And the ice cream van drew off
and you held on
to the side

by your finger tips
until the van picked up
a mild speed

when you jumped off
and tried to remain
on your feet

without falling
and only by sheer luck
or balance

did you manage it
and the other kids
clapped hands

and cheered
but Ingrid said
thought you'd hurt yourself

don't your mother
care about you doing that?
she doesn't know

you said
you don't tell her
what you do?

she said
of course not
you replied

she has enough
to worry about
without me

giving her more worry
Ingrid frowned
but why do it?

holding on to the van
I mean?
because it's there

a challenge
like climbing Mount Everest
I guess

you said
she played
with her fingers nervously

as if knitting
an invisible sock
I worry about you

she said
I guess that's what girls do
you replied

walking through the Square
she by your side
her food stained dress

having yellow flowers
her grey socks
her hair pinned

by steel grips
not all girls
she said

least not about you
you smiled
I hope not

you said
girls **** you dry
always on

about soft things
or about dolls
or babies

or such matters
I don't
she said

I think of you
and you being safe
I'm safe

you said
you patted
your six shooter toy gun

wedged in your holster
and you're safe too
you added

wish I was
she said softly
well apart

from your old man
you said
but apart

from filling him
full of cap smoke
or hitting him

on the bonce
with my six shooter ****
isn't much

I can do about him
you said
she looked at you

smiling weakly
maybe one day
we could run off together

she said
and live in one
of those houses

in the Wild West
you nodded
yes good idea

and I can ride
a real horse
and keep cattle

she nodded
and I can keep house
and have babies

sure
you said
and if your old man

comes worrying you
I can plugged him
full of lead.