Waiting for the Rock to pick us up,
We took turns tossing the glowing green ball
Way up down, spin spin, hiccough
Whilst the others stood outside the hall.

A wisp of a bat whirled above,
Afloat with hunger, or busy at a late afternoon game.
The Judge took his turn to toss. Nice one, bruv.
Square in the bat’s mouth – nice aim!

Down the glistening ball plummeted,
After ******* failed to keep his jaws locked.
Our ball was now diabolically-pitted;
Indeed, on hell’s door it had now knocked.

Where are you going to, *******?
Back to hell to have tea with Helen of Troy?
After you have finished deeming damnation as divine,
Be sure to deal with these enemies of mine.

So, what do you say?
Think it over – but only for a day.

Having grown up together, I still have
So many indelible emblems of your existence.
Long afternoons in the mirror
Showcase the scar you gave me on my left cheek, its permanence retained..

Do you remember when Doris did that inside job?
You bolted to alert the Rock at the surgery,
Fearless of long-fingered goons whose only talent is to rob.
Oh, but you were too wise for trickery!

I miss going to the public pool with you.
You dipped in,
Driving everyone out,
Including all the rabid dogs on two legs – thank goodness.
Can you remember? Because I cannot forget.

I remember when I found you in the rain,
Soaked and motionless.
“What’s wrong with him?” the question reverberated.
“Flash is sick.” I never heard more than this.

Off you went to the vet,
Whilst we all waited anxiously on further word.
We lost the most loyal member of our family sestet
To leukemia as told to us by death’s bird.

We buried you.
I wept, but never visited your grave.
Bark for me, Flash – I’ll run to find you.

Ticket in hand, we led to the hall,
Stopping in front to buy toffee apple
At the spot where two kids '9one big and one small)
Were locked in a sticky, bantering battle.

Up we went to our afternoon dormitory,
Now devoid of the faintest trace of light.
I heard a rumbling in the lavatory,
Something which stirred a sinister fright.

“Whooohaaar!” What the hell was that?
Feet shuffled, strange lights glowed, doors creaked,
Plus there were these fake sounds all round of the cry of a cat.
A black arm lunged out of nowhere – everyone shrieked.

Sinking sheets of smoke-sheltering strobes
Loomed ominously over the stairwell.
Plasticky spider webs choke and coat our robes.
Where are we going? Nobody can really tell.

At the base, we were met by a friendly skeleton,
Griming, glowing, grabbing.
One cannot serve God and Mammon.
Thus, pray tell – on which side are you standing?

Why have you come, sorry skeleton?
To scare us?
Know ye not of the fate we cannot escape?
It’s you who should be chickenshit of us.

Parents all dressed to their best,
The select candidates led in.
In putting their fears to rest,
Little knew I of my self-imposed disdain.

In the name of their father, son and holy spirit,
As well as the untrue catholic church,
Blind indoctrination was first within me lit,
Leading me astray with a most cunning torch.

Oh, Jesus, how I want to be like you
La-dee-da-dee-da
Yes, father, I do, I do.
Ceremony over. Time for lunch-hoorah!

Sunday school’s next,
Reading the Bible with some overfed brats.
What a boring text –
I’d prefer reading the Book of Sand with some ginger cats!

And still, the blind lead the blind
With plumes of frankincense to numb the heart and mind.

Got all my stuff –
Bag, books, packed lunch all on hand.
Weather forecast foretells a day all too rough –
A menacing match for the coarsest Sahara sand.

The day would be over soon
After Dot was done scolding and whining in her mean old frock.
I daydreamed looking at the sick white moon
When my thoughts were interrupted by a knock.

“It’s too hot,” the hideously-toothed creature declared.
“Children, pack up your books and go to the pool.”
“Yay!” all screamed but, just as I had feared,
I never packed my costume – **** fool.

Boys and girls now frolicking in the water,
I stood alone afresh on life’s sidelines.
***** these nuns and these imbeciles’ laughter!
It is not their miserable rules that my life defines.

Fully-uniformed, I
Ran,
Leaped,
Splashed … aah, the joy!

Kids laughed, nuns spanked.
In the end, it is only my courage that I thanked.

The grass baked liked wheat in the smoldering afternoon.
Tea and eats would be served soon.
In the meantime, to get but a mild breeze,
It is the Sun God we must appease.

A small sacrifice is in order.
Some measly living (or barely living) thing would please her.
Ah! – a cricket.
Catch him – he’s our breeze ticket.

Out came the magnifying glass –
Beyond death’s depriving door quickly shall he pass.
Eagerly, we explored his roasted guts
And even contemplated enjoying him with some nuts.

No. This crisped corpse we shall not eat,
For he is most precious to the Maker of Heat.
Your Highness, accept our humble offering –
Right now, it’s all we can bring.

Guys, just take a feel of that breeze!
Sorry, cricket – your life had to cease.

Alone on my bed I Iay,
Warm in red and grey pyjamas as the Rock rasped away.
The red sheets gently licked and lapped my cheeks –
Yes, I’m sure I can stay like this for weeks.

Like a numbed mind sharply stung by *****,
Quickly I entered sleep’s secret symposium.
Most of it was a soft, misty haze.
I sought peace and bliss in its chaotic maze.

But, of all, one dream definitely stood out,
Making me jump, scream and shout.
A boy opened a jar of bees that swarmed at me,
Drowning out the preceding dream’s swollen glee.

The bees chased me through the hallway –
I remember forgetting to pray.
I dived into my parents’ bed –
The Rock continued to rasp whilst the Old Bull wiped my forehead.

You cowards! Why do you torment in teams?
Who gave you passage into the sweet sanctuary of my dreams?