I wait until
Enid's old man
has left the flats
feeling a bit brave
I walk up stairs
to their flat
and knock at the door
her mother answers
and she has a black eye
and says
what you want?
I need to see Enid
what for?
it's Saturday
I want to go with her
to the flicks
flicks?
she says frowning
yes cinema
see the morning matinee
she looks past me
as if she's seen
an angel behind me
is her father around still?
she asks me
no I saw him go
just now
make sure he's not
doubling back
he does sometimes
just to be a cuss
she says
so I look over
the balcony
look into the Square
well?
she murmurs
no he's gone
he looked in a hurry
when I saw him
I say
Enid!
her mother says
in a harsh call
she turns
and gazes at me
her eyes dull
the black eye closing
what's he do
for a side show
I say
what?
she says
your old man
what's he do
for a side show
apart from hitting
you and Enid?
ENID
she bellows
I look back at her
as cool as
a young boy can
brushing my
brown quiff of hair
and glazing over
my hazel eyes
Enid creeps out
and stares out
from beneath
her mother's arm
what is it?
Enid asks
looking at me
then up at her mother
the boy wants
to take you
to the cinema
her mother says
I can pay
I say
Enid says
can I go?
her mother sighs
don't tell your father
you've been
you know
what he's like
she says
do I have to lie
if he asks me
where I've been today?
her mother bites
her lip
slightly swollen
sure you do
I say
lie your head off
tell the schmuck anything
but the truth
I tell her
the truth
he isn't worthy of it
her mother
opens her mouth
to speak but it
remains as
a mouthed O
her mother looks
past me again
you sure he isn't
coming back?
she asks
I look over
the balcony again
no he's not
coming back
I say
ok ok
she says
and she says Enid
can go
so I wait
a few minutes outside
while Enid gets ready
and her mother
stares at me
then the sky
as she brushes her lip
and rubs her eye
closing up
like a dark plum
then Enid comes out
dressed in a blue dress
and her hair brushed
and we walk off
down the stairs
of the flats
she's silent
but excited
and I look down
the stairs ahead
hoping her old man
isn't coming back
as he does sometimes
to catch them out
and commit more crimes.
Apr 25, 2015
Apr 25, 2015 at 1:45 AM UTC
I wait until
Enid's old man
has left the flats
feeling a bit brave
I walk up stairs
to their flat
and knock at the door
her mother answers
and she has a black eye
and says
what you want?
I need to see Enid
what for?
it's Saturday
I want to go with her
to the flicks
flicks?
she says frowning
yes cinema
see the morning matinee
she looks past me
as if she's seen
an angel behind me
is her father around still?
she asks me
no I saw him go
just now
make sure he's not
doubling back
he does sometimes
just to be a cuss
she says
so I look over
the balcony
look into the Square
well?
she murmurs
no he's gone
he looked in a hurry
when I saw him
I say
Enid!
her mother says
in a harsh call
she turns
and gazes at me
her eyes dull
the black eye closing
what's he do
for a side show
I say
what?
she says
your old man
what's he do
for a side show
apart from hitting
you and Enid?
ENID
she bellows
I look back at her
as cool as
a young boy can
brushing my
brown quiff of hair
and glazing over
my hazel eyes
Enid creeps out
and stares out
from beneath
her mother's arm
what is it?
Enid asks
looking at me
then up at her mother
the boy wants
to take you
to the cinema
her mother says
I can pay
I say
Enid says
can I go?
her mother sighs
don't tell your father
you've been
you know
what he's like
she says
do I have to lie
if he asks me
where I've been today?
her mother bites
her lip
slightly swollen
sure you do
I say
lie your head off
tell the schmuck anything
but the truth
I tell her
the truth
he isn't worthy of it
her mother
opens her mouth
to speak but it
remains as
a mouthed O
her mother looks
past me again
you sure he isn't
coming back?
she asks
I look over
the balcony again
no he's not
coming back
I say
ok ok
she says
and she says Enid
can go
so I wait
a few minutes outside
while Enid gets ready
and her mother
stares at me
then the sky
as she brushes her lip
and rubs her eye
closing up
like a dark plum
then Enid comes out
dressed in a blue dress
and her hair brushed
and we walk off
down the stairs
of the flats
she's silent
but excited
and I look down
the stairs ahead
hoping her old man
isn't coming back
as he does sometimes
to catch them out
and commit more crimes.
A BOY AND GIRL AND A CINEMA DATE IN 1957 IN LONDON.
Request permission to use this poem