AN OUNCE OF GOOD 1957

A GIRL AND HER PARENTS IN 1957 AND BLACK MOODS.

Once she left Benny
on the stairs
of the flats of Banks House
she went indoors anxiously

in case her father
asked if she'd been
speaking to the boy Benny
that day at school

she closes the door
behind her and walks
along the passageway
past the kitchen

and into the sitting room
where her father and mother
are at the dining table talking
she looks at them

then goes by
into her bedroom
don't forget to change
out of your uniform

her mother says
no I won't forget
she replies
and so I sells him

this car and he
seemed pleased
with it but his Mrs
was saying how about

the miles on the clock?
o that just shows the car's
done good service
and you know cars

run better the more miles
they have shows
they're good
I tell the old bat

Enid's father says
her mother smiles
Enid waits
by her bedroom door

then goes in in case
her father says
about Benny
but he doesn't

and she shuts
her bedroom door
behind her
and stares at her bed

it's neat and tidy
and the room's
been done nicely
and she wonders if

her mum is all right
usually she leaves it
for Enid to do
and she undresses

from her school uniform
and puts on a brown dress
and folds her uniform
and puts it on a chair

by her bed
in case her father comes in
and looks around
to find stuff to moan about

or punish her for
and  she stands by the window
and looks out
at the coal wharf

with men on coal lorries
and some on
horse drawn carts
she turns and goes back

into the sitting room
her father is still talking
and seems in a good mood
want some tea?

her mother asks her
yes please
Enid says
her mother gets

a cup and saucer
from the cupboard
and pours her some tea
and pulls out a chair

for her at the table
she sits down
and her mother puts
in a spoonful of sugar

you should have seen
the old bat's face
when her old man
paid up for the car though

her father says to her mother
and that and another
good sale made it
a good day

he says
that's good then
her mother says
sipping her tea

Enid waits for her father
to talk to her about
seeing Benny
she hopes he won't

well how was your day then?
her father asks her
Enid looks at the cup
it was good

we had history
and I like history
she says
her father nods

didn't have no accidents
at school
wetting yourself then?
he asks

no
she replies
I was good
and asked the teacher

in good time
good job too
her mother says
you seen that Benny boy

at school?
her father asks
yes of course
he's in my class at school

Enid says
looking at her father
who gazes at her
did you talk to him?

yes
Enid says
I know you said not to
but he talked to me first

her father smiles
don't worry about that
it was just me being in one
of my black moods

you talk to him
if you want Enid
got to have a friend
in this world haven't you

he says
she looks at him
to see if he's joking
or trying to catch her out

but he looks at her mother
and says
if things go on
as they are

maybe we can have
a week's holiday
some place this year
Enid sits and sips her tea

still trying to take in
her father's words
the conversation
of her parents

seems to drift away
even the promise
of a week's holiday
seems just words

but he called her Enid
and didn't hit her
for talking to Benny
and said she could

maybe she muses sipping her tea
Benny was right
that even a bad person
has an ounce of good.