#1957
Why do you
run everywhere?
the Italian woman said
as I ran past her
up the stairs of the flats.
I didn't reply
just smiled
and went into
my parents' flat.
My cousin said
when I met her
by the railway bridge
my mother was home
from hospital
with my twin sisters.
My mother
was in the sitting room
feeding one of my sisters.
She said my other sister
was in a carry cot
in the bedroom.
There she was
my little sister
with dark hair
and eyes closed
sleeping.
I'm your big brother
I said
and touched her tiny hand
with little thin fingers.
Funny what memories remain
how that memory lingers.
Jun 3, 2025
Jun 3, 2025 at 3:57 AM UTC
You served
the Latin Mass
with the priest
Father Jones
who had a deep affection
for St Thomas a' Beckett
you prepared
all his items
before Mass began
and listened
as he muttered
the Latin prayers
as he dressed
in the various items
in the vestry
you heard
sometimes
when one
of the little boys
was there
say at the mea culpa
I'm a cowboy
I'm a cowboy
I'm a Mexican cowboy
but you glared at him
hoping Father Jones
never overheard
after Mass
you took the boy aside
and whispered
and said
It is mea culpa
mea culpa
mea maxima culpa
not cowboy
nor Mexican cowboy
he stood there
wide-eyed
What does it mean?
Through my fault
through my fault
through my most
grievous fault
he nodded
and said
So no cowboys?
No cowboys
you replied
nor Mexican cowboy
so he went off
disappointed
and you said nothing
to the priest
although be may
have heard
and smiled
being kind
and understanding
the child.
Oct 8, 2019
Oct 8, 2019 at 12:05 PM UTC
Her father passed me
on the stairs of the flats.
He didn't speak
but gave a nod
of his head.
I watched him
descend the concrete stairs
hands in his pockets
cigarette on his lower lip
hat pushed to the back
of his tilted head.
I wondered if Enid
was allowed out
so climbed the stairs
up to the top floor
and knocked
at her door.
Her mother answered
and stood and poked her head
out through the gap
between door and jamb.
"What you want?"
she said eyeing me
with her frightened eyes.
"Is Enid allowed out?"
I asked.
She looked past me
at the balcony behind.
"Where you going?"
she said.
"Thought maybe the park"
I replied.
She turned her head
out of sight and bellowed
"ENID" with all her might.
I looked back at the balcony
and the Square beyond.
Kids were playing
on the pram sheds
or playing skip rope
or riding bikes
up and down the slope.
Enid came to the door
and stood beside her mother.
"What did you want me for?"
Enid asked.
Her mother eyed me.
"This boy wants
to take you to the park."
I smiled at Enid
and she smiled back.
" Can I go?"
she said.
"The park
and no where else"
her mother moaned
"no bomb sites or
that kind of lark."
She let her out
and off we went
down the stairs
and through the Square
and across the road
to the park
to ride on the swings
and slide and roundabout.
She said her father
had been in a mood
and rowed with her mother
before breakfast
and after
but all we heard then
was calling voices
and children's laughter.
Apr 22, 2018
Apr 22, 2018 at 10:56 AM UTC
"This is how you skip" she said
jumping over
the turned rope.
But Benny wasn't interested
and said so.
"What you want
to do then?" she said.
He suggested they go
to Meadow Row bomb site
so he could collect
small stones
for his catapult.
She pulled a face and said
"How long for?"
He said until he had
enough for war.
So they walked
from the Square
and down the slope
and up Meadow Row
to the bomb site.
He collected
small stones
with her help.
She had her
skip-rope tucked
in a pocket of her dress.
After fifteen minutes
he said he had enough
and so he showed her
how to fire the catapult.
"Do girls fire catapults?"
she said.
"Sure they do"
he said.
She did what
he showed her.
The stone sped past
the tin-can.
Pigeons flew up
in the air in fright.
He showed her again
and she fired the stone
and it hit the can
and spun it over.
She was pleased
she had done it.
"Better than skip-rope"
she said.
He let her have
another go
and she did it again.
Then the skies darkened
and it began to rain.
