At the bus stop, the stranger
waved us away
making silent incantations
bizarre prestidigitations
and curious facial spasms
all at once.

We kept distance
but wanted to be seen by any drivers
looking for passengers
so didn’t go too far.

It wasn’t clear what the man was summoning.
Perhaps a bus?
But soon we saw

in his hands
a series of full-sized candy bars,
a Halloween cornucopia
and he without his wizard’s outfit!
Still, he played the part wonderfully.

He didn’t get on the next bus.
We didn’t see him at all
when we pushed off from the stop,
in fact.
It was as if

he disappeared

or maybe he was eating his candy
somewhere else.