CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE 1962

A GIRL AND HER FAMILY IN 1962

Cat got your tongue?
Sheila's mother said
at dinner.

Wish cat'd got yours
Sheila thought
forking in a hot potato
no just got nothing to say
Sheila said
chewing on the food.

Don't talk with
your mouth full
what have I told you
about that
her mother said.

Sheila chewed
and said nothing
but eyed her father
sitting opposite
also saying nothing.

You asked me a question
Sheila said
I was only answering.

Answer once you
have chewed your food
not before
her mother said
and don't answer back.

Sheila ate in silence.

She mused on Benny.

Wished he was
at the dinner table.

She wondered if he
would have talked
with his mouth full.

Her father finished
chewing and swallowed.

He talked of work
holding his fork in mid air
with a piece of meat
hanging there.

Sheila wished Benny
had kissed her lunch time
on the field with other kids
in groups or walking
over the field talking.

But he didn't.

Not even when they
sat on the grass.

Her brother Burt
talked about a girl
he'd met.

His mother question him
about her.

Sheila couldn't give
a f**k about the girl.

Had he kissed the girl
she wondered
chewing the food.

She hated school
and lessons.

She was in
a bad mood.