AUNTIE'S FRIEND 1951

A BOY'S AUNT'S FRIEND COMES IN 1951

Auntie's friend
came to Auntie's place
and knocked at the door

is your mother at home?

no
I said
but my aunt is

is it Eileen?
she said

no I'm Benny
my aunt is Eileen  
I said

I meant your aunt
the woman said

her daughter appeared
beside her
it was the girl
called Elsie
who looked at me
glumly

I'll go get her
I said

Auntie's mutt
growled in his dog box

I told my aunt
a woman had come
to see her

o
Auntie said
hello Milly
I forgot
you were coming
come in

so Milly came in
and her daughter
followed her in
and they bother sat
on the settee

and Auntie and Milly
began to talk
and I stood
gazing at Elsie
who stared back at me
her face expressionless

then she said
how old are you?

four
I said

you don't look four
Elsie said
you look five

well I'm five in December
how old are you?

she looked at her mother
who was busy talking

five in November
so I'm older than you
and Mum said
not to go with boys
who are too young

she said that?
I asked

well that's what
she says to others
so I guess
she means me too
Elsie said

I see
I said

where's your mother?
she said

at home

where's home?
she asked

London
I said

why are you here?

because Auntie wanted
to borrow me
while my Uncle's
in Korea

what's he doing
in Korea?

fighting
he's a soldier
where's your dad?

she looked at her mother
then back at me
Germany some place  
she said

want to see
my toy soldiers?
I asked

no
she said
don't like toy soldiers
got any dolls?

no
I said

she sniffed the air
and turned away
her head.