Behind Sister Bridget's
black habited back
one legged Anne
gave her a one fingered
up you sign
the nun unaware
walked on down
the lush green lawn
the girl with burn scars
on her arm and leg
mouthed
I'm going to tell
but her wide eyed stare
betrayed
she never would
just a maybe
-if-I-had-the-nerve
gesture
hey Skinny kid
Anne said
in lowered voice
hand to the side
of her mouth
as she'd seen spies do
in war films
or on TV
how about we sneak
into town?
the Kid impassively
shrugged
his narrow shoulders
buy you some sweet
if you'll come?
that decided it
and he nodded
and as the nun
walked down the lawn
chatting to the other kids
who were convalescing
from sicknesses
or burns or accidents
Anne and the Kid
sneaked off back
towards the big house
now a nursing home
for children
she on her crutches
he following behind
looking back
towards the lawn
and once inside
they ventured out
the side door
along the path
by the hedge
and down the side road
that led into town
pass traffic
she crutched along
the Kid bringing up
the rear
her one leg treading
the paving
the stump swinging
silently
beneath her skirt
and the Kid
catching her up
walked beside her
and she said
got to get out
of that **** place
with all those
other kids
and those holy nuns
with their tall tales
and frustrated dreams
the Kid said nothing
he was thinking
of the night
she wanted him
to scrub her back
in the bath
or that other time
when he helped her
from her wheelchair
and accidentally
touched her tight ****
by mistake
and the WHAT THE ****
of her words
and the secret feel
had him wandering
outside
his safety zone
like a child at night
finding themselves
in the dark
all alone.
Oct 28, 2013
Oct 28, 2013 at 3:27 PM UTC
Behind Sister Bridget's
black habited back
one legged Anne
gave her a one fingered
up you sign
the nun unaware
walked on down
the lush green lawn
the girl with burn scars
on her arm and leg
mouthed
I'm going to tell
but her wide eyed stare
betrayed
she never would
just a maybe
-if-I-had-the-nerve
gesture
hey Skinny kid
Anne said
in lowered voice
hand to the side
of her mouth
as she'd seen spies do
in war films
or on TV
how about we sneak
into town?
the Kid impassively
shrugged
his narrow shoulders
buy you some sweet
if you'll come?
that decided it
and he nodded
and as the nun
walked down the lawn
chatting to the other kids
who were convalescing
from sicknesses
or burns or accidents
Anne and the Kid
sneaked off back
towards the big house
now a nursing home
for children
she on her crutches
he following behind
looking back
towards the lawn
and once inside
they ventured out
the side door
along the path
by the hedge
and down the side road
that led into town
pass traffic
she crutched along
the Kid bringing up
the rear
her one leg treading
the paving
the stump swinging
silently
beneath her skirt
and the Kid
catching her up
walked beside her
and she said
got to get out
of that **** place
with all those
other kids
and those holy nuns
with their tall tales
and frustrated dreams
the Kid said nothing
he was thinking
of the night
she wanted him
to scrub her back
in the bath
or that other time
when he helped her
from her wheelchair
and accidentally
touched her tight ****
by mistake
and the WHAT THE ****
of her words
and the secret feel
had him wandering
outside
his safety zone
like a child at night
finding themselves
in the dark
all alone.
A one legged girl and her 11 year old friend in 1958 in a nursing home.
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