SHOULD HAVE.

TWO SCHOOL BOYS AND A GIRL IN 1950S LONDON.

Derek said
she smells peculiar
and don't she's
brush her hair?

I was standing with him
in the playground
by the steps
that went down

into the bombed out
cellar of a house
which was where
the playground was

I like her
I said
watching her walk
hesitantly around

the groups
of boys and girls
in game or conversation
bet she's got

lice or fleas
or whatever
he said
she's got an old man

who beats her
and a mother
who doesn't care
I said

well she could at least
wash properly
he said
despite the hardship

and such
my mother
let her bathe
at our place

the other Sunday night
I said
didn't find
no lice or fleas

she had said
just dirt and grime
you didn't bathe
with her then?

Derek said laughing
no she bathed alone
my mother making sure
she was washing ok

Derek looked over at her
still smells peculiar
he said
it's the soap

we gave her
to take home
I guess
fancy a game

of cards?
he said
taking  football cards
out of his back pocket

sure
I said
and so we went down
by a vacant wall

and flicked our cards
to see got nearest
the wall and see
who won

whose cards
but out
of the corner
of my eye

I saw Ingrid
walking about
the playground
her dull flower

patterned dress
having seen
better days
her scuffed shoes

shyly making tread
should be with her
I thought
but carried on

playing cards
with Derek instead.