Yiska's brother
said she wanted to see me
and so I met her
by the science lab

after midday recess
along by the side
of the playing field
she stood there

arms folded
uneasy
looking down
at the grass

your brother said
you wanted to see me
what's the problem?
one of the girls in class

said that you can get pregnant
if you kiss some one
too passionately
and we did

the other day
and now I’m scared
in case I’m pregnant
she said

in a rush of words
I looked back
at the playing field
Rolland was starting

the ball game
with other boys
some girls
were playing tag in the field

why did the girl say that?
I said
she saw us kissing
the other day

and said
I’d get pregnant
expert is she?
I said

Yiska looked at me deeply
I don't know
I didn't ask
she said

how far have you got
in biology?
I said
what do you mean?

how far have you gone
in human reproduction?
I said
haven't got that far

still doing about frogs
and tadpoles
she said
I sighed

and took her hand  
and we walked
behind the science lab
out of sight of eyes

you have to do more
than kiss to get pregnant
I said
she looked at me unsure

what do you have to do?
she said
nothing we've done
I said

I took in
her bright eyes
her lips just parted
showing her white teeth

the tip of tongue
but what then?
she said
ask your parents

I said
O sure
Yiska said
Mum

how does a girl
get herself pregnant?
is it kissing
or is there something else?

I'm sure she’ll tell me
if she doesn't whack me
in one of her dark moods
Yiska had her hair brushed

just so
neat
and her hand was warm
in mine

you tell me
if you know
she said
I walked her along more

by the science lab
bushes were up
on the bank
behind us

birds sang
I whispered to her
what I knew
she stood back

and gazed at me
are you sure
that's right?
she said

sure it is
I read about it
in this book
she blushed

and took
my hand again
and kissed me
can I read that book?

she said
sure I’ll bring it in
I said
she looked at me

her features bright
and becoming red.