JANICE AND THE CATAPULT 1956

CHILDREN IN LONDON IN 1956

Janice held
Benny's catapult
in her small hand
and taking a small stone
from Benny's held out palm.

She fitted it in the pouch
and taking the pouch
between her fingers
she pulled it back
towards her chest
and closing an eye.

Where shall I aim it?
she said.

Aim at the tins
I have put on the wall
of that bombed out house
Benny said.

She looked at the tins
and aimed.

I can't see
the catapult end
she said.

You have the wrong
eye closed
Benny said.

She closed
the other eye
o I see it now
which tin?

Any tin
he said.

She pulled
the pouch back
as far she she could
and then released it.

The stone whizzed
past the tins and hit
the wall behind
with a clatter.

I missed
she said.

You did
he said.

Shall I try again?
She said.

He handed her
another stone
and she put it
in the pouch
and pulled back
and aimed
then released it.

It hit a tin side on
and sent it spinning
out of sight.

I did it
she said.

You did
he said.

She jumped
up and down excitedly
and handed Benny
back his catapult.

He smiled
and went
and got his stones
over the low wall
finding the tin.

He mused on Janice
and what her gran
would say
if she knew
the catapult being
(as far as she
was concerned)
the big sin.