Abir and I
were told
by a prefect
to go and stand
in the assembly hall
after lunch
for running down
the wrong stairway
but we'll be late
for lessons the other way?
Abir said
I don't care
the prefect said
rules are rules
no running down stairs
and not down
the wrong stairway
so we stood
in the assembly hall
by the window
waiting
for the punishment teacher
to come for midday assembly
and hand out
corporal punishment
had to happen one day
I guess
I said
hang on
I have a plan
Abir said
come on
so I followed him
out of the hall
and along
to the prefect room
we spotted the prefect
coming out
of the room
do you smoke?
Abir asked
sure I do
the prefect said
well
if you let us off
you can have these
Abir said
the prefect looked
at the packet
of 20 Senior Service cigarettes
where'd you get these?
the prefect asked
my old lady
gave them to me
Abir said
the prefect
sniffed the packet
ok off you go
but don't
let me catch you again
he said
we went off
there you go
Abir said
bribery works
did your mother
give you the cigarettes?
I asked
no
I liberated them
from the shop
across the road
while other kids
were distracting him
Abir said
I said nothing
as we walked along
to the assembly hall
and took our place
in the lines of boys
Abir smiling
I with a cool face.
May 23, 2014
May 23, 2014 at 5:22 AM UTC
Abir and I
were told
by a prefect
to go and stand
in the assembly hall
after lunch
for running down
the wrong stairway
but we'll be late
for lessons the other way?
Abir said
I don't care
the prefect said
rules are rules
no running down stairs
and not down
the wrong stairway
so we stood
in the assembly hall
by the window
waiting
for the punishment teacher
to come for midday assembly
and hand out
corporal punishment
had to happen one day
I guess
I said
hang on
I have a plan
Abir said
come on
so I followed him
out of the hall
and along
to the prefect room
we spotted the prefect
coming out
of the room
do you smoke?
Abir asked
sure I do
the prefect said
well
if you let us off
you can have these
Abir said
the prefect looked
at the packet
of 20 Senior Service cigarettes
where'd you get these?
the prefect asked
my old lady
gave them to me
Abir said
the prefect
sniffed the packet
ok off you go
but don't
let me catch you again
he said
we went off
there you go
Abir said
bribery works
did your mother
give you the cigarettes?
I asked
no
I liberated them
from the shop
across the road
while other kids
were distracting him
Abir said
I said nothing
as we walked along
to the assembly hall
and took our place
in the lines of boys
Abir smiling
I with a cool face.
TWO SCHOOL BOYS IN 1950S LONDON.
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