insert themselves into
open spaces in the shopping
arcade. Crowds line up, as do
small black flying things, to
interact with them, as in "play
for pay." That's when the birds
of prey arrive. It's a military
town, so tattoos outnumber
masks: & since I don't have a
smartphone to capture the QR
codes, the contract tracers are
unable to follow them around.