Earnshaw

Would he come in and see my Meccano crane?

He could help me build something else,

but he always wanted to play out instead.

Called himself Billy Liddell, can’t recall

who I was, a third division goalie, I think,

chump chasing balls belted down the alley.

Suddenly the match would be over: time

for a bout of boxing, alley walls for ropes,

beating me up till they called us in for tea.

Next day at the door - was I coming out to play,

or watch his dad’s TV, the first in our road,

and his sister, all dolled up and growing tits.

Dropped me like a manager for moving house,

from best friend to half-hearted nods at school;

five years with his new team and then he left.

Heart attack, my mother said one day over tea,

with dribbling between goals, a woman in each,

scoring high on stress, only thirty-two he was.

.

Reviews

[Beccy]

The user and the used. Same as it was, same I expect as it ever will be; and children are past masters.

Still, only thirty two you say; how sweet the taste of comeuppance.

Beccy.

[Gerald Parker]

Children need friends and sometimes they're bullies. I'm pleased mine weren't bullied. Thanks, Beccy.