Apr 9, 2018
Apr 9, 2018 at 3:22 AM UTC
Above the TV
you can hear
your parents row;
their voices sharp
as knives.
You lay in bed
wrapped tight
in sheets and blankets
pretending sleep.
His voice bellows;
hers shrieks.
You open your eyes
and stare in the semi-dark.
Street lights filter
at the side of curtains.
You hope the rowing stops;
you hope it will not erupt
into your room
and up on you.
The TV blares
in contrast
to their voices;
a smack, a cry,
then weeping.
The TV is switched off;
just soft whimpering
seeping the air.
You close your eyes
and feign sleep.
You lay on edge;
listen for other sounds.
Just her whimpering softly
in your dark.
A whole world turns
out there; a moon glows;
stars shine beyond
your sight.
A night
within a night.
Mar 9, 2018
Mar 9, 2018 at 2:10 AM UTC
Benny, do you know what
balderdash means? she
asked, standing beside me
on the balcony of the flats.
Why? I asked. My daddy
said don't talk balderdash,
she said, but if I don't know
what it means how am I to
know if I am talking about it.
I watched the baker draw up
in his horse drawn cart, stop
and put bread in a wooden
basket and go to one of the
doors of the flats. I think it
means something to do with
making things, I suggested.
No, that haberdasher, she said,
a lady who sells ribbons and
silk things, like my aunt.
I thought hard(unusual for me).
The baker came along the balcony.
Hey, Mister, what's balderdash
mean? I asked him. What you're
doing: idle and senseless talk,
he said, walking on to the end flat.
Well there you are, I told her, don't
talk idle and senseless talk to
your old man. But I don't, she said.
She rabbited on about something
or other and I guessed he was
talking about her and her mother.
Feb 24, 2018
Feb 24, 2018 at 11:57 AM UTC
Enid hears
cries in the night:
her mother,
an argument,
Father's voice
bellowing
through the flat.
Enid hides
beneath wool
blanketing
and grey sheets.
Mother screams;
more shouting.
Enid hears
the coal trucks
now being
shunted by
the shunter
on the tracks
in the old
dark coal wharf.
She stares out
in darkness;
just glimmer
of street lamps.
Whimpering,
then silence.
Back to sleep;
soul to keep.
Sep 29, 2017
Sep 29, 2017 at 1:55 AM UTC
I had a 2 wheeled blue scooter;
I rode it down the slope
from the Square
down through one
of the gaps at the end
and onto Rockingham Street,
then turned around
and scooted it back up again.
Enid stood watching me at the top
Can I have a go Benny?
she said.
Sure you can;
I handed her the scooter.
She put a foot on
and scooted down the slope;
she put both feet on the scooter
as it picked up speed,
passing people who were coming up
and going down the slope.
She went through the right hand gap
and onto Rockingham Street.
She looked back up at me and smiled;
she turned around and shooter up the slope
her left foot pushing the ground.
She got to the top
that was great,
she said
can I have a go again?
Sure you can;
she turned the scooter around
and off she went.
I watched her go
pleased to see her happy and smiling,
hoping her old man
didn't come along and see her
or she'd be for it
as he was in his dark moods once more
and she be for it for sure.
Sep 6, 2017
Sep 6, 2017 at 3:32 AM UTC
Benny ******
a tin can.
He watched it fall
off the wall.
He put another stone
in his catapult
aimed and hit
another tin can.
Enid watched him
she still felt
where her old man
had beat her.
She watched
the tin can fall again
watched Benny load
his catapult once more
and aim
the last tin can
stood on the wall.
Her old man
had been
in a bad mood
her mother
had said nothing
no help there.
The last tin can
fell from the wall
with a loud sound
and hit the ground.
Want a go?
Benny said
offering her
the catapult.
She took the catapult
and he stood
put the tin cans on
the wall of
the bombed-out house
on the bomb site
off Meadow Row.
She watched him
as she held the weapon
he placed all three tin cans
on the wall
and came to her.
He showed her
how to hold and aim
he gave her small stones.
She put them in
her dress pocket.
