Village Squatters
'You'll not go near Tees Cottage,' Grandma warned
and I, inquisitive as a puppy, squirmed through
the hawthorn hedge and gazed on chaos. No neat
rows of cabbages and peas, no cane-twining beans
or heavy-headed dahlias as in my Grandpa's kingdom
but interesting mounds of scrap. Frame of a bike,
saucepans without handles, a mattress sprouting springs
through rusty tick. Tall chimneys of twisted brick.
Snakelike I wriggled through the grass until a voice
brought me, blushing, to my feet, smoothing creases
from my green stained dress, feet rooted with fear.
She leaned against an ancient apple tree, her face
and arms so brown and gnarled I took her, at first,
for a tree sprite, gazed wide-eyed at crusted toes
like roots splayed on dusty earth. Her grim smile
showed blackened teeth but drew me to her side.
Reaching out she caught a curl, gently stroked
the auburn strands, crooked a dirty finger, beckoned,
'Come with me, child.' She led me where the cottage
door lolled on broken hinge. Inside all was darkness,
dirt. The room enclosed me like a prison, windows
cobweb-barred, thick with menace. She caught my hand
pulled me to the furthest wall, felt my fear and sighed.
'Doan 'ee be frit, my maid. Jes lookee 'ere.' I opened
fear-closed eyes and saw upon a ragged rug a golden
body, heard the thump of friendly tail and saw wriggling
rumps of suckling whelps. Down on my knees I flopped
and stroked the matted fur, gently touched each pup.
Bedtime. Still hugging my guilty secret and Grandma
tut-tutting as she brushed my hair, teasing out the fleas.
Page(s) 33
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