HELEN AND YOU AND THE TRUTH.A Poem by Terry CollettA BOY AND GIRL IN 1950S LONDON.
Across the road
from the underground station next to the Christian tabernacle you sat with Helen on the standing wall of a bombed out house she clutched her doll Battered Betty looking around her I've never been on this bomb site before she said the people who lived here must have been really scared if they heard the siren in time they may have got out but some didn't of course you said trying to imagine what the houses looked like before the bombing how the gardens may have been well kept may have had vegetables and flowers growing in the small beds at the back of the house a lady my mum knew got blown up and all they found was her hand with her wedding ring still there Helen said screwing up her nose making her thick lens glasses move on her nose my mum said she and her stepfather used to hide under the large oak table in the kitchen if they got caught out by the bombing you said and Mum said her stepfather's bottom was sticking out at one end of the table Helen laughed you liked it when she laughed it made dimples in her cheeks and her eyes lit up behind her glasses best not tell Mum I've been on the bomb site Helen said she said they're dangerous places they are you said but hell what would life be without a bit of danger? what does your dad say when you tell him you've been on the bomb sites? she asked rocking Battered Betty in her arms nothing much except not to wear my best clothes on there is that all? she said yes pretty much you said what about your mum? you looked at her her hair tied in two pigtails her eyes large beyond the lens she says be careful not to climb you said but you do Helen said you did it just now to get up here yes I know that and you know that but my mum needn't you said banging the back of your shoes on the wall gently don't you tell your mum everything you do? she asked I do you frowned I try not to worry her you said doesn't she asked what you've done or been? yes but I needn't tell her everything you said she has enough worries without me adding to them I think it best I imagine other places or things done to keep her from worrying Helen shook her head you have a strange sense of truth she said holding Betty tight to her chest her chin resting on the doll's head how about an ice cream at Baldy's? you said Baldy's? she said where is Baldy's? the grocer shop before you get to the railway bridge down Rockingham Street you said the owner is as bald as a coot she laughed ok she said and so you both climbed down from the wall and walked down and along to the subway and on to the shop to get ice creams she smiling with her battered doll you with your cowboy shooting dreams. © 2013 Terry Collett |
StatsAuthorTerry CollettUnited KingdomAboutTerry Collett has been writing since 1971 and published on and off since 1972. He has written poems, plays, and short stories. He is married with eight children and eight grandchildren. on January 27t.. more..Writing
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