Fay was on the bus
I was on
we both got off
at the cinema
in New Kent Road
how was school today?
I asked
as we walked along
to the Zebra crossing
passing the fish shop
the hairdressers
O you know
how school is
she said
some days
you don't mind it
some days
you hate it
today I hated it
why was that?
I asked
we stood
on the edge
of the pavement
at the crossing
Sister Agnes poked me
in the back
with her
steel hard finger
because I had forgotten
the capital of Peru
Fay said
as if it mattered
as if the Peruvian people
would lose
any sleep over that
we crossed the road
to Meadow Row
it's all part
of the brain-washing process
I said
I try to empty
my brain of it
as soon as I can
after school
she laughed
and put her fingers
to her mouth
I shouldn't laugh
my daddy says
laughter is how
the Devil gets in
and those
who make people laugh
are the Devil's helpers
we walked down
Meadow Row
pass
the bombed out houses
on the left
the empty windows
the boarded up
doorways
I guess your old man
is a bit of a sourpuss
I said
sourpuss?
she said frowning
I liked it
when she frowned
her blonde eyebrows
seemed to meet
in the middle
and the lines appeared
on her forehead
a grouch
I said
she laughed again
stop it
I shouldn't laugh
at least not
at my daddy's expense
it won’t cost him
nothing
I said
I joke for free
we passed
the public house
there was a piano playing
and some woman
was singing
Fay looked at me seriously
I mustn't be seen
beyond here
with you
Daddy says
you are a bad influence
Fay said
am I?
Daddy says you are
she said
do you think I am?
I asked
no I don't
she said
that's ok then
I said
we paused
by the fresh fish shop
and looked
at each other
don't forget
to find out
the capital of Peru
I said
I know now
she said
Sister Agnes poked
Lima into my back
that's one way
to impress knowledge
on a kid
I said
she rubbed
her shoulder
yes
I shall call this
my Lima shoulder
she said smiling
see you around
I said
(although
she only lived
in the flat upstairs)
and she leaned in
and kissed my cheek
and went off ahead
over Rockingham Street
up towards the flat
I touched
my 12 year old cheek
maybe
I said
I’ll not wash
that bit
for a whole week.
May 3, 2014
May 3, 2014 at 4:21 AM UTC
Fay was on the bus
I was on
we both got off
at the cinema
in New Kent Road
how was school today?
I asked
as we walked along
to the Zebra crossing
passing the fish shop
the hairdressers
O you know
how school is
she said
some days
you don't mind it
some days
you hate it
today I hated it
why was that?
I asked
we stood
on the edge
of the pavement
at the crossing
Sister Agnes poked me
in the back
with her
steel hard finger
because I had forgotten
the capital of Peru
Fay said
as if it mattered
as if the Peruvian people
would lose
any sleep over that
we crossed the road
to Meadow Row
it's all part
of the brain-washing process
I said
I try to empty
my brain of it
as soon as I can
after school
she laughed
and put her fingers
to her mouth
I shouldn't laugh
my daddy says
laughter is how
the Devil gets in
and those
who make people laugh
are the Devil's helpers
we walked down
Meadow Row
pass
the bombed out houses
on the left
the empty windows
the boarded up
doorways
I guess your old man
is a bit of a sourpuss
I said
sourpuss?
she said frowning
I liked it
when she frowned
her blonde eyebrows
seemed to meet
in the middle
and the lines appeared
on her forehead
a grouch
I said
she laughed again
stop it
I shouldn't laugh
at least not
at my daddy's expense
it won’t cost him
nothing
I said
I joke for free
we passed
the public house
there was a piano playing
and some woman
was singing
Fay looked at me seriously
I mustn't be seen
beyond here
with you
Daddy says
you are a bad influence
Fay said
am I?
Daddy says you are
she said
do you think I am?
I asked
no I don't
she said
that's ok then
I said
we paused
by the fresh fish shop
and looked
at each other
don't forget
to find out
the capital of Peru
I said
I know now
she said
Sister Agnes poked
Lima into my back
that's one way
to impress knowledge
on a kid
I said
she rubbed
her shoulder
yes
I shall call this
my Lima shoulder
she said smiling
see you around
I said
(although
she only lived
in the flat upstairs)
and she leaned in
and kissed my cheek
and went off ahead
over Rockingham Street
up towards the flat
I touched
my 12 year old cheek
maybe
I said
I’ll not wash
that bit
for a whole week.
A BOY AND GIRL IN LONDON IN 1950S
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