THE ONE LEG DANCE.

A BOY AND GIRL IN A NURSING HOME IN 1950S LONDON

It was mid morning
and the sun was warm
and Anne was in
her wheelchair
her stump visible
at the hem
of her red shirt

what's it do for you?
she asked me

what?

this sunshine
and warmth?

not much
I said

it should
it should make you
want to jump up
and dance around
shouting out
to the sun god
she said

you couldn't dance
with your one leg
I said

up you Kid
she said
glaring at me
up you as far
as it will go

well you couldn't
could you
I said
I mean
I would help you
if you wanted to
get up and dance
but on your own
you'd have a job

she sighed
if I want to
bloody get up
and dance I will
she said

she heaved herself
out of the chair
and stood on
her one leg
and began to
hop about

until she fell over
and lay
on her back
staring
at the sky

how was that
for a fecking
dance then?
she said

a nursing nun
came walking
quickly over to us

get me up Kid
before the penguin
gets here

I helped her up
the best I could
but she
was heavier than I
and the nun reached us
just as Anne
was hauling
herself up
by holding
onto my body

what were you doing?
the nun asked

dancing
what's it look like?
Anne said

the nun helped
Anne back
into her wheelchair
and stood there
gazing at her

you're so rude Anne
the nun said
do you know
how many
complaints
there have been
about you?

who's counting
Anne said

it was my fault
I said
I asked her
to show me
how she danced

Anne looked
at me

the nun raised
an eyebrow
well you
should know better
Benedict
the nun said
then she walked off

you didn’t have
to lie for me
Anne said
but thanks
anyway Kid

she pulled her skirt
over her stump
and I
was pleased
by what I did.