Enid and Stone Collecting 1957.

Benny and I

were collecting small stones

on the bomb site

by Meadow Row

for his catapult

when Benny said:

Here comes a rozzer.

I looked up

and I saw the rozzer

come towards us.

What are you two up to?

he said.

Collecting stones

for my catapult

Benny said.

These stones

are private property

the rozzer said

peering at us with dark eyes.

Just small stones

Benny said.

Put them back

the rozzer said

and move on.

We emptied our pockets of stones

and threw them on the ground.

What's your name?

the rozzer said.

I'm Eddie Suffolk

and she's my sister Rachel

Benny said

before I could speak.

Where do you live?

the rozzer said.

28 Bolton House

Benny lied.

Move on

the rozzer said

and gave us a hard gaze.

We walked off the bomb site

and walked down Meadow Row.

Why did you say

I was your sister?

I asked.

It just came into my head,

Benny said.

We went to another bomb site

Benny knew

and began to collect

small stones again

just as it began to rain.