Helen walked
from her home
to the bomb
site where the
boy Benny
had told her
after school
he would be
off Meadow
Row behind
the old green
grocer's shop
but when she
got there he
was no where
in sight so
she was scared
-after all
tramps often
slept or hid
in the bombed
out buildings-
where was he?
she muttered
what to do?
she looked out
over the
large bomb site
biting her
finger nails
thinking that
maybe a
***** would jump
out at her
then she saw
a figure
come out of
one of the
bombed ruins
she stared hard
panicking
thinking she'd
wet herself
when Benny
waved his hand
and called out
you came then?
-he sometimes
stated the
obvious-
I wondered
where you were
she muttered
he tapped his
6 shooter
silvery
looking toy
gun in his
black holster
on his belt
looking out
for bad guys
he replied
she was glad
it was him
not a *****
want some chips?
he asked her
we can share
I've got coins
sufficient
although she'd
just had tea
she nodded
so they walked
to Neptune's
fish and chip
shop and bought
6d worth
and stood out
side the shop
and shared them
watching life
rushing by
both of them
beneath an
evening sky.
A BOY AND GIRL IN LONDON IN 1956.