Everyone laugh and make jokes.
I stay far,
picking
dead leaf,
cut grass,
pongy food,
sharp glass.
Many caseworkers never speaking to me.
They just wave and point to filth I should see.
‘Understand?’
I nod my head
Yes, I understand.
I’m not the real no-hope.
Lady Dawn swings her flower dress around her bum and
hums tunes.
I think she is liking me.
She not believe I am wild animal
like other delinquents.
Because
I not wild animal.
I am pussy cat.
I come out from massive tree,
do the baby step to go nearer to girl from my school.
She stands not with the others.
No laughing or making joke.
Her eyes on ground
in deep thinkings.
She look depressing,
eyes all puffy red.
Her sack is empty
of rubbish.
Dawn can add days if we are lazy dogs,
if we don’t helping our community.
Maybe she need my rescue.
A friend.
A man for muscle work.
My baby stepping bring me metres from her.
Two red eyes flick up to me.
I shine my smile.
She sniff hard.
Empty sack is no good.
‘You want my helping you?’ I ask.
She look in air
and does a snigger laugh,
which is good because
laughing is the medicine for not being sad.
‘You talking to me?’ she say.
‘I talk yes.’
‘What do you want?’
‘You want some my leaves?’
‘No thanks, creep.’
I not know creep, but her voice tell me it’s same as
dick
knob
wanker
prick.
‘I am Nicu.’
I say my name to show my friendly.
‘I know who you are.’
‘And your name, please?’
‘Nicu, what sort of name is that?’
‘I from Romania,’ I say.
‘Romania! Long way from home.’
I do laugh because I am long way.
She do laugh from belly also.
She ask me for cigarette,
I tell her no way because I not
want to die.
She do more laughing.
‘You’re as weird as a bucket of spanners.’
I pretend I know her meaning.
I want to tell her how much beautiful she is,
not like village girls
Tata wanting me to marry.
Sorry, not wanting.
Forcing.