EXCHANGE OF NICETIES.

A BOY AND HIS GRAN AT THE SEASIDE IN THE 1950S.

They what?

said Gran

they said we weren’t

 

to run around the rain shelter

you replied

did they now?

 

Well if you want to run 

around the rain shelter

my dears you run around

 

and up Gran got

and trotted around

to the couple

 

on the other side

of the circular

rain shelter

 

and words were said

and niceties exchanged

and the couple

 

got up and left

but Granddad had sat

where he was

 

staring out at

the grey mist

over the sea

 

the exchanging

of niceties was not for him

he preferred the colour

 

of the seaside town flowers

in a nearby bed

or the smell of the salty sea

 

and when you

and your sister

and Gran returned

 

to where he was sitting

he said

Sorted it then

 

and Gran said

Of course

and Granddad said

 

Good and looked at

the white hair

of his wife

 

and the grey/blue eyes

that stared fixedly at him

and her plump short stature

 

and added

I knew you’d see them off

you’ve got more bite

 

than the bleeding dog at home

and Gran laughed

and you

 

and your sister

went off to run around

the rain shelter

 

the grey mist

distorting the sea

and deserted beach

 

but not the sound

of gulls or sea

rushing on the shore

 

or of Gran standing

in front of the couple

hands on hips

 

a string of words

and angry sounds

coming from her lips.