JANICE IN THE AFTERNOON SUN.

A BOY AND GIRL IN 1950S LONDON AND A KNIFE THREAT.

Janice sat on the grass
of Banks House with me
it was Saturday afternoon
we'd been to

the morning matinee  
seen some films
and cartoons
and had ice cream

in one of those
small tubs
with a wooden spoon
that kid

actually put a knife
to your throat
last Saturday morning?
she said

yes some blonde loon
while I was going
for a piss
got me from behind

and grabbed my hair
and held the knife there
and wanted money
what did you do and say?

she asked
wide eyed
and mouth ajar
I bellowed

HELP
SOME B*****D'S
TRYING TO
CUT MY THROAT

she moved back
at my sudden bellowing
pigeons took flight
from nearby

some coal man
over by the coal wharf
looked over
what did he do?

she said
he pushed me
into one of the stalls
and ran off

I caught sight
of his blonde hair
and tall frame
as he went out

the door
gosh that must
have been frightening
she said  

it was
all I had
was 6d left
not worth

getting
your throat cut for
I said
would you

have given him the 6d?
I guess so
but my instinct
was to bellow

so I did
he might have stabbed you
she said
yes he may

have kissed my arse too
I didn't think
I just bellowed
did you report it?

yes
my mother
and my old man
went to the cinema with me

in the afternoon
and I gave a description
as best I could
of the kid  

I said
what happened then?
she said
don't know

my parents had a talk
with the manager
and I looked
at the small photographs

showing what was on
the following week
she looked at me deeply
but they let you go

to the cinema again
this week?
she said
of course

can't hide from life
can't let one incident
spoil fun for you
I said

she had that puzzled
look on her face
I noticed she was wearing
the lemon dress

I liked
the one with flowers
and her hair shone
in the afternoon sun

can't let
no idiot
I said
spoil your fun.