Dennis sat by me
in the playground
we'd swapped cigarette
football cards
and he was seeing
what he had

how can you talk
to that Enid girl?
she stinks
and I’m sure
she has fleas
he said

Enid had stopped
and talked to me
a short time before
she's ok
I said
home life isn't good
what with her old man
and that mother of hers

she still smells though
he said

it's an acquired taste
I said

what's an acquired taste?
he asked

Enid is
once you get to know her
and be with her
she's kind of special
I said

he laughed
you can acquire it
if you want
he said
but to me
she isn't nothing special
just smelly
he sorted through
his cards again

I looked over
the playground
where Enid stood alone
by the far wall
watching girls
play skip rope

the evening before
after tea
I met her
by the entrance
to the flats
the sky getting dark
kids still played
out in the Square

had your tea?
I asked her

my dad said
I wasn't to have any
because I'd not
made my bed properly
Enid said

you haven't eaten?

she shook her head

but I'd seen her old man
go out earlier
to the pub
won't your mother
get you some
now your old man's out?
I asked

no she's frightened of him
Enid said
she thinks he may
come home
and see me eating
and then we'd both
get it

I can get you something
back at my place
I said
my mother'll
get you something

no best not
Enid said
she looked out
at the kids playing
over by the wall

come on with me
I said

where we going?
she asked

chip shop
to get you some chips
and a 7Up
I said

she looked at me
what if he sees me?

he's in the pub
getting plastered
I said
we'll go the other way
he won't see you

she hesitated
but what if he does?

then I’ll say
I dragged you there

she looked out
at the darkening sky
I’ve no money
she said

I have 1/6d
I said
that'll get it

she fiddled
with her fingers
it's getting dark
she said

I don't care if its so dark
you can't see
you're coming
to the chip shop
with me

I took her thin hand
and we walked
through the Square
and down the *****
and along
Rockingham Street

she had her own
kind of scent
an acquired taste
but not bad
but not sweet.