He stood back
and watched
as she pulled back
the leather holder
with stone and aimed.
The pain where
her old man beat her
caused her hands to shake
as she aimed.
Benny watched
took in the pale blue dress
her shaking hands.
She let go the load
it shot off
into foreign lands.
Aug 9, 2017
Aug 9, 2017 at 3:24 AM UTC
I took Enid behind
the ABC cinema
on the New Kent Road
(on an adventure
trip of mine).
It was dimly lit.
We passed
the side doors
of the cinema
which were
usually locked
from the inside
but sometimes
were open.
You could get in
for free if you were
careful and quiet.
A rat rushed past
Enid screamed
it disappeared
ahead of us.
She grabbed
my arm
a rat!
she said.
Yes I often
see them
down here
in the evenings.
A woman
in a short dress
was standing
against a wall
ahead of us
beneath a light
from a wall.
Who's she?
Enid said.
Don't know
my old man says
prostitutes
are up here
so maybe she's
one of them.
What's a **********
Enid asked.
Don't know
but my old man said
they men happy
so maybe they're
kind of church women
I said.
Maybe
Enid said
should we say
hello to her?
Best not
I said
my mum said
not to speak to people
you don't know.
Enid nodded
O yes
I think my mum
said that.
Another sleeky animal
went past us
Another rat?
Enid said quietly.
No
I said gently
a cat.
Jul 19, 2017
Jul 19, 2017 at 3:45 AM UTC
Enid met me
on the bomb site
off Meadow Road.
I had two
of my six
shooter cap guns
in holsters
each side
of my waist
hanging from my
S belt.
I showed her
how to draw
the guns
and shoot straight
BANG BANG
I went.
She jumped
and stared shitless
at me.
Is it loaded?
No just caps
I said
twirling the guns
around my fingers
as I’d seen
the cowboys do
in the cowboy films.
I let them
into the two holsters.
Can I have a go?
I smiled at her
if you like.
I undid the gun belt
and handed it to her.
She did the belt
around her narrow waist
and straightened the guns.
What's the string for?
She said.
It's to keep
the holsters rising
when you go
for the guns
I said
shall I tie it
around your legs?
She nodded.
I knelt down
and tied
the two
pieces of string
around each
of her thighs.
She winced.
What's up?
Nothing
she said.
I tied it gently
and stood back.
I guessed
her old man
had belted her again
hence the pain.
Ready?
I said.
She nodded
and stood
with her hands
at her sides
her thin fingers
moved like spiders
as she waited to go
for the guns.
She seemed nervous
looking down
at her hands.
Each gun
is capped
I said.
She went for guns
and drew quick
and shot
BANG BANG.
I was zapped.
Jul 16, 2017
Jul 16, 2017 at 4:44 PM UTC
You met Benny
by the slope
off the Square.
People walked past
up and down
as you talked.
He said
we could go
to Camberwell
go round the shops
and I could
show you
the hospital
I was born in.
But you were unsure
whether to go
that far
especially
as your dad
was in a mood.
What's new?
Benny said.
He has been
all right
until recently
you said.
So what
he's going to know
where you go?
Benny said.
No but if he
asks me
he will
you said.
Why tell him?
Benny said.
Because I can't
lie to him
you said.
So where then?
Benny said.
What about
Bedlam Park?
you said
we could go there
go to the war museum?
He nodded
all right
I can show you
my favourite weapons
he said.
So you
went with him
along Rockingham Street
under the railway bridge
and then
to the subway
where Benny sang
a cowboy song
he'd heard on TV
it echoed
along the walls
he also
(to make you laugh)
made monkey calls.
Jul 1, 2017
Jul 1, 2017 at 3:37 AM UTC
Your mother
says goodbye to you
her eyes are red
she's been crying.
She and father
had rowed
during
the late evening
and night.
You climb down
the concrete stairs
of the flats.
The morning
is dull
a grey sky
greets you.
Benny waits
for you
at the bottom.
He looks at you
how's things?
he says.
You try smiling
but he knows
you're not happy.
They rowed again
yesterday
and last night
you tell him.
