GREY SKY STARE 1958

A BOY AND GIRL AND HER MOTHER IN LONDON IN 1958

You're going where?
Lydia's mother said

Padding Train Station
Lydia said gingerly

and how do you think
you're going to get there?
her mother asked

by tube train
I said

and who is going
to pay the fares?
she said
gawking at me

I've money
from my pocket money
leftover
I said

not sure we want her
to go swanning
all over London

we're not swanning
we're going by tube
I said
looking at Lydia
then at her old lady
with her hair rollers in
and hair net
and cigarette out
the corner of her mouth

we'll be careful
Lydia said
won't fall
on the line
or get too near
the steam trains

the Mother puffed
out smoke
and stared
at her daughter

look at you
standing there
with that green dress on
and your hair unbrushed
go get it brushed
and I'll see about
you swanning off
to Paddington

so Lydia went indoors
and I stood
on the red brick doorstep

and her old lady
looked at me
and said
what's with the trains?
why trains?
why can't you be
like other kids
and go play
in the park
or ride your bike
or such?

we like steam trains
I said
like the sound
and smell
the power of them
the sight of them
puffing out steam
and such things

ok ok
she said
don't go on so

and she folded her arms
and gazed over
my shoulder
at the sky

looks like rain
she said

we'll be undercover
I said

don't your mother
worry about you?

sure she does
but she trusts me
to be sensible
and careful
I said

she raised an eyebrow
well you better
take care of Lydia
don't want no trouble
or falling in front
of trains and the like
she said

I'll guard her
with my life
I said

you better
she said
and went indoors

leaving me to look
at the peeling painted
blue door
and wait for Lydia
to do her hair

and I just turned around
and gave
the grey sky
a stare.