MILKA'S CLOSE CALL 1964.

A BOY AND GIRL AND A CLOSE CALL IN 1964

You leave Benny upstairs
and go downstairs
as fast as you can
hurriedly dressed,
Benny’s juices
leaking down your leg.

Your mother is standing
by the larder looking in;
she turns when you
come in the kitchen:
ah there you are,
help me put
the shopping away,
your mother says.

Yes ok,
Benny’s just gone
to the toilet,
you say,
giving an excuse
for Benny
to be upstairs,
hoping your mother
won't get suspicious.

Ok, O those shops
were busy,
I should have taken you
with me,
just as well
I took the car
or I’d have never
got this lot on the bus.

You help her
put the shopping away,
wondering how long
before Benny came down,
having dressed quickly.

So how long has Benny
been here?
Your mother asks,
tucking the potatoes
at the back
of the larder.

Not long,
you reply,
listening out
for Benny.

That's that done
for another week,
Mother says,
and comes out
of the larder.

Just then Benny
comes down the stairs
and into the kitchen;
he smiles at your mother:
call of nature,
he says.

Your mother
smiles at him:
want a cup
of tea Benny?
She says.

He smiles:
yes that'd be nice,
he says.

You don't like it
when he's so friendly
with your mother
or she with him.

He gives you a wink
once your mother's back
is turned;
you nod
and mouth:
it's all right.

He nods back
and you both sit
at the table,
while your mother
gets down mugs
and put three spoonfuls
of tea in the teapot.

Benny juices damp
on your thigh,
and he's sits smiling
giving you the eye.