TRIP TO THE PALACE 1958

A BOY AND GIRL IN LONDON IN 1958 AND A TRIP TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE

Buckingham Palace?
Lydia's mother said
you want to take Lydia
to blooming Buckingham Palace?

she stood at her door
cigarette in her mouth
smoke rising to her eyes
making her squint

yes to see
the changing of the guards
I said

she looked at me sternly
what's your mother think
about you gallivanting
all over London?
she asked

I'm not gallivanting
we'll go by train
I said

she puffed out
smoke towards me
like some dragon

don't think her dad'd
want her going that far
the mother said

not far away by train
I said

LYDIA
she bellowed
over her thin shoulder

she gazed at me
the young boy
from the upstairs flats
and puffed harder
hair in rollers
the cigarette hanging
from her lips

Lydia came
beside her mother

yes?
Lydia said

this here boy
wants to take you
to blooming Buckingham
bloody Palace
her mother said
did you know
about this?

Lydia shook her head
thin girl with lanky hair
brown and unkempt
no didn't know
Lydia said
gazing at me
can I go?
she said

go
go to the bloody Palace
who do you think you are?
blooming royalty?
the mother said

it's history
I said
help us to appreciate
being English

too far
the mother said
crossing her arms
over her small breasts

where'd I get the money
for you two herbets
to go flying
all over the place?

we're not flying
I said
we're going by train
and I've money
my old man
gave me yesterday
for shining his shoes

Lydia gazed at her mother
then at me

her mother just
gazed at me
through smoke
and sighed

you'd better keep an eye
on her don't want her
going off getting lost
the mother said

she won't with me
I said
look after her
like she was royalty
I added
opening my jacket
and showing her
my 6 shooter toy gun

she was not impressed
don't be late my girl
or you'll feel my hand
on your backside
you understand?

Lydia nodded her head
I can go then?

just said so you silly mare
the mother said
gazing at me
with her smoke filled eyes

just be careful of her
she poked her thin finger
in my direction like a lance
then went back
inside the flat

we're going
to Buckingham Palace?
Lydia said

yes by train
I said

by train? she said

yes by train
I said

so she went in
to get a coat
and I stood
on the red brick doorstep
looking at the Square
thinking of the Palace
soon be there.