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Teatime done with I went with Helen across the bomb site off Meadow Row and crossed the New Kent Road to the ABC cinema and along side the dark alleys dim lights damp stink she just behind me clutching her doll Battered Betty by one arm was that a rat? she half said and screamed could be I said you see them at night down here she clutched my arm with her free hand Battered Betty swaying behind her what we looking for? she asked cigarette ends I said why? What do you want them for? she asked make up a smoke with Rizla *** papers I said you smoke old tobacco? she said put it in your mouth? If I get enough tobacco sure I said looking around the ground yuk she said sometimes I find dropped coins I found a cuff link once silver it was but one ain't much good unless you're a one armed man I said does your mum know you smoke? God no I said she has enough to worry about without me adding to it she frowned clutched my arm tighter well you shouldn't smoke she said you're only 9 like me and I would never smoke and our children when we have them won't smoke either she said she looked at Battered Betty steely I pushed her words and images out of my mind for the moment I saw a semi-smoked Senior Service on the ground by the wall and stooped to pick it up it's got lipstick on it Helen said distastefully it's has a woman's spittle inside I looked at her disapproving gaze and threw it away yes you're right I said men's spittle's best she frowned darkly ok I said not really I just jest another time maybe I thought taking her deeper into the dark and rats and damp stink of drains remembering it all it sinking into my 9 year brain.
0
Mar 18, 2014
Mar 18, 2014 at 6:41 AM UTC
HELEN AND BUTT-ENDS.
Teatime done with I went with Helen across the bomb site off Meadow Row and crossed the New Kent Road to the ABC cinema and along side the dark alleys dim lights damp stink she just behind me clutching her doll Battered Betty by one arm was that a rat? she half said and screamed could be I said you see them at night down here she clutched my arm with her free hand Battered Betty swaying behind her what we looking for? she asked cigarette ends I said why? What do you want them for? she asked make up a smoke with Rizla *** papers I said you smoke old tobacco? she said put it in your mouth? If I get enough tobacco sure I said looking around the ground yuk she said sometimes I find dropped coins I found a cuff link once silver it was but one ain't much good unless you're a one armed man I said does your mum know you smoke? God no I said she has enough to worry about without me adding to it she frowned clutched my arm tighter well you shouldn't smoke she said you're only 9 like me and I would never smoke and our children when we have them won't smoke either she said she looked at Battered Betty steely I pushed her words and images out of my mind for the moment I saw a semi-smoked Senior Service on the ground by the wall and stooped to pick it up it's got lipstick on it Helen said distastefully it's has a woman's spittle inside I looked at her disapproving gaze and threw it away yes you're right I said men's spittle's best she frowned darkly ok I said not really I just jest another time maybe I thought taking her deeper into the dark and rats and damp stink of drains remembering it all it sinking into my 9 year brain.
BOY AND GIRL IN LONDON IN 1950S
terry-collett
Written by
terry-collett
English
Mar 18, 2014
Mar 18, 2014 at 6:41 AM UTC
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