O guess what I've heard Anne said that fat nun the one with moustache well she's leaving
I looked at Anne her one leg swinging as she talked the stump of the other leg hidden by her red skirt where's she going?
God knows and he's not said maybe she's going to be a missionary or join the Tiller Girls and dance for a living
I smiled the other kids were on the lawn on the slide or swing some were on the grass playing or sitting talking Sister Bridget was talking to the tiny Sad girl
Anne gazed at them get me out of here Kid the sight of them makes me want to throw up
where to? I asked
the beach yes along by the beach let me see the sea she said
I sat there looking at her wheelchair now?
yes now Kid I want out of here
I looked over at Sister Bridget the nun what if she sees me pushing you out the back gate?
let her see what she wants I want to see the fecking sea she put on her Don't Argue With Me face
Ok I said and got up from the chair and began pushing the wheelchair on to the path leading away from the nursing home to the back gate
she wasn't heavy but I was not over big and thin as a *** paper
where are you going? the nun asked coming over to where we were
the Kid here is taking me for a short jaunt
where to?
just the end of the garden through the avenue of trees I said see the birds and flowers
the nun looked at Anne is that right? she asked
would he lie? Anne said
the nun looked at me her dark eyes peering through me I tried to look innocent
well don't be long lunch will be at 1pm then it's afternoon sleep
Anne said nothing put on her lost little girl features
ok Sister
the nun walked off I pushed on
keep an eye on the penguin don't think she bought the tale
I pushed her along the path between the trees
is she looking?
no I said she's gone in
good let's get a move on to the sea Kid to the sea
so I pushed her on through the gate hoping we wouldn't be long and not be late.
A BOY AND GIRL IN A NURSING HOME IN THE LATE 1950S