In thirty years you will look,
just like your father
You will look
– taller than most,
easier to laugh,
more tanned (you’ve spent the summer
outdoors) –
at a woman
by herself
packing her bags.
She cannot meet your eyes, but
watches you
sideways. Pays. Leaves
without speaking.
She sees you.
She knows who
you
were
Saturday, 6 September 2008
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Repeat prescription
Tick the items you need and
allow
two working days.
Why are you not taking
your statins? Make
an appointment. Have
your blood pressure checked
and a smear.
Talk to a doctor, explain
again.
Organise a blood test. Make it
early in the morning. Fast.
Drink nothing after 9pm
except
(if you must)
sips
of water.
Miss your appointment
and we will make you
a statistic, plot you
on a graph.
allow
two working days.
Why are you not taking
your statins? Make
an appointment. Have
your blood pressure checked
and a smear.
Talk to a doctor, explain
again.
Organise a blood test. Make it
early in the morning. Fast.
Drink nothing after 9pm
except
(if you must)
sips
of water.
Miss your appointment
and we will make you
a statistic, plot you
on a graph.
All together now
James
(£100 a week saved for the past two weeks
and the rest of his earnings
spent
on wine)
Joe
(finding himself
after two years lost. Playing
with James’s hair and
laughing)
Annie
(full of her first day in sixth form.
Loving it
and
Christian, re-tuning the guitar)
Ben-and-Linda
joined
at the hip
James, Joe, Annie, Ben-and-Linda and me.
James raids cupboards
and the fridge. Cooks tortellini
(ricotta and spinach) and a sauce made of tuna,
chillis, white wine and garlic. Offers
tuna to the cat.
(The cat, suspicious, suddenly has to wash
her back leg.)
Joe tucks himself
under the duvet. Watches TV for a while. Goes
to the cashpoint.
Annie goes
to bed.
Ben-and-Linda leaves.
A strong wind
blows.
(£100 a week saved for the past two weeks
and the rest of his earnings
spent
on wine)
Joe
(finding himself
after two years lost. Playing
with James’s hair and
laughing)
Annie
(full of her first day in sixth form.
Loving it
and
Christian, re-tuning the guitar)
Ben-and-Linda
joined
at the hip
James, Joe, Annie, Ben-and-Linda and me.
James raids cupboards
and the fridge. Cooks tortellini
(ricotta and spinach) and a sauce made of tuna,
chillis, white wine and garlic. Offers
tuna to the cat.
(The cat, suspicious, suddenly has to wash
her back leg.)
Joe tucks himself
under the duvet. Watches TV for a while. Goes
to the cashpoint.
Annie goes
to bed.
Ben-and-Linda leaves.
A strong wind
blows.
The interview (afternoon) 2
What would you do if you
were asked to do
something you thought
was wrong?
I wouldn’t do it.
What if your boss
was doing
the asking?
I’d explain. Work
on a compromise.
What if there was no compromise
to be had? What if there was only
the impossible
thing?
I wouldn’t do it.
What if doing the wrong thing
meant the difference
between feeding your children, keeping
the roof
over your heads, and
not?
No.
Oh and one last thing
. . . if a child
approached you sexually
A child? What kind of child? How old
is
this child?
What would you do?
were asked to do
something you thought
was wrong?
I wouldn’t do it.
What if your boss
was doing
the asking?
I’d explain. Work
on a compromise.
What if there was no compromise
to be had? What if there was only
the impossible
thing?
I wouldn’t do it.
What if doing the wrong thing
meant the difference
between feeding your children, keeping
the roof
over your heads, and
not?
No.
Oh and one last thing
. . . if a child
approached you sexually
A child? What kind of child? How old
is
this child?
What would you do?
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