He nods
but says nothing.
You walk on
through the Square
and down the slope.
What they row about?
he asks.
Money I think
you say.
You cross
Rockingham Street
and go up
Meadow Row.
He talks about
other things
trying to take
your mind off
the rowing
and home life.
You cross
the bomb site
listening to him
aware of his
hazel eyes
and quiff
of brown hair.
You want to say
how unhappy
you are
how you didn't
sleep too well.
But you walk
beside him
let him do
the talking.
You
remember how
you were fearful
your father would
enter your room
while they rowed
and hit you one
as the row
spilt over
in the passageway.
But he didn't
that time
they moved into
their room
and closed the door
and rowed the more.
Jun 20, 2017
Jun 20, 2017 at 2:20 AM UTC
Your father
is in a mood.
Your mother wary
walking around him
trying to please.
You dress for school
hoping he won't
pick up on you
no matter
what you do.
He sits at the table
by the window
the radio
pushing out music.
He mouths
his breakfast
in silence
eyes staring
into space.
Your mother
sits opposite
sipping her tea
gazing at him
apprehensively
on the edge
of the chair
fingers pushing
through her hair.
You sit
in between them
facing the window
the net curtains
filtering the light.
They had rowed
in the night
you couldn't sleep
lay there
watching the door
in case he came in
an overflow
from the row.
You spoon
in cereals
looking at
the table cloth
not wishing to be
the victim
of his wrath.
Jun 7, 2017
Jun 7, 2017 at 1:23 PM UTC
I walked home
from school
with Enid
it was Friday
and the sun
was bright.
Enid said
her old man
was taking her
and her mother
to Sheerness
for the weekend.
I would ask
if you
could come too
but I am afraid
he would get mad
and call it off
she said.
No no don't
mention me
or he'll go off
the roof
I said.
I shall miss not
seeing you over
the weekend
she said.
Why Sheerness?
I said.
He has relatives
down there
she said.
We passed
a record store
a Guy Mitchell song
was being played.
I've been to Sheerness
with my grandparents
I said
nice place
I like the beach
and watching
passing ships
hope your old man
is in a good mood then
I said.
So do I
she said
Mum's not looking
forward to it
she told me
this morning
after Dad had gone
to work
but she said
we'll have to go
or hell
will break loose.
We walked down
the subway steps
and along.
What will you do?
She said.
Go to the morning
matinee flicks
and maybe
the afternoon one too
if there's anything
worthwhile on
I said.
We came out
the other end
of the subway
and along
by the cinema.
We stopped
and looked
at the photos
on the wall showing
what film was on
it was a war film.
I might go see that
if my old man'll go too
I said.
We walked on
across the bomb site
where I picked up
a few small stones
for my catapult.
We went our
separate ways
at the top
of the stairs
of the flats.
Mrs Tooks
was standing there
like some witch
with her two thin cats.
Apr 10, 2017
Apr 10, 2017 at 3:37 AM UTC
Mr Finn wrote
on the blackboard
about 1066.
I sat watching
what he wrote
in his neat hand.
The Battle of Hastings
was underlined
in red chalk.
I'd been
to Hastings once
with my grandparents
sat on the beach
with bucket and *****
and ice cream
the hot
orange sun
in the sky.
King Harold
got an arrow
in his eye
the teacher
had written.
I tried to imagine that
bad enough getting
a fly in the eye
or piece of grit
but an arrow
O ****
I mused.
William the Conqueror
won the battle
brought the Normans
with him I read.
Dennis next to me
whispered there are
some Normans
up our street
tough buggers
he said.
One of the sisters
is on the game
my mother said
Dennis informed.
I tried to guess
the game
that sister played
but gave up
maybe rounders
or netball
I mused.
The teacher stood
by the blackboard
and talked
about the battle
the weapons used
the numbers killed
and what
happened after.
Dennis talked on
in an undertone
of the Norman mother
slept apparently
with her husband's
brother.
Apr 9, 2017
Apr 9, 2017 at 10:04 AM UTC
Quiet please
Mr Finn said.
The class
became quiet.
