By Lily Perthuis

Undercover like a ninja!

By Tess Boughton

Incognito by Kate Toon

I wish I were invisible or could crawl back in my shell
Right now this situation is my kind of living hell
‘Hello Jen, yes how are you?’ I say with a weak smile
Gulping back the sickly taste of acidic nervous bile

I hand out all the vol au vents pretending not to see
The way that awful Clive licks his lips and leers at me
Then I scurry to the kitchen to check on the first course
My nails tap on the worktop in some frantic sort of Morse

S.O.S. I’m screaming, just silently inside
Oh please God let the house burn down and let me run and hide
But dinner must be served and I must impress Geoff’s boss
Though really, if I’m honest, I couldn’t give a toss

My face is a fixed grimace as I top up Susan’s gin
Trying to repress the hatred deep within
This night will soon be over and I’ll escape to bed
Until then I am prisoner, trapped inside my head

By Joanne Chan

Brief 54: Going Incognito

Brief 54: Going Incognito
Deadline: 22nd February 2013
Image: Photo by Eli Klein via The Daily Mail. Artist: Lui Bolin

This brief is inspired by spies in trenchcoats, a wardrobe of disguises and the art of being unseen. 

This year we're experimenting with how long each brief is open so expect to be on your toes!

Our favourite submission and secret prize winner from last month goes to Alice- we loved her characters.

Looking forward to seeing everyone's take on the brief! E-mail your works to the usual address- sparkapolooza at gmail dot com or you can upload to Facebook/Twitter/Instagram and tag us.