SAD NEWS 1960

A 12 YEAR OLD BOY AND GIRL IN LONDON IN 1960

I was going
to the baker shop
across Rockingham Street
to get bread rolls
for my mother

one early morning
before school
and I saw Fay
sitting on

the concrete stairs
of the flats crying
what’s up?
I said

sitting beside her
Daddy spanked me
for seeing you yesterday
she said

through her tears
then Mum had a go at him
and there was uproar
and I think Mum

will leave him soon
and take me with her
o it's too much
she said

I offered her
my handkerchief
(fresh from my pocket)
what's his problem?

we were only sitting
and talking and sharing
a bottle of lemonade?
I said

( I knew the guy
didn’t like me
but why take it out
on her?)

she wiped her eyes
and looked at me
her eyes were red
and damp

he said it's a sin
to see you
as you're not Catholic
and he had forbidden me

to see you
she said
but we live
in the same block of flats

pass each other
on the stairs
I said
she laid her head

on my shoulder
and sniffed
I kissed her head
and put an arm

about her shoulder
look I got to get
some bread rolls
want to come?

best not
in case he sees me
and there's more trouble
she said

ok
look I'll see you later
once your old man's
gone off to work

I said
she nodded
and I went the down
the stairs

and across the Square
and down the slope
to the baker's shop
knowing her mother

would take her away soon
and then I’d not see
her again maybe
and that would be bad

and the thought of it
made me sad.