MEETING LYDIA.A Poem by Terry CollettA BOY AND GIRL IN 1950S LONDON.He met Lydia in Harper Road near the newspaper shop the one that had the Rob Roy book in the window which he was planning to buy with his pocket money she looked unhappy carrying a shopping bag in her thin hand where you off to? Benedict asked got to go home with this she said lifting the bag where you going? she asked seeing him carrying his toy rifle and wearing his cowboy hat going to fight at the O.K. Corral only it won't be ok when I get there he said smiling O.K. Corral? she said where's that? he pointed to a bomb site across the road near the doctor's surgery oh she said who else is there? a couple of other kids he said why don't you come along? can't got to take this shopping home and besides Mum's in a state what with my big sister not coming home until the early hours and my dad having a row and punch up in the Square last night with that man on the 2nd balcony can't remember his name and Mum and him having a row and me trying to sleep and Hemmy my brother putting an earwig in my bed making me scream and Mum bellowing at me for screaming she stopped and wiped her eyes on the hem of her dress Benedict put his arm around her thin shoulders I'll get your brother for that the git he said she said nothing but sniffed he took the shopping bag from her hand and said I'll walk you home and after we can come back and have a penny drink and lolly in the Penny shop what about the O.K.Corral fight? she said o that can wait he said they'll fight amongst themselves anyway she nodded and they walked back and crossed Rockingham Street and into the Square and he said what does your sister do until the early hours? God knows Lydia said Mum says she's a prostitute or something I don't know if it's a special sort of job or something but it makes Mum annoyed and Dad said to leave her alone as she's doing her bit to keep dirty men occupied Benedict shrugged his shoulders and hugged Lydia closer so how about that penny drink and lolly? she nodded and sniffed and I forgot to tell you Benedict said I saw this Daniel Boone film the other day up in Camberwell Green in some flea pit of a cinema but it was good and he had a rifle but older looking than mine she sniffed but looked at him sideways a weak smile on her face you should have come he said maybe next time I will she said sadly sure you will he said and they reached her flat door and she said thank you and he gave her back the shopping bag and she kissed his cheek and went in and he looked around to make sure none of the boys about had seen the kiss as he had a reputation to maintain and kissing or being kissed by a girl was maybe deemed as a bit cissy but none had and he walked over to the pram sheds and sat on the roof until maybe she reappeared happier not less so as he thought and feared. © 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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