Benny at the back
with Jupp sat
staring at the blackboard
where the teacher
had written a number
of paragraphs on
the Great Plague
of London 1665
in white chalk
with red chalk
to illustrate names.
I want you now
to copy this down
Mr Finn said.
Jupp raised a hand
in our exercise book?
he said.
Yes in your
exercise book
Mr Finn said
gazing at Jupp
with a sense of pity.
Benny gazed
at the blackboard
with a sense
of excitement
(rare for him)
and began to copy
in his own scribble
what was written neatly
on the blackboard.
Jupp whispered
what a bore
who gives a monkey's
about a ****** plague
and especially in 1665
why that's history.
Quiet Jupp
Mr Finn said
pointing at Jupp
with a ruler.
Jupp took up
his pen
and began to write
what was on
the blackboard.
The bit about rats
on the ships
brought to mind
for Benny
the rat he'd seen
on the balcony
back home that day
running swiftly along
by the wall.
The coal man
managed to stamp
on it with his big
black boot
and blood oozed
over the balcony
and his black boot.
Lydia who had been
with him screamed.
Now in class
it seemed unreal
like something
he had dreamed.
Apr 1, 2017
Apr 1, 2017 at 4:14 AM UTC
Blow after blow
Enid's father gave
her mother.
Enid ran
to her room
and closed the door
and stood by the window.
She peered at the door
in case her father
followed her there
and hit her too.
Cries came from
the other room
conflicting with
the TV sounds.
She bit her lip
waiting wondering
what started up
this latest argument
pushing the door shut
with her mind against
her father's entrance
should he come.
The TV stopped
whimpers simmered
from the other room
a door slammed.
Enid stared at the door
wished Benny was there
beside her.
She hugged herself
her small hands
on her arms
noticing the dark
wooden panels.
The radio
was turned on
from the front room
the crying stopped.
Enid ventured out
and stood
in the passageway
wishing her father
far far far away.
Mar 19, 2017
Mar 19, 2017 at 12:15 PM UTC
Enid and I got the bus
to the South Bank.
The sky was blue
and cloudless.
We walked along
the embankment
looking over
at the River Thames
at the boats passing by
and tugs and pleasure boats
with passengers onboard
and we waved
and some waved back.
Are you sure my dad said
it was all right for me
to go with you today?
she said.
Sure it is
I met him on
the stairs of the flats
and he said yes
but not to be late
I said.
She looked
apprehensive.
I wouldn't lie to you
I said.
No I know you wouldn't
she said
but he didn't seem
in a good mood
this morning
and him and Mum
were rowing when
I got up.
Well he was all right
when I met him
I said.
She nodded
and we walked on
past the tennis courts
on our left
until we came
to a shop selling
ice creams and drinks.
Want an ice cream?
I said.
I haven't any money
she said.
I have some
I said
so we bought two ice creams
and sat on a seat
and watched the boats
and tugs go by.
I watched her sideways on
as she licked her ice cream.
She looked happy briefly
as if she'd put away
her fears and anxiety
and sat like a gull
floating on a quiet sea.
Mar 18, 2017
Mar 18, 2017 at 5:05 AM UTC
Enid's old man passed me
on the concrete stairs
of the flats.
Hello Benny
he said
pausing briefly
eyeing me
with his eyes.
Is Enid allowed out?
I asked.
He looked past me
as if Enid stood
behind me.
Depends what
you are up to
he said
his eyes
on me again.
I'm going
to South Bank
to look at the River
see the boats
and tugs and ships pass
I said.
He raised his eyebrows
not sure that Enid
would be interested
in boats
he said.
I'm sure she'd
like to see
the River pass by
and maybe see gulls
I suggested.
He looked past me again
I have to go to work
you can ask her
if you want
but don't be late back
he said.
No we won't be late
I said.
He nodded
and walked
down the stairs
and out of sight.
I went to the balcony
and watched him
walk across the Square
hands in the pockets
of his coat.
Once he was gone
I climbed the stairs
to Enid's flat
and knocked at the door.
Enid's mother
came to the door
yes?
she said.
