Popcorn

He suggested a

Movie Night,

said we’d watch anything I wanted

after he’d had a

quick shower.

He loved

The Full Monty,

it made him laugh out loud,

so that was what I chose,

what I wanted for us both,

had the TV ready and everything.

He also liked salty popcorn,

fresh,

so I made some

in a pan on the hob,

the corn

pop

pop

popping into puffs.

But I popped so much

the oil got too hot,

the kitchen too smoky

and the alarm was raging,

filling the house with

noise.

Dad ran into the kitchen, hair wet.

Jesus hell! he shouted,

and before I could

explain about his

popcorn

surprise

he had me by the wrist

and was twisting it,

twisting it,

and hurting me into the garden,

where I was made to

sit

for several

cold hours

and think carefully

about my behaviour.