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THE BEGINNING OF NIGHT.
Once school was done
and after your tea
of beans on toast
you went with Janice
to the narrow passages
behind the ABC cinema
evening creeping in
she next to you
getting the jitters
street lights
here and there
casting shadows
making pretend giants
and you'd pick up
dog-ends
from the ground
and put them
in your pocket
what do you want
them for?
she asked
make myself
a cigarette later
you said
cigarette?
she said disapprovingly
you mustn't
that's horrible
and those
left over cigarette butts
have got
people's spit in them
but they make
good cigarettes
you said
her face grimaced
you took in
her red beret
to the side
of her fair hair
her blue eyes
on fire
if I did that
Gran'd spank me
well and truly
Janice said
trick is
not to be caught
you said
a rat ran by
and she screamed
a rat ran by
my foot
she stepped back
and grabbed your arm
yes you get them here
at this time
of an evening
you said
I shouldn't be here
she said quietly
Gran thinks
I'm in the park
well as far she knows
you still are
you said
but that's lying
she said
no it is being
careful with the truth
you said
you walked along
the passageway
and came out
on to the New Kent Road
and at the front
of the cinema
with its big billboards
and little photos
of the film being shown
and what was
to be shown
you peered
at the photographs
Janice beside you
how about
I bring you here
on Saturday?
you said
she peered
at the photographs
then at you
it's a cowboy film
she said
yes and its got
good gunfights in it
and I can practice
how they do it
she frowned
not sure
if Gran'd let me
she said
say you're with me
and she will
you said
she didn't look
convinced
bit her lip
treat you
to an ice cream too
you said
how much will it cost?
she asked
1/-3d
you said
but don't worry
my old man will pay
he usually does
she bit her lip
a little more
have to ask Gran
she said
ok
you said
then you walked
along the road
past some shops
then stopped
at the fish and chips shop
smell that
you said and sniffed
she sniffed
isn't that good
you said
she sniffed again
smells of vinegar
she said
and fish and chips
you said
she looked at you
her blue eyes
lit up
by the light
from the shop
want some chips?
you asked
I've no money
she said
I've got 6d
that'll get us
a bag to share
she nodded
so you both
went into the shop
and the warmth
and the smell
and the noise
from some radio
blasting out
a Bill Haley song
and ordered a 6d
bag of chips
and added
salt and vinegar
and walked out
and across the road
and down Meadow Row
the moonlight bright
lighting up
the beginning of night.