I've come to see Enid
I said
see if she wants
to go see the boats
and tugs on the Thames.
Not sure if her father
will allow that
she said timidly.
I've just seen him
he said it's ok
I said.
She looked at me
are you sure?
Yes he's just gone
we met on the stairs
I said.
I noticed a mild bruising
of her left eye.
She stared at me
then called Enid
over her thin shoulder
she gazed at me
then walked to the balcony
and looked down
to see if her old man
was coming back again
but he wasn't
so she came back.
Enid came to the door
and I repeated to her
what I had said before.
Feb 9, 2017
Feb 9, 2017 at 9:25 AM UTC
I see Enid looking over
the balcony outside
my front door of the flats.
What you doing here?
I say.
Just watching
my dad
go off to work,
she says,
he was in
a good mood
this morning
didn't row or hit
either of us
even joked with me.
I look over the balcony
but her old man has gone.
He's playing
cat and mouse
with you,
I say.
Cat and mouse?
She says.
Yes being nice
one minute being
horrible the next,
I explain.
He was all right
last night too,
even let me stay up
to watch TV.
So what's cheered
him up then?
I say.
Don't know,
she says,
as long as
he is nice
I don't care.
I watch
as the coal man
loads a big sack of coal
onto his back
and walks along
to the far end flat
where a door is open.
Are you ready
for school?
I ask.
Just got to get
my bag and coat,
she says,
and walks off
up the stairs
to her flat above.
The coal man
walks back
with an empty sack
and puts it on
the back of his lorry,
then heaves
another sack
on his back
and walks back
to the flat again.
Enid comes down
the stairs again:
ready now,
she says.
So we walk down
the concrete stairs together:
both dressed up
against the winter weather.
Jan 9, 2017
Jan 9, 2017 at 4:04 AM UTC
Benny waits for you on the balcony
of the flats outside his parents place,
he's looking down at the milkman
in his horse-drawn cart. He turns as
you approach: Hi Enid, he says, just
looking at the milkman and his horse,
wondering what it'd be like to ride him.
You look over the balcony at the horse
attached to the cart. With or without
the milk cart? You ask. Without of
course, he says. The milkman gets
down from the cart, and selects milk
from crates at the back, and walks
with two in each hand to a doorstep
out of view. I quite fancy riding that,
he says, be a proper cowboy then
wouldn't I? You nod, I guess you
would, you say, looking at his quiff
of brown hair, his hazel eyes peering
down. My dad's back to his old ways
again, you say, looking at Benny to
see what he will say. Benny turns
and looks at you: has he hit you again?
He did last night, you say, not going
into too much detail. The big ****
Benny says, thought he'd changed.
He stares at you: does he mind you
being with me? He didn't say anything
about not seeing you this time, you say.
Benny looks at you, trying to see if
there are any visible bruises, but
there aren't any where he can see.
Benny looks over the balcony again.
The milkman takes four more bottles
to another doorstep out of sight.
Thought he'd be back to his old
ways, thought it was too good to
last, Benny says. You look over
the balcony too. The horse eats
from a nose bag. It's the wrong
colour horse though, Benny says,
needs to be black to be any good
for a cowboy. I suppose it is, you
say, looking as your father walks
from the flats darkly over the way.
Dec 2, 2016
Dec 2, 2016 at 2:45 AM UTC
Benny knocked
at Lydia's parents' flat
to see if she
was coming out
to the morning
cinema matinee,
the door opened
and her mother stood there
hair in curlers
cigarette hanging
from the corner
of her thin lipped mouth,
yes what do you want?
she said folding her arms
over her aproned breast,
is Lydia coming
to the matinee?
Benny asked,
no she's not well
got a cold or something
the mother said
letting out a puff of smoke
as she spoke,
O Benny said
sorry about that
hope she's feeling
better soon,
the mother
looked at him
I will pass on
your words she said,
could I see her
for a few minutes?
