So I’m standing at the bus stop
Minding my business 
When all of a sudden I can feel somebody 
Watching me.
To the side of me is a man in a flat cap
“That’s a very nice hat” he said
Gesturing to the hat on my head
“That’s a very very nice hat indeed”
He leaned in close
Examining my hat in detail
He took a step back
Looking me up and down from a distance
“Yes” he said “that is a very very nice hat
How old are you by the way?”
“How old am I?” I asked
A little unsure why he would ask
“48” I said
He rubbed his chin, then tilted his head to one side
As if to look from a different angle
“Yes I can see where you are coming from” he said
He took of his flat cap
Reached over and took my hat from my head and put it on
Then put his cap on my head
“That suits you” he said
Then held out his hand to shake mine
“Trade” he said
I smiled and shook my head
“But mine is 100% tweed he said “and I really do like this hat”
“I got it on the Tuesday market in Rotherham” I said
“Hat stall, he has 100s of hats
Beany hats Stetson trilbies flat caps fidoras bowlers....berrets every kind of hat you could immagine”
“But I like this hat” he said
And he took out his wallet “Name your price” 
“The hat isn’t for sale” I said “I’m quite attached to this hat”
He stepped back
“Well you can’t blame an old man for trying”
And he sat
Two minutes past, all the time
I could feel his eyes on me
“You are sure you don’t want to swap?”
“I’m sure I don’t want to swap, and 
This is my bus” I said as the 141 pulled in
“Change of heart?”
I heard him calling after me