G to E after a week working in S
an hours journey supposed to be
diverted to M because of snow
so I caught a train from the airport to C
after a ‘phone call asking if I could stay over
another train to S to stop at my stepmothers
the old family home
she couldn’t drive out to me she told as it was dark
so I walked the four miles to her house there
via the grog shop of course two cans of Newcastle brown
& a half bottle of gin
needing something after the freezing night air
we sat together the tv turned up to 11
as she is slightly deaf if too vain for deaf aids
offered me a slice of toast was all she had in she said
as I sat warming up trying to decompress from the hours
of trains the turmoil the walking the cold
drinking my cans of newkie’ brown
the tv was all reality shows or soaps with people
going on or shouting at each other
when she asked
you know my filigree silver cup?
the one with the blue glass bowl?
I think so I offered
well since you were last here I can’t find it
no idea I said downing the second can
then getting up to take a call in the kitchen
from my love in our home there in the Devon snow
I’ll be on a train home tomorrow its five hours
if they’re running there wasn’t one tonight
I’ll see you soon hope you’ve got enough wood in
for the log burner xx night night
& went back in to the roar of the tv
the half of gin
where observing me from her la-z-boy she offered
you do drink a lot don’t you?
are you some kind of alcofrolic?
neilbenbow 