TO ANOTHER DAY 1962

A GIRL AND HER MOTHER AND THE BOY AT SCHOOL IN 1962

So who is this Benedict?
Yochana's mother said
over breakfast

Yochana gazed at her mother
put down her spoon
a boy in my class at school
she said

her mother sipped her tea
looked at her daughter
and he kissed you?

yes we did
both of us
Yochana said
pushing it a bit
now that her father
had said her mother
was not to hit again

you're still a child
the mother said
sitting back
in her chair
eyeing her daughter
unhappily

I’m 14
and can feel things
Yochana said
pushing it a bit further

you have a talent
a musical gift
I don't want to see
it wasted on some boy
at that school
the mother said firmly

Yochana ate some cereal
from her spoon
unsure of what
to say or do

I can still practise
and see Benedict
she said
after the swallow
of cereal
he likes my playing piano
she added

the mother looked
at the table
turned her cup
in her hands

bring him here
after school one day
the mother said

I can't
Yochana said

why not?
the mother said

he lives in a village
away a bit from school
Yochana said

I see
the mother said

she sipped more tea
maybe he could
stay here one weekend
and have the spare room
the mother said
eyeing her daughter carefully

you'd let Benedict stay?
Yochana said

if you promise me
to practise your music
and no funny business
while he's here
the mother said

funny business?
Yochana said
what do you mean?

keep up with your
music understand?
the mother said

Yochana looked at her mother
wondering if she
was dreaming
her mother saying
what she had

he can come?

the mother nodded
providing your father agrees

Yochana ate her cereal

her mother
sipped her tea
wondering what
the boy was like
and what Adam her husband
would say

still she thought
leave that to another day.