Hannah lies
her collection of knives
on her bed
most given
by her father
-the largest
an SS knife
he took off a dead
SS man-
her mother
passing by
her open door
says
whit hae ye
those kni'es
oan yer scratcher fur?
I'm showing Benedict
my collection
Hannah replies
O heem
th' sassenach loon
Mrs Scott says
he's nice
Hannah says
and he likes knives
and guns
and he's interested
in seeing them
sae ye say
her mother says
and walks away
to the kitchen
Hannah sits
on her bed
and waits for Benedict
to arrive
she likes
the SS knife best
it has a kind
of haunting feel
about it
the door knocker bangs
gie th' duir
Hannah
it's th' loon
so Hannah goes
to the door
and Benedict
stands there
come in and see
Hannah says
so Benedict follows her
into her bedroom
here's my collection
she says
showing him
the knives spread
on her bed
he picks up a knife
or two and weighs
them in the palm
of his hand
and feels along
the blade
he picks out
the SS knife
and says
deadly thing this
have you one?
she asks
no I have a flick knife
my uncle gave me
he puts the SS knife
down on the bed
fine collection
he says
and they both sit
on the bed
near the knives
at the one end
Mrs Scott walks by
and stops and says
waur ye sittin'
oan th' scratcher?
just sitting and looking
at the knives
Hannah says
nae oan th' scratcher
her mother replies
Benedict looks puzzled
and Hannah says
she doesn't want us
sitting on the bed
Benedict nods his head
and says
o right
and looks at Mrs Scott
who stares at him
sternly and walks off
something I said?
he asks
no
Hannah says
she doesn't trust us
sitting on the bed
why is that?
he says
God knows
Hannah replies
hearing her mother
cursing in the kitchen
like a buzz of flies.
A BOY VISITS A GIRL TO SEE HER KNIFE COLLECTION IN 1960 BUT HER SCOTTISH MOTHER DISAPPROVES.
