Once school was done
and after your tea
of beans on toast
you went with Janice

to the narrow passages
behind the ABC cinema
evening creeping in
she next to you

getting the jitters
street lights
here and there
casting shadows

making pretend giants
and you'd pick up
dog-ends
from the ground

and put them
in your pocket
what do you want
them for?

she asked
make myself
a cigarette later
you said

cigarette?
she said disapprovingly
you mustn't
that's horrible

and those
left over cigarette butts
have got
people's spit in them

but they make
good cigarettes
you said
her face grimaced

you took in
her red beret
to the side
of her fair hair

her blue eyes
on fire
if I did that
Gran'd spank me

well and truly
Janice said
trick is
not to be caught

you said
a rat ran by
and she screamed
a rat ran by

my foot
she stepped back
and grabbed your arm
yes you get them here

at this time
of an evening
you said
I shouldn't be here

she said quietly
Gran thinks
I'm in the park
well as far she knows

you still are
you said
but that's lying
she said

no it is being
careful with the truth
you said
you walked along

the passageway
and came out
on to the New Kent Road
and at the front

of the cinema
with its big billboards
and little photos
of the film being shown

and what was
to be shown
you peered
at the photographs

Janice beside you
how about
I bring you here
on Saturday?

you said
she peered
at the photographs
then at you

it's a cowboy film
she said
yes and its got
good gunfights in it

and I can practice
how they do it
she frowned
not sure

if Gran'd let me
she said
say you're with me
and she will

you said
she didn't look
convinced
bit her lip

treat you
to an ice cream too
you said
how much will it cost?

she asked
1/-3d
you said
but don't worry

my old man will pay
he usually does
she bit her lip
a little more

have to ask Gran
she said
ok
you said

then you walked
along the road
past some shops
then stopped

at the fish and chips shop
smell that
you said and sniffed
she sniffed

isn't that good
you said
she sniffed again
smells of vinegar

she said
and fish and chips
you said
she looked at you

her blue eyes
lit up
by the light
from the shop

want some chips?
you asked
I've no money
she said

I've got 6d
that'll get us
a bag to share
she nodded

so you both
went into the shop
and the warmth
and the smell

and the noise
from some radio
blasting out
a Bill Haley song

and ordered a 6d
bag of chips
and added
salt and vinegar

and walked out
and across the road
and down Meadow Row
the moonlight bright

lighting up
the beginning of night.