Benny met Ingrid
by the steps
down to the playground
of the lower school
she had hesitated
and looked back at him
so crowded
she said
and noisy
wait over
by the flower bed
and keep in
the quiet place
so they walked back
over by the flower bed
we can be blood friends
he said
blood friends?
she said frowning
yes a friend of mine
Jim said it was
what Injuns used
to do in the Wild West
Benny said
she looked at him intently
do what?
she asked
well we make
a small cut on our thumbs
then join them together
and exchange blood
he said
she looked horrified
cut our thumbs?
she said
her eyes large
behind her thick
lens glasses
just a small cut
he said
and exchange blood?
she said
yes
he said
taking hold
of her thumb
in his fingers
press our thumbs together
and the blood
from us both mix
and we'd be blood
brother and sister
she looked at her thumb
what if it keeps bleeding?
she said
it won't
he said
we press until it stops
she didn't look convinced
not here
she said
no no
he said
we need a knife
and I haven't one here
but I have a penknife
at home we can use
she looked at him
through her thick lens
what do I tell my dad
if he asked how
I cut my thumb?
Benny looked
at her thumb
between his fingers
we'll think of something
he said
when would you do it?
she asked
he released her thumb
after school?
he said
where abouts?
she said
my flat
my mum'll not say
anything if you come in
he said
she looked uncertain
but my dad
what if he won't
let me out?
she said
see how it goes
he said
if you your old man
don't let you out
then we can do it
another time
she looked at him
then at her thumb
will it hurt?
no no
Benny said
me and Jim did it
we're blood-brothers now
she looked down
in the playground
at the kids at play
maybe
she said
maybe another day
ok
Benny said
and both walked on
and away.
Nov 7, 2015
Nov 7, 2015 at 2:42 PM UTC
Benny met Ingrid
by the steps
down to the playground
of the lower school
she had hesitated
and looked back at him
so crowded
she said
and noisy
wait over
by the flower bed
and keep in
the quiet place
so they walked back
over by the flower bed
we can be blood friends
he said
blood friends?
she said frowning
yes a friend of mine
Jim said it was
what Injuns used
to do in the Wild West
Benny said
she looked at him intently
do what?
she asked
well we make
a small cut on our thumbs
then join them together
and exchange blood
he said
she looked horrified
cut our thumbs?
she said
her eyes large
behind her thick
lens glasses
just a small cut
he said
and exchange blood?
she said
yes
he said
taking hold
of her thumb
in his fingers
press our thumbs together
and the blood
from us both mix
and we'd be blood
brother and sister
she looked at her thumb
what if it keeps bleeding?
she said
it won't
he said
we press until it stops
she didn't look convinced
not here
she said
no no
he said
we need a knife
and I haven't one here
but I have a penknife
at home we can use
she looked at him
through her thick lens
what do I tell my dad
if he asked how
I cut my thumb?
Benny looked
at her thumb
between his fingers
we'll think of something
he said
when would you do it?
she asked
he released her thumb
after school?
he said
where abouts?
she said
my flat
my mum'll not say
anything if you come in
he said
she looked uncertain
but my dad
what if he won't
let me out?
she said
see how it goes
he said
if you your old man
don't let you out
then we can do it
another time
she looked at him
then at her thumb
will it hurt?
no no
Benny said
me and Jim did it
we're blood-brothers now
she looked down
in the playground
at the kids at play
maybe
she said
maybe another day
ok
Benny said
and both walked on
and away.
A BOY AND GIRL IN LONDON IN 1958 AND BLOOD MIX.