Benny said,
no she's seeing no one
the mother replied
her eyes staring at him,
he nodded
and said ok
and walked away,
the door closed behind him
with a hard click,
he walked back across
the Square disappointed
Lydia wasn't coming
but there was nothing
he could do,
he took out
his 6 shooter
toy gun out
of the holster
and spun it
around his finger
a few times like he'd seen
Billy the Kid do
in a film he'd seen,
then quickly put it back
in the holster
with a flourish,
then walked on down
the slope towards
Meadow Row,
off to the matinee
at the ABC cinema,
across the bomb site,
looking forward
to going to the cinema
with his old man
that night.
Nov 1, 2016
Nov 1, 2016 at 7:20 AM UTC
Enid slept badly.
Voices came and went,
winds blew,
trains shunted.
She woke up slowly
to a grey morning.
The voices had stopped,
just the birds singing.
Had the rowing stopped?
Where was her father?
She sat on the side
of her narrow bed.
She could still feel where
her father hit her.
Back to how it was:
him hitting them both.
She got up and walked
to the bedroom door.
She listened for sounds,
but nothing was there.
She opened the door
and looked down the hall.
Had he gone to work?
Had her father gone?
She walked down the hall
to the small toilet.
Went past their bedroom,
the green door still closed.
Went to the toilet
and sat on the seat.
She felt the chill bite
at her naked feet.
What would Benny say
when she told him all?
Things don't change he'd say:
your old man's a ****
Benny often said
your old man's a ****
She heard fresh voices;
her father was up.
She heard his footsteps.
The door handle shook:
is that you Enid?
Her father called out.
Won't be long, she said.
You better not be,
her father replied.
They were arguing,
both her mum and dad.
She finished quickly
and opened the door.
Good about time too,
her father shouted,
what you been doing,
laying ****** eggs?
He went in and shut
the door behind him.
Enid saw her mum
by her bedroom door,
her thin arms folded,
her hair in curlers.
Best get washed and dressed
and don't be too long,
her mother told her.
Enid washed and dressed,
then ate her breakfast.
Still her parents rowed
loudly from the hall.
What would Benny say
when she told him this?
Your old man's a ****
and give her a kiss.
Oct 31, 2016
Oct 31, 2016 at 4:42 AM UTC
London Bridge
railway station
was busy
as Lydia and Benny
walked in and sat
on one of the seats
on the platform
where a big black
steam train
was about to go off
grey and white steam
shushed from beneath
and from on top
of the engine
Benny was fascinated
by steam engines
he loved to watch
the power and sound
and smell of them
Lydia's thoughts
were on her home
and her parents rowing
and her big sister
snoring away
after a ***** night
(as her mother
called it)
and her father
coming home drunk
and singing
in the Square
so all could hear him
the train steamed off
slow at first
then fast and faster
shush shush
and a loud whistle
and it was off
Benny watched it go
and Lydia turned her head
and watched it too
do you think
my parents' rowing
will end by the time
I get home?
She said
expect so
Benny said
usually short lived
they'll be all lovely dovey
by the time you get home
she wasn't so sure
they were going at it
hammer and tongs
when she left
and she didn't say
where she was going
and she supposed
she'd get a telling off
for that too
let's get 2 glasses
of milk and biscuits
from the station cafe
Benny said
she looked worried
come on
he said
race you to the cafe
she looked at him
they will have stopped
by the time I'm home
won't they?
I don't like it
when they row
of course
Benny said
all will be fine
when we get back
she nodded her head
and they walked
to the cafe
on the station
and went in
the place was quiet packed
but Benny told her
to get table and sit down
and he'd get the stuff
so she sat at a table
by the window
and Benny queued up
behind a man
in a stripe black and white suit
who smelt of tobacco
Lydia imagined
her mum and dad
going at each other
her mother throwing
cups and saucers
and her dad trying
to get a word in sidewards
and her sister Gloria
snoozing in it all
smelling of *****
and a good night out
she looked over at Benny
in the queue
hands in his trouser pockets
head to one side
looking at the labels
of biscuits
in the glass window
of a cabinet
deciding which to buy
and she looking
all silent and shy.
Sep 26, 2016
Sep 26, 2016 at 3:22 AM UTC