SATURDAY MORNING RIDE.

You both rode your bicycles
to the small church
along the lane
and parked your bikes

 

against a tree
in the churchyard
out of sight from the lane
will there be anyone in there?

 

Milka asked
as you tried
the old wooden door
don't think so

 

people only come here
one Sunday in the month
you said
you opened the door

 

and walked in
it smelt of damp
and oldness
and no one was there

 

you walked up the aisle
and looked at the old pews
and stained glass windows
people still come here?

 

she said
guess so
you said
kind of old isn't it

 

you stood looking
back at her
her dark hair
brought into a ponytail

 

her jeans and green top
do you like the place?
you said
for what?

 

she said
to visit
you said
been to better places

 

she said moodily
thought you
were going to take me
somewhere

 

we could be alone
and kiss and such
she added
looking around the church

 

we are alone
you said
yes but hardly
the place to kiss

 

and do things
she said
we can kiss here
you said

 

then what?
she said
she walked down the aisle
looking about the place

 

you watched her
we could have ridden
to the pond place
and did more

 

she said
let's just sit
and get the feel
of the place

 

you said
she reluctantly walked
back to you
and you sat in

 

one of the pews together
I wonder how many couples
have walked down
this aisle as man and wife?

 

you said
a few unfortunate couples
I guess
she said

 

you smiled
some make a go of it
you said
don't get any ideas

 

she said
I'm not ready
for that stuff yet
do your brothers

 

still needle you
about going out
with me?
you asked

 

not any more
they got bored with it
in the end
besides you're

 

their friend
and I’m just their sister  
they said
you ought to see a quack

 

after going out with
she said unsmiling  
and my mother
trusts me with you

 

which is annoying
why annoying?
I wanted her to be worried
that I was doing things

 

and have her look at me
like I was a no good whore
you laughed
what for?

 

to see her reaction
she trusts me
you said
well she shouldn't

 

Milka said
not after
what we have been up to
it's not always

 

what you do
it's what people think you
do that makes them
judged you

 

you said
I don't like this place
she said
let's go elsewhere

 

ok
you said
and so you got out
of the pews

 

and walked out
of the church
and got on your bikes
and rode off

 

into the Saturday morning air
giving her moving hips
as she rode
a happy stare.

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