AT MILLY'S PLACE 1951

A BOY AND AUNT AT A FRIEND'S PLACE IN 1951

Auntie met her friend Milly
in Milly's place
at the other side
of the barrack grounds

and she took me along
not wanting
(or maybe willing)
to leave me behind

with the black mutt
back at her place
sit down Eileen
I'll get us tea and biscuits

o fine
Auntie said
did Benny want a drink?
Milly asked

would you like a drink Benny?
Auntie asked
have you lemonade?
I asked

Milly said no but
she had orange juice
the stuff you can give babies
but it's good stuff

Milly said
I said that'd be good
her daughter Elsie
came in to the room

straight faced
carrying a doll
by the neck
(motherly kid)

hello Elsie
Auntie said
hello
Elsie replied

and walked to her mother
and took hold
of her skirt
are you shy?

Auntie asked  
the kid said nothing
but stared at me
with her beady eyes

Elsie
Eileen asked you
a question
it is rude

not to answer
Milly said
not shy
Elsie replied

her eyes not
leaving me
I looked at the doll
(slowly being strangled)

it had a dull
pink dress on
and little else
its hair was yellowy dull

and matted
nice doll
I said
Elsie looked at me deeper

and said
her name's Miss White
why Miss White?
I asked

because she is white
Elsie said
or pink
I said

Auntie and Milly
talked over by the oven
where Milly
was stirring something

she's white
Elsie said
my dad brought it back
from Germany

is it a German doll?
I asked
no
she said glumly

it's China
and looked at her mother
by the oven
o

I said
can I play with it?
no
she said

get your own doll
she hugged her doll
tighter to her chest
I don't want a doll

I just want to play
with your doll
I said
well you can't

she said
o right
I said
4 year old boys

don't play with dolls
they play with guns
and toy soldiers
and such stuff

she said
have you got any guns
or toy soldiers?
I asked

no
she said
and walked away
and that was me
done for for the day.