WRONG DAY.

A BOY AND HIS TEACHER IN SCHOOL IN 1950S LONDON

What day is it?

Miss Ashdown asked

waddling up the aisle

 

you looked at the board

taking the chalk marks

the hand script she'd made

then she said

 

Benedict

write it on the board

you looked at her

standing with arms crossed

 

so you walked blushing

to the blackboard

and chalked up January 25th

is that it?

 

she said

but what day is it?

what feast day?

you stared at the numbers

 

and letters

I don't know

you said

going bright red

 

the room narrowing

to her standing in the aisle

her arms crossed over

her large breasts

 

like piglets

under a blanket

at rest

sit down boy

 

anyone else

have any idea?

Monday?

a girl suggested

 

no you fool

Miss Ashdown said

it's the Conversion of St Paul

the girl put down her hand

 

and bit her lip

and stared at you

as you went by

her eyes were watery

 

like one about to cry

and you sat down

studying Helen's

bright red ribbons

 

holding

her plaits of hair

as she sat in front

of your desk

 

that tiny

patch of skin

showing above

the collar of her dress

 

between where

her hair almost met

then raised your eyes

to the blackboard

 

where the Conversion

of St Paul

in large script

was set.