Her father passed me
on the stairs of the flats.
He didn't speak
but gave a nod
of his head.
I watched him
descend the concrete stairs
hands in his pockets
cigarette on his lower lip
hat pushed to the back
of his tilted head.
I wondered if Enid
was allowed out
so climbed the stairs
up to the top floor
and knocked
at her door.
Her mother answered
and stood and poked her head
out through the gap
between door and jamb.
"What you want?"
she said eyeing me
with her frightened eyes.
"Is Enid allowed out?"
I asked.
She looked past me
at the balcony behind.
"Where you going?"
she said.
"Thought maybe the park"
I replied.
She turned her head
out of sight and bellowed
"ENID" with all her might.
I looked back at the balcony
and the Square beyond.
Kids were playing
on the pram sheds
or playing skip rope
or riding bikes
up and down the slope.
Enid came to the door
and stood beside her mother.
"What did you want me for?"
Enid asked.
Her mother eyed me.
"This boy wants
to take you to the park."
I smiled at Enid
and she smiled back.
" Can I go?"
she said.
"The park
and no where else"
her mother moaned
"no bomb sites or
that kind of lark."
She let her out
and off we went
down the stairs
and through the Square
and across the road
to the park
to ride on the swings
and slide and roundabout.
She said her father
had been in a mood
and rowed with her mother
before breakfast
and after
but all we heard then
was calling voices
and children's laughter.
Apr 22, 2018
Apr 22, 2018 at 10:56 AM UTC
Her father passed me
on the stairs of the flats.
He didn't speak
but gave a nod
of his head.
I watched him
descend the concrete stairs
hands in his pockets
cigarette on his lower lip
hat pushed to the back
of his tilted head.
I wondered if Enid
was allowed out
so climbed the stairs
up to the top floor
and knocked
at her door.
Her mother answered
and stood and poked her head
out through the gap
between door and jamb.
"What you want?"
she said eyeing me
with her frightened eyes.
"Is Enid allowed out?"
I asked.
She looked past me
at the balcony behind.
"Where you going?"
she said.
"Thought maybe the park"
I replied.
She turned her head
out of sight and bellowed
"ENID" with all her might.
I looked back at the balcony
and the Square beyond.
Kids were playing
on the pram sheds
or playing skip rope
or riding bikes
up and down the slope.
Enid came to the door
and stood beside her mother.
"What did you want me for?"
Enid asked.
Her mother eyed me.
"This boy wants
to take you to the park."
I smiled at Enid
and she smiled back.
" Can I go?"
she said.
"The park
and no where else"
her mother moaned
"no bomb sites or
that kind of lark."
She let her out
and off we went
down the stairs
and through the Square
and across the road
to the park
to ride on the swings
and slide and roundabout.
She said her father
had been in a mood
and rowed with her mother
before breakfast
and after
but all we heard then
was calling voices
and children's laughter.
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