BENEDICT AND THE PERRY GIRL.

A BOY AND GIRL IN 1950S LONDON.

Lydia looked
from the bedroom window
of the downstairs flat
grass and the brick wall

of the flats opposite
a scan of blue sky
to the side
and above the roof top

in the living room
a TV was blaring
her brother's laughter
her father's voice

bellowing drunkenly
from the kitchen
her mother bellowing back
she walked

to the second hand
dressing table
and looked
at her skinny frame

her straight cut
light brown hair
brown eyes
giving her the stare

her big sister
(whom her mother
called a w***e
whatever that was

Lydia didn't know)
was asleep
in the double bed
behind her

as she peered at herself
snoring
the smell of booze
her blonde hair

in a mess
Lydia gave her sister
a glance
and left the room  

and through the living room
along the passage
by her parents rowing
in the kitchen

out the front door
and into the Square
fresh air breathed in
the pram sheds

across the way
the slope down
to the corner shop
people here and there

she sat
on the front door step
looking out
pulling the dull grey

dress hem
over her knees
as she'd seen
her sister do

when the Spiz boyfriend
sat next to her
when he came
Benedict came out

of from the stairs
to her right
she looked at him
watched him tilt

his cowboy hat
to one side
move the 6 shooter gun
neatly in the holster

on his belt
she watched him
move along
in front of her

going to shoot Injuns?
she shouted
he looked over
and smiled

gunfight at the OK Corral
he said
she nodded
he came over to her

and stood gazing at her
at her stained
black plimsolls
how's your brother Hemmy?

he asked
all right
she said
shame

Benedict said
if he throws a firework
at my sister again
I'll hit him harder

Lydia gazed at the boy
in his cowboy hat
and hazel eyes
and hand

on his 6 shooter gun
where you going?
she asked
through the Square

to get something
at the Penny shop
can I come?
she asked

if you like
he said
she moved off the step
and walked beside him

through the Square
by the other pram sheds
and other blocks of flats
pass the milk wagon

standing with the horse
eating from a nosebag
the milkman carrying
his milk to one

of the flats
she talked of her brother
and how he teased her
and tormented her

by putting spiders
down the neck
of her dress
of dropping worms

into her hair
or salt into her cup
of tea
Benedict listened

noticed her thin arms
her thin fingers
her light brown hair
uncombed

she talked about her
big sister's Spiv boyfriend
and how the other evening
they were lying on her bed

when she wanted
to go to bed
and how the Spiv
pinched her bottom

and laughed
Benedict paused
at the kerb
of Rockingham Street

to let a lorry go by
he  held her arm
so she wouldn't walk out
in front

the lorry went by
and they crossed the road
into Draper Street
and along by the shops

and he peered in the window
of the newspaper shop
with books in the window
and the Ivanhoe book

he wanted to buy
when he had enough money
(unless he could cadge some
from his old man)

onto the Penny shop
and still Lydia was talking
about her big sister
and how she dyed

her hair blonde
from the dull brown
the man behind the counter
looked at them

well what do you want?
Two 1d drinks please
and 8 blackjacks
and fruit salads

the man went off  
and Lydia said
I ain't got no money
she looked worried

my treat
Benedict said
she looked at him
standing there

his hat pushed back
can't pay you back
she said
don't matter

he said
didn't ask you to
she stood there
playing with her thin fingers

the man put the two drinks
on the counter
and the bag of sweets
and held out his hand

for the money
Benedict gave the man
the 4d from his jean's pocket
and took the drinks

and bag of sweets
and went outside
in the street
here

he said to Lydia
and gave her the 1d drink
in the glass bottle
with cap removed

she looked at him
then at the bottle
thanks
she said

and sipped from the bottle
they walked along the street
and Benedict showed
where to get in

at the bombed out
butcher's shop
across the road
at the back

through a gap
in the fence
there he took her
to the back entrance

and through a hole
made in the wooden board
and into the back
of the shop

smells
she said
smells of piss
he smiled

does a bit
he said
they sat on one
of the benches

and drank their drinks
in silence
and he shared the sweets
the blackjacks

and fruit salads
and she said
can't pay you back
don't get any money

unless from my gran
for my birthday
and as long as my dad
don't take it for booze

or f**s
don't want paying back
Benedict said
only 2d each

no big deal
she nodded
and unwrapped
the blackjack

and put it her mouth
and studied him
and his hat
and open necked

red and white shirt
and shyly
kissed his cheek
thanks

she said
he blushed
and looked through
the doorway

at the shop counter
where before the war
and bombs
customers got

their meat
and Sunday roast
and all seemed well
and beside him

sitting
drinking
and eating her sweets
was

(aged
like him)
the 9 year old  
Perry girl.