PLAYGROUND 1957

Enid removes her glasses wipes them on the hem of her skirt tries to clean off the smeariness she breathes on them they cloud up she wipes them again I watch her near the wall of the playground after lunch waiting for her are they better now? she asks me I look through them the view is magnified a million times one big blur to me yes that's better I say giving them back to her and watching as she puts them back on pushes the wire arms over her ears then pulls the hair over her ears again is it all right now? she asks me sure I can see your eyes clear as day she nods and looks at the playground and the other kids at play why do some boys call me four eyes? or ugly bucket? she asks some kids are just finks ignore them I tell her I can't help it if I have to wear glasses or am ugly she says intelligent people wear glasses and hey you're not ugly I think you are quite a pretty girl as they go she looks at me doubtfully and then at the kids and look Mrs M wears glasses and she's a teacher and bright Enid sighs and sits on the steps leading down into the playground even my dad thinks I'm ugly she says softly you're old man wouldn't know prettiness if it came up and introduced itself I say she smiles do you think I'm ugly? I frown and peer at her look I'm no expert being a 9 year old kid like you but you can be my Maid Marion to my Robin Hood any day could I? she says sure you could she smiles wider and says thank you Benny and walks down into the playground and goes play skip rope with a couple of girls by a wall and I walk down into the playground feeling six feet tall.

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Written by

terry-collett

English

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