ENID'S FEAR 1957

A GIRL FEARS HER FATHER MAY RETURN TO HIS OLD WAYS AGAIN

She's unnerved
getting down
carefully

from the large
oak table
her father

eyeing her
with calm eyes
yes Enid

you can go
dinner's done
grace is said

Father says
her mother
stacks the plates

pudding bowls
knives and forks
and the spoons

are you out
Enid dear?
Father asks

watching her
standing there
her eyes large

behind her
spectacles
she panics

what to say
then decides
if I may

she utters
watching him
an old fear

of him there
still stirring
awaiting

a sharp slap
or hard whack
he sits back

in his chair
where abouts?
he asks her

can I see
Benedict?
she asks him

her bladder
filling up
hands shaking

I expect
that you may
he replies

with that cool
gaze of eyes
Enid goes

very slow
needs to wee
what of us?

Mother asks
he whispers
in her ear

she giggles
Enid sighs
shuts the door

of the loo
and sits down
there's laughter

from the room
but she feels
a sense of
coming doom.