Picking out
the right sized stone
was just the start
and Lydia helped
picking up
this one then
that from
the bomb site
and showing it
to him
in her small palm
he took it
and placed it
in the catapult sack
and pulled back
and aimed
at some tin can
he'd set up
some distance away
and it go
and the tin can
went flying with a zing
and she laughed
and said
you got it straight on
and clapped
her hands together
then looked around
for another
while he went
and set the tin can
up again
on the stone wall
of what had once been
the side of a house
now blown
wide apart
he watched her
searching
all intent
as if
she were seeking gold
or coins that had dropped
she liked being
his ammunition collector
better than being
at home
with her snoring
older sister
and her mother
in hell frozen over mood
and her father
sleeping off
the night before booze
better here
with Benedict
being his
ammunition supplier
his right hand girl
besides he often
bought her a drink
of pop or sweets
from the Penny shop
his 9 year old features
seeming older
and her 8 year old face
seeming younger
thin
pale
her hands
frail looking
fingers
skin and bones
here
she said
here is this OK?
and she ran to him
and showed him
and he said
yes just right
and he put it
in the sack
of the catapult
and aimed
then said
hey you want to try?
but she shook her head
no I might hit
something
I ought not to
and besides
I like watching you
and so he aimed again
and let it go
and it zoomed
through the air
and caught the tin
and it flew spinning
with a yelping sound
and hit the ground
and she thought
of her big sister
throwing up
in the early hours
after the binge
and night out
and her mother
bellowing out
in the early hours
you bloody whore
and her father saying
O quit the mouth
let the kid learn
her own way
and she Lydia
turning over
away from
her sister's butt
and back
the sound of vomiting
in her ears
and he tucking
the catapult in
the back pocket
of jeans
thought of his younger sister
getting herself
run over by a car
cuts and bruises
a small scar
otherwise OK
the other day
and right
he said
looking at Lydia
come let's go
get us
a penny drink of pop
from the Penny shop
and she smiled
and walked beside him
his John Wayne swagger
cowboy hat
on his head
ready to shoot
any bad cowboys
who came along
bang bang dead.
AMMUNITION COLLECTOR.
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