TRAINS AND FREEDOM.

A BOY AND GIRL IN 1950S LONDON

Watching trains?
Lydia's
old man says
where abouts?

Waterloo
I tell him

I smell beer
on his breath
as he sways
on the step

Lydia
stands behind
her old man
gazing through
the narrow gap
between his
arm and chest

why watch trains?
he asks me

we like trains
I tell him
the steam trains

he stares hard
hands on hips
this right Kid?
he asks her
looking down
with glazed eyes

yes Daddy
she replies
timidly

ok Kid
you can go
but you boy
keep her close
keep her safe
he tells me

sure I will
I tell him

you'd better

course I will

he goes in
grumpily
walking slow
down the hall

Lydia
looks at me
her small frame
seeming so
under fed

let's go then
I tell her

she lets loose
a small smile
and we go
through the Square
down the slope

enough coins
for the fare
on the bus

and maybe
2 doughnuts
1 coffee
and 1 tea.