Elaine got off
the school bus
following her younger sister
not sure if John
was on the bus
or not
she didn't look
although she had been
tempted many times
to look about her
but she just stared
out the window
at the passing view
listening to others
talking and laughing
wondering if John
was there
and if he had been
looking at her
she walked on
by the school fence
her sister went off
with a friend
into the girls' playground
she looked
at her shoes
scuffed
black
her white
ankle socks
looking
now and then
at the passing feet
of others
not looking
but staring
waiting
for the school bell
to ring
can we still talk?
a voice asked
she looked up
John was standing there
with that quiff of hair
that hazel eyed stare
she blushed
and looked at him
talk about what?
she asked moodily
looking at his
loosely tied tie
anything
as long
as we can talk
he said
she didn't feel
like talking
or listening
but she did
she was in
such a depressed mood
that she thought that
any moment she
was going to cry
and she didn't want
him or others
to see her cry
she looked behind him
at passing girls
their hair
all arranged neatly
you're not going
to kiss me again
are you?
she said
he looked at her
then at her hair
not if you don't
want me to
he said
although at that moment
he wanted to
because he wanted
to make the oddness
of the day before right
to get them back
to some kind
of friendship again
she wasn't sure
if she felt relieved or not
part of her
wanted him
to kiss her
to show others
that someone
did find her attractive
and that she wasn't
just a 14 year old
frump as others
called her
we can't talk now
she said
the bell will soon go
maybe lunch time
at recess?
he nodded
sure
he said
I’ll look out for you
O by the way
I saw a Jay yesterday
she looked at him
there was a small smile
on his lips
Jay?
she said
it's a bird
he said
don't see them often
but it was in
our garden briefly
O
she said
not knowing
what else to say
about a bird
I’ll show you
a picture
in my bird book
at recess
if you like
he said
she nodded
and a smile spread
on her lips
the book of birds
he kept in that
coat pocket of his
she thought
the school bell rang
and he said
see you later
and touched her hand
and was gone
she she sensed
his touch still there
warming moving along
her nerves
like a fire
opening up
a small unknown
deep down desire.
Apr 23, 2014
Apr 23, 2014 at 2:16 AM UTC
Elaine got off
the school bus
following her younger sister
not sure if John
was on the bus
or not
she didn't look
although she had been
tempted many times
to look about her
but she just stared
out the window
at the passing view
listening to others
talking and laughing
wondering if John
was there
and if he had been
looking at her
she walked on
by the school fence
her sister went off
with a friend
into the girls' playground
she looked
at her shoes
scuffed
black
her white
ankle socks
looking
now and then
at the passing feet
of others
not looking
but staring
waiting
for the school bell
to ring
can we still talk?
a voice asked
she looked up
John was standing there
with that quiff of hair
that hazel eyed stare
she blushed
and looked at him
talk about what?
she asked moodily
looking at his
loosely tied tie
anything
as long
as we can talk
he said
she didn't feel
like talking
or listening
but she did
she was in
such a depressed mood
that she thought that
any moment she
was going to cry
and she didn't want
him or others
to see her cry
she looked behind him
at passing girls
their hair
all arranged neatly
you're not going
to kiss me again
are you?
she said
he looked at her
then at her hair
not if you don't
want me to
he said
although at that moment
he wanted to
because he wanted
to make the oddness
of the day before right
to get them back
to some kind
of friendship again
she wasn't sure
if she felt relieved or not
part of her
wanted him
to kiss her
to show others
that someone
did find her attractive
and that she wasn't
just a 14 year old
frump as others
called her
we can't talk now
she said
the bell will soon go
maybe lunch time
at recess?
he nodded
sure
he said
I’ll look out for you
O by the way
I saw a Jay yesterday
she looked at him
there was a small smile
on his lips
Jay?
she said
it's a bird
he said
don't see them often
but it was in
our garden briefly
O
she said
not knowing
what else to say
about a bird
I’ll show you
a picture
in my bird book
at recess
if you like
he said
she nodded
and a smile spread
on her lips
the book of birds
he kept in that
coat pocket of his
she thought
the school bell rang
and he said
see you later
and touched her hand
and was gone
she she sensed
his touch still there
warming moving along
her nerves
like a fire
opening up
a small unknown
deep down desire.
SCHOOL GIRL ELAINE AND HER NEW HOPE WITH SCHOOL BOY JOHN IN 1962.
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