MEETING AT LUNCH TIME RECESS.

[dadio]

Christina sits with friends on the school playing field. Gossip engaged about her. Lessons talk. She sees over by the fence, of the boy's playground, Benedict with a friend talking. Will he come over? Hope so. A girl on her left laughs; some joke is exchanged. She watches Benedict move with the friend. He talked of Elvis yesterday. Said he heard him sing on a foreign radio station. A girl on her right talks of something her sister said about her boyfriend. There is giggling. Christina watches as Benedict gestures towards her to his friend. They both look her way. She looks down at the grass, brushes a hand ver. grass blades. The girl named Shirley says her boyfriend kissed her the night before outside her cottage and it was fabulous she boasts smiling. Christina puts her hands over her knees as she sits cross-legged. He might come over. He's talking still. A girl called Mary (whom the boys call four eyes) says she wants to be a nun when she grows up. Christina sees Benedict leave his friend and begins to walk up on the grass towards her. He's coming. Mustn't blush. Leave these here or they'll want to know all the ins and outs. She gets up from the grass and walks towards him. Shirley asks where she's going, but she ignores her and concentrates on walking with that wiggle she's seen Marilyn Monroe do in the movies. He is near. What shall I say to him? She feels herself begin to blush. The other girls she had left behind call out. He smiles on seeing her and greets her shyly. She takes his hand in hers to lead him away from the giggling girls on the grass. Warm hand. Skin on skin. They walk over the grass talking. He talks of the woodwork lessons he had that morning. Waste of time, he says, no talent for it. She listens to him, takes his every word in her mind, moves them over in her mind as if they were boiled sweets. She squeezes his hand tighter. He talks on about this tool and that in the woodwork lesson, this saw and that, how they were used and I didn't care a fig anyway, he says. He asks her what she has done that morning. She tells of the double science, the teacher going on and on about such a thing and how it related to some other thing. His thumb rubs my skin. Rubs the back of my hand. If only. Too many eyes. She talks of her mother lecturing her about her unmade bed; needs airing, her mother had said. Spittle on her mother's bottom lip. They reach the edge of the woods just off the playing field. Out of bounds. They stand there looking back at the other boys and girls on the playing field. A game of football is in play. The friend Benedict was talking to is there running. Groups of girls were sitting in a circle talking. Some walk in pairs or in groups of four or more. They walk backwards slowly into the woods, looking out to see who was watching. None is. They reach back until they are out of sight. Hands locked. Eyes peering around them. Out of bounds. Some still went there. None now. Just them. He brings her into his arms. She feels his hands on her back. She has her hands around his neck. They kiss. Lips on lips. Warm, wet, his tongue entering, touching hers. Sensuous. The lips stick.Tongues moving over each the other. She closes her eyes. Hears him breathing. Breathes in ad out at the corner of her mouth. Hands move about her spine, rubbing, gently. His finger touches her at the base of her spine. Feels it there. Lingering, pressing. She opens her eyes to narrow slits. He has eyes closed. She shuts her eyes. His hand moves down on to her buttock. She feels. Opens her mouth. His mouth pushes nearer. His hand on her back and buttock. Hot flushes. Heartbeats fast. They part. Look around. Listen for sounds. The trees reach skywards, glimpse of clouds through spaces over head, blue of sky. Their hands fall away from each the other. She senses things. Body stirs. He looks towards the playing field. Ears cocked. Will he touch again? Hope so. Kiss me. Touch. Hands touch me. She talks of silly things. Mind in blur. Body hungry for more. He stands hesitant. Looks at her. He holds her to his body again. She dissolves. Wants his hands touching. Hot. Feels hot. His finger runs down her spine. Hand on her upper back, near her small bra strap. Can hardly breathe. His finger runs slowly over her left buttock. His kiss wets her neck. She holds him tighter to her body, her bust against his chest. Presses him closer. Senses sensations. He kisses her ear, nibbles, kisses. A sound nearby. Bird flies from a branch to another. Noisily. Silly bird. They stand apart. Bodies tingling. Voices from the playing field. Laughter. Shouts. He puts his hands into his trouser pockets. She straightens her grey skirt. Brushes off. Habit. Her body tingles in protest. He fiddles. Brings his hands out of pockets. She wants him again. Lips on lips. More. She stands uneasily. Prefects nearby, he says. They move back. Her hand reaches for his. Touches. Kiss me. He looks out at the playing field. His eyes focusing. Narrowing. She watches him. Her fingers rubbing his. They have moved on, he says. The prefects. Best go, he adds, taking her forward to the edge of the woods. His hand holding hers. Want him more. Going to part soon. They reach the edge looking out. You go first, he says, I will follow after. They part. Hands release each the other. She moves slowly on to the grass. She searches around her, walks further on. None notice. Someone calls out. A goal is scored. A girl laughs in a group. She walks on, not looking back. Sun hot. Blue of sky. Clouds floating by. She reaches half way through the field. Stops and turns. Benedict is lingering by the boys watching the football. She watches him. She feels tingly. Her body alive. What now. Bell rings soon; recess will be over. He can still sense his hands on her. Touches. Feels. Bells rings from school. Girls and boys pause. Walk slowly off the field. Benedict looks over at her. Eyes meet. Mouths words. Blue of skies, hot sun. flight of birds.