DARK EYED AND MOODY 1951.

I walked Auntie's dog Dancer across by the parade grounds while Auntie did the washing in the copper the dog kept near me as we walked looking back at me to make sure I hadn't got behind we saw Auntie's friend Milly with her 5 year old daughter Elsie Dancer stopped and wagged its tail and licked Milly's hand and Elsie glared at me hello Benny Milly said hello I said say hello to Benny Elsie Milly said Elsie stared at her mother then at me hello to Benny Elsie she said stiffly no you bad girl say it properly or I'll slap your backside Milly said hello Benny Elsie said grumpily hello Elsie I said politely as Auntie said I should what's your auntie doing? Milly said she's doing the washing I said o I see well do you want to come to our place and have a glass of milk and a biscuit? she said Dancer too? I said yes Dancer too she said Elsie pulled a face and we walked back to Milly's place the other side of the parade ground and we went up some black metal stairs and into her flat Milly went off to the kitchen with Dancer following to get him a bowl of water and us some milk and biscuits how are you? I said to Elsie she stared at me like I was a bad smell then said hope you don't stay long I want to play with my dolls and don't want you playing with them boys don't play with dolls I looked at her trying to see if there was a little bit of a smile but there wasn't just her small lips shut tight and her eyes looking at me just come for milk and biscuits I said Elsie put her hands behind her back and walked off and sat on a battered looking sofa Milly brought us milk and biscuits and said to me sit on the sofa next to Elsie and I'll go get my cup of tea off she went and I sat next to Elsie and she moved along a bit from me and sipped her milk and clutched her biscuits in case Dancer came and ate them (which he would) Milly came back and sat down in an old chair opposite near the fireplace with her cup of tea well aren't you two a pair just like brother and sister Milly said smiling don't want him as a brother Elsie said glumly that's not nice Elsie what's got into you Milly said Dancer came in and sat opposite me and wagged his tail and looked at me for a biscuit I broke off a bit and gave him some and he took it gently and it was gone in the blink of an eye then looked at Elsie his head to one side gazing at her she broke off a bit and gave it to me to give to Dancer and he took it gently and then walked off and sat down by the fireplace good dog Elsie said Milly talked about her and Auntie and about her husband in Germany and my uncle in Korea I sat a bit nearer to Elsie as Milly talked and Elsie looked at me dark eyed and moody.

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TerryCollett

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