I see Milka outside the farmhouse
feeding chickens
she's still in her dressing gown
as I ride up the drive
she stops and waves to me
I park my bike against the fence
and walk towards her
Mum's out
Milka says
Dad's on the farm
the brothers are out
on a shoot for dosh
I look at her standing there
forget to dress?
I say
or is nightwear
the new fashion?
I got up late
and Dad asked me
to feed the hens
and I thought I’d best do it
before I forgot again
she says
the hens peck around her
making hens sounds
want a drink of coffee?
she says
sure
I say
so she throws the last
of the chicken feed at them
and we go inside the farmhouse
and she puts the kettle
on the hob and gets two
mugs down from a cupboard
and spoons coffee
into each one
what if your mum comes in now
and sees you in your nightwear
and me here too?
I say
so what?
she says
just saying that's all
I say
she sighs and looks
out the window
I’m on
she says
on what?
I say
she stares at me
you know the scourge
the big bleed
or auntie's here
or whatever
she says moodily
o right
I say
falling into what she means
shame that is
I say
sitting in a chair
by the kitchen table
the whistle on the kettle sounds
and she pours water
into the two mugs
milk? sugar?
she says
in a moody voice
milk and one sugar
I say
she plonks sugar
into my mug
and tips milk
from a white jug
into both mugs
and puts my mug
on the table
and her own mug
on the table
and sits facing me
where we going?
she says
no where dressed
as you are
I say
when I'm dressed?
she says
we could go to the flicks
and see that Elvis film
I say
she pulls a face
boring sitting at the back
necking and kissing
with others
she says
what then?
I say
she sips her coffee
and looks at me
could go to the seaside
she says
get a bus
I sip my coffee
and stare at her
ok if you want
I say
but I’ve no money
she says
and Mum'll not lend me any
as I owe her money already
so what then?
I say
I don't know
she says
looking at her mug
and holding it
with both hands
you could come to my place
and play records
and lay on my bed
and listen to the music
I say
what about your parents
won't they mind me
being there and in your room?
she says
nothing is going
to happen is it
so why worry?
I say
she sighs and sips her drink
I guess so
she says
and after she's finished her drink
she goes off to dress.
Jan 4, 2016
Jan 4, 2016 at 2:57 PM UTC
I see Milka outside the farmhouse
feeding chickens
she's still in her dressing gown
as I ride up the drive
she stops and waves to me
I park my bike against the fence
and walk towards her
Mum's out
Milka says
Dad's on the farm
the brothers are out
on a shoot for dosh
I look at her standing there
forget to dress?
I say
or is nightwear
the new fashion?
I got up late
and Dad asked me
to feed the hens
and I thought I’d best do it
before I forgot again
she says
the hens peck around her
making hens sounds
want a drink of coffee?
she says
sure
I say
so she throws the last
of the chicken feed at them
and we go inside the farmhouse
and she puts the kettle
on the hob and gets two
mugs down from a cupboard
and spoons coffee
into each one
what if your mum comes in now
and sees you in your nightwear
and me here too?
I say
so what?
she says
just saying that's all
I say
she sighs and looks
out the window
I’m on
she says
on what?
I say
she stares at me
you know the scourge
the big bleed
or auntie's here
or whatever
she says moodily
o right
I say
falling into what she means
shame that is
I say
sitting in a chair
by the kitchen table
the whistle on the kettle sounds
and she pours water
into the two mugs
milk? sugar?
she says
in a moody voice
milk and one sugar
I say
she plonks sugar
into my mug
and tips milk
from a white jug
into both mugs
and puts my mug
on the table
and her own mug
on the table
and sits facing me
where we going?
she says
no where dressed
as you are
I say
when I'm dressed?
she says
we could go to the flicks
and see that Elvis film
I say
she pulls a face
boring sitting at the back
necking and kissing
with others
she says
what then?
I say
she sips her coffee
and looks at me
could go to the seaside
she says
get a bus
I sip my coffee
and stare at her
ok if you want
I say
but I’ve no money
she says
and Mum'll not lend me any
as I owe her money already
so what then?
I say
I don't know
she says
looking at her mug
and holding it
with both hands
you could come to my place
and play records
and lay on my bed
and listen to the music
I say
what about your parents
won't they mind me
being there and in your room?
she says
nothing is going
to happen is it
so why worry?
I say
she sighs and sips her drink
I guess so
she says
and after she's finished her drink
she goes off to dress.
