O'Brien said
the whole girl thing
was a falsity
why waste your time
on them?
he'd told Baruch
yes why?
Sutcliffe said
in an echo
as they walked home
from school
along
the New Kent Road
holding a cigarette
to one side
a thin line
of smoke
coming
from his mouth
as she spoke
Baruch said nothing
about Fay
he just listened
thinking of her
as they walked along
his hands
in his pockets
his scuffed shoes
treading the pavement
his eyes looking
at Sutcliffe
at his blonde hair
and bright blue eyes
and O'Brien
with his shock
of brown hair
and his crafty eyes
I've yet to meet a girl
worth losing sleep over
he said
not a wink of sleep
Sutcliffe added
Baruch had seen Fay
the day before
on the way home
by the church
on the corner
of Meadow Row
she in her catholic
school uniform
clutching her satchel
her bright eyes on him
her fair hair
brightened
by the afternoon sun
how they had walked together
up the Row
she talking of the nuns
at the school
about the whole Latin thing
about the long list
of saints she had
to remember
he took in
her anxiety
her paleness of skin
he told her
of the pottery teacher
who ridiculed his pots
and how he did it
in front of the class
holding up the ***
and running it down
not that I care a toss
Benedict said
least not
about the ***
and they crossed
Rockingham Street
and up the slope
and there they waited
gazing at each other
the silence
like thin silk
he wanted to kiss her
but not doing so
she wondered
if she could get
nearer to him
maybe much closer
but feared her father
might hear of it
and he didn't like Baruch
didn't like the Jew boy
keep yourself free
of them
O'Brien said
girls cling to you
like leeches
and ****
the being
out of you
with their petty wants
yes wants and wants
Sutcliffe echoed
Baruch paused
by the hairdresser shop
by the crossing
opposite Meadow Row
best get home
Baruch said
yes me too
said Sutcliffe
hope my cousin's gone home
she's been with us
for weeks now
and always
in the bathroom
and wandering the house
in her almost
see through night dress
sure sure
O'Brien said
bet you hate that
and he laughed
and Sutcliffe walked off
home the cigarette
behind his back
held
in his inky fingers
see you around
O'Brien said
and wandered on
up the road
and Baruch
saw him off
and crossed the road
and walked down
Meadow Row
thinking of Fay
and that moment
he almost kiss her
how they stood
gazing at each other
he gazing
at her fine beauty
her figure
and she fearing
her father
would know
and the nuns
at the school
always writing to him
about her
and what she does
and does not
and she seeing
Baruch there
feeling her heart beat
and sensed feeling hot.