I was sitting
on the concrete stairs
of the flats where I lived
in Banks House
when Enid's old man
walked up
I was *********
cigarette cards
of racing drivers
he paused at the lower step
and said
where's Enid?
she was in her flat
a while ago
I said
I asked her
if she wanted to go out
but she said
she had to wait
to ask you
so I thought I'd wait
until you came home
he looked at me
his eyes tired
where are you going?
he said
East Street market
I said
I want to buy a fish tank
for fish I won
at the funfair
the other night
he looked at me
why'd you need her
to go with you?
he said moodily
give her a bus ride
and see the market traders
plying their trade
I said
I'll see how
she's behaved first
he said
if she's misbehaved
I'll slap her backside
and no mistake
and she'll not go
I studied him
wondering if he
was back to his old ways
the Mr Nice Guy
mask slipping
ok
I said
I'll wait here
he walked past me
saying no other words
his footsteps heavy
on the concrete stairs
I wondered if she'd
be out and about
or if her old man
would find some excuse
to slap her one
and be as it was before
him being a pain
in the ****
maybe less
maybe more
Enid never showed
so I went off
to the market
to buy a fish tank
from a stall on my own
hearing in my inner ear
Enid's sad moan.
Jul 25, 2016
Jul 25, 2016 at 1:50 AM UTC
I was sitting
on the concrete stairs
of the flats where I lived
in Banks House
when Enid's old man
walked up
I was *********
cigarette cards
of racing drivers
he paused at the lower step
and said
where's Enid?
she was in her flat
a while ago
I said
I asked her
if she wanted to go out
but she said
she had to wait
to ask you
so I thought I'd wait
until you came home
he looked at me
his eyes tired
where are you going?
he said
East Street market
I said
I want to buy a fish tank
for fish I won
at the funfair
the other night
he looked at me
why'd you need her
to go with you?
he said moodily
give her a bus ride
and see the market traders
plying their trade
I said
I'll see how
she's behaved first
he said
if she's misbehaved
I'll slap her backside
and no mistake
and she'll not go
I studied him
wondering if he
was back to his old ways
the Mr Nice Guy
mask slipping
ok
I said
I'll wait here
he walked past me
saying no other words
his footsteps heavy
on the concrete stairs
I wondered if she'd
be out and about
or if her old man
would find some excuse
to slap her one
and be as it was before
him being a pain
in the ****
maybe less
maybe more
Enid never showed
so I went off
to the market
to buy a fish tank
from a stall on my own
hearing in my inner ear
Enid's sad moan.
