Polos

Mr Higham's class, 1968.
St Mary's RC School, Marnhull
Me, top right.

Mrs Higham

lost her voice in

the classroom

when it was being decorated

so we had to have

 sewing

in the canteen.

Outside

the canteen was a great big black

tunnel of corrugated iron

but there was

a

yellow

room inside

with

salt and pepper

and vinegar

in glass

shakers

and great big

 shiny metal

water jugs

and

red and green and blue and gold

beakers

and benches.

We had to sit

on the benches

at the dining tables

to do the sewing.

Mrs Higham

came over and whispered across

the tables.

Fingers on lips, everyone,

 she whispered.

She leaned right over to me.

Christopher,

would you run to the

office

and

fetch

the register.

You could

smell the polos.