I'D RATHER BE.

A BOY AND GIRL AT A BUS STOP WAITING FOR A SCHOOL BUS IN 1962

Bright morning
Yehudit says
as we meet
by the front gate
shame about school
I’d rather we were going
some place
more interesting
somewhere we could be
alone together

we walk down
the side of the road
towards the bus stop

we were
alone together Saturday
well a good part of it

well yes
but that was someone
else's wedding
and we were
in the choir
until afterwards

but the bubbly was good
and those other plates
of posh grub

we wait
by the bus stop
with others

I seem to recall
Roger had his fill
of those and bubbly
she says

I’d have preferred a beer
but the guy
handing them out
said I was too young

you are
you’re only
14 years old Benny

the bridegroom
looked terrified

the bride looked beautiful

she wasn't a bad dish

dish?
dish?
what a thing
to call a bride

the bus was coming
she stops talking
soon we'll sit apart
on the bus
(she doesn't want others
to yak if they see us
together on the bus)

the bus stops
we get on

she sits at the front
with her sister
and I sit towards
the back with Trevor

he talks of football
I watch Yehudit
at the front of the bus
and she looks
back at me

I don't know what
she's thinking
but I know
where I’d
rather be.