Miss A held up the card
with a word on it
who knows
what this word is?
she asked
the class stared glumly
at the card
a girl put up her hand
is it monster?
she said
no it's not monster
Miss A said moodily
another girl
put up her hand
is it mouse?
O’Brien snorted
a laugh behind
his ink stained hand
it is not mouse
the teacher said
her eyes lifted
ceiling ward
I put up my hand
yes Benedict?
Miss A said
can I go to the bog Miss?
there was a titter
behind my back
yes you can
but no you may not
she said sternly
I pulled a face
she looked at me
I unpulled my face
anyone else
have any idea
what the word is?
everyone has one
she suggested
O’Brien whispered
to me a word
I could not repeat
what was that O'Brien?
Miss A asked
muscle Miss
he said
(not the word
he said to me)
no it is not that
look at the card
look look
she said
we gazed at the card
in her hands
who knows
the first letter?
a girl put up
her hand
it's M Miss
she said
and the second letter?
I put up my hand
it's O Miss
I said
she gazed at me
and the third letter?
Helen put
up her hand
it's T Miss
she said
already whispered O'Brien
ain't long had dinner
Miss A glared at him
the fourth letter O'Brien?
aitch
he said
Miss A sighed
H
she said
one breathes
the letter out
H not aitch
next letter?
she said
it's E Miss
a girl said
on the floor
sitting crossed legged
and the last letter?
Miss A asked
it's R Miss
O'Brien said
so what do all
the letters say?
she asked
Mobster
a girl said
with glasses
(who often
wet herself
if she couldn't make
the bog in time)
no no
Miss A said
look at the letters
I lifted my hand
and she said
yes Benedict?
I need the bog Miss
GO
she said loudly
and I got up
and sped as fast
as I could
just as I got
to the door
Dennis said
it's Muvver Miss
Miss A looked away
she looked
distressed
it had been
a long
hard day.
A CLASS OF CHILDREN IN 1957.