Janice and I
had taken a bus
to London Bridge
(pennies supplied

by my old man)
I showed her
the hospital of St Guys
and on until

we were over the Bridge
and we stood looking over
into the Thames
looks murky

she said
it is
I replied
are there fish

in there?
don't know
wouldn't want
to eat them

if there are
I said
she pulled a face
then straightened

her red beret
with her thin fingers
so that it sat just
at a slight tilt

her fair hair
flowing out
that look all right?
she asked

sure
it looks fine
I said
she wore a pink

flowered dress
and a white cardigan
and had a black
little girl's handbag

(her gran
had bought it
for her birthday
some months before)

where shall
we go now?
she asked
there's a café

my old man
takes me to sometimes
I said
we can go there

they do glasses
of cool lemonade
or cream soda
she smiled

and so I took her there
and we took seats
by the window
(the place was crowded

with adults)
and a waitress
brought us
two glasses

of cream soda
with straws
your father
brings you here?

she said
yes sometimes
when he takes me
to the West End

we go to other cafés
or restaurants
and go to
the fun machine arcade

and that's fun
putting coins
into these machines
some times

we go to the cinema
or just walk
about the sights
I said

Gran says evil people
live up the West End
that certain parts
are akin to Hell

Janice said
I don't about that
I said
we just go

to the safe parts
I guess
we sipped our sodas
she looking around her

at the adults
drinking and eating
and smoking
and laughter hit out

now and then
some guy pinched
a waitress's backside
and she slapped

his hand and laughed
Janice blushed
and looked away
another guy

with a black moustache
looked over at us
giving Janice the eye
smiling

an ear to ear grin
we finished
our sodas
and left the café

glad to be out
of there
happy
to be on our way.