THUMB CUTTING 1958

A TEN YEAR OLD BOY AND GIRL AND A THUMB CUTTING RITUAL IN LONDON IN 1958

A cutting of thumbs,
thin sliced across the back,
made by Benny's
small penknife
and thumbs pressed
against each to each,
blood mixed then
he dabbed Ingrid's
bleeding thumb until
it ceased and placed
a small plaster over,
then did his own.

She looked at her
plastered thumb.

So we're blood-brother
and blood-sister now?
She said.

According to some
blood oath I read
somewhere we are,
he said.

She seemed pleased
and rubbed her thumb.

He put a plaster over
his thumb and looked at her.

What shall I say
if my dad asks about it?
She said.

Just say you cut it
while cutting an apple
or something ,
Benny said.

She looked uncertain.

He'll know I'm lying,
he always does,
he gawks at me
and says you're lying girl
and wallops me.

He wallops you anyway,
Benny said.

He walloped you
the other day for going
to church, how's that
make sense?

She looked at her thumb.

Her father did.

He smacked her head
the other day for looking
at him when he lost
his door key and said
she'd hidden it.

What now?
Benny said.

Don't know,
she said.

Could go out to
the herbalist shop
and get some
sarsaparilla that helps
make blood,
he said.

She looked at her thumb.

Will it be all right now?
She said.

Sure it'll be fine
after an hour,
your old man
won't even know,
Benny said.

Well? Shall be go
to the herbalist?
He said.

She looked at him,
guess so.

So they walked
from his bedroom
and he said to his mother,
who was doing washing
in a big tub,
we're just going
to the herbalist shop.

She wiped her brow
with the back of her hand.

What have you done
to your thumb?

Cut it by mistake,
he said.

Ingrid hid her thumb
behind her back.

O well be careful,
his mother said.

She looked at Benny
and then Ingrid.

You all right, Ingrid?

Yes, thank you,
Ingrid said,
smiling weakly.

So they walked out
the flat and down
the concrete stairway
and down into the Square.

Can someone marry
someone after
the blood thingy?
She asked as they walked
down the slope
towards Rockingham street.

He frowned.

I guess so,
he said,
gazing up Meadow Row
straight ahead.