The two youngsters - six and seven - giggled and fought as siblings do.
The boy - the younger of the two - playfully encouraged his sister to stick a twig in the man’s pocket. She obliged.
It was the boy's turn now. His sister prompted him to place a petal in his pocket, and he obliged. All the while their laughter grew louder.
A leaf, a stone and a feather followed.
Pleased as punch with their pocket presents, they shouted to the man with the jovial joy of youth. The man did not respond.
The despondent duo decided to get the man’s attention by singing his favourite song. But the man did not respond.
See, while the siblings sought engagement from their father on their wander through the forest, the man had chosen TikTok videos and WhatsApp messages to fill the family’s journey.
Well that sucks! You’d think the stick might have stuck to something !