LIZBETH'S NEED.

A BOY AND GIRL IN SCHOOL IN 1961

It was raining
and we were in
the school assembly hall
waiting
for the school buses
to take us home

Lizbeth put her hands
around my waist
and said
guess who?

Mrs G
with the stutter?
I said

she released her hands
and I turned around
no it's me
she said

I guess as much
I said

why did you say
Mrs G?

the first name
that came
into my head
I said

she frowned
then looked around
the hall

how long
before your bus comes?
she asked

shouldn't be long

I wish
there was a room
in this darn school
we could go

why's that?
I asked

she looked at me
seriously
and drew me
away
from other kids nearby

so we could
she said

could what?

you know

play cards?

no
you know
her voice
was a whisper
but a heavy loaded one

play strip poker?

she spelt out the words
with her lips
S-E-X

O I see
I said

I tried hard
to imagine
any room
for such a purpose
but she looked
around the hall
as if a magic room
would appear

can't have it all
I guess
I said

hey Benny
a voice called
the bus is coming

sorry got to go
I said to Lizbeth
try not
to carry on
without me

and I went through
the crowd of kids
and prefects
to the exit
and out through the rain
to the bus
that was waiting

I thinking of Lizbeth
and her need
for sex and mating.