The boy John
had gone
he'd been there
for about an hour
sitting on the settee
then briefly
-with her mother's
permission-
out in the garden
where they looked
for birds and butterflies
Elaine had seen him off
from the front garden gate
-her mother peering
through net curtains-
and watched until
he disappeared
around a bend
did you know
he was coming?
her mother asked
no I had no idea
Elaine replied
looking at
the empty place
on the settee
where he'd sat
he does know
you're 14
I suppose?
he's in my class at school
he's 14 too
Elaine said
sensing the place
where he'd sat
beside her and the kiss
on the lips
so sudden so gentle
yet Mum had been
in the kitchen
what if she had seen?
he might have
asked first
her mother said
not just turn up
on the doorstep
I didn't know
Elaine said
then licked her lips
where his lips
had been
can I trust you?
her mother asked
trust me
to do what?
Elaine said
do nothing
her mother said
do nothing?
Elaine said
looking unsure
what her mother meant
do things with him
her mother said
do things?
Elaine repeated
what things?
her mother frowned
and said
nothing just nothing
Elaine nonplus
nodded her head
her mother smiled
now what
was I doing?
she said
o yes the washing
and went off
to the wash room
and left Elaine frowning
at her mother's
departing figure
do nothing?
Elaine muttered
to herself
and patted the space
where the boy John
had sat
then touched her lips
and that was that.
Jun 26, 2015
Jun 26, 2015 at 2:33 AM UTC
The boy John
had gone
he'd been there
for about an hour
sitting on the settee
then briefly
-with her mother's
permission-
out in the garden
where they looked
for birds and butterflies
Elaine had seen him off
from the front garden gate
-her mother peering
through net curtains-
and watched until
he disappeared
around a bend
did you know
he was coming?
her mother asked
no I had no idea
Elaine replied
looking at
the empty place
on the settee
where he'd sat
he does know
you're 14
I suppose?
he's in my class at school
he's 14 too
Elaine said
sensing the place
where he'd sat
beside her and the kiss
on the lips
so sudden so gentle
yet Mum had been
in the kitchen
what if she had seen?
he might have
asked first
her mother said
not just turn up
on the doorstep
I didn't know
Elaine said
then licked her lips
where his lips
had been
can I trust you?
her mother asked
trust me
to do what?
Elaine said
do nothing
her mother said
do nothing?
Elaine said
looking unsure
what her mother meant
do things with him
her mother said
do things?
Elaine repeated
what things?
her mother frowned
and said
nothing just nothing
Elaine nonplus
nodded her head
her mother smiled
now what
was I doing?
she said
o yes the washing
and went off
to the wash room
and left Elaine frowning
at her mother's
departing figure
do nothing?
Elaine muttered
to herself
and patted the space
where the boy John
had sat
then touched her lips
and that was that.
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