Pals
We met first day at school.
Play time he knocked me down, so I knocked him down.
Both got the cane.
Best buttys ever since, through thick and thin.
Scrumping apples, knocking on doors and running off, climbing the wall to see the match for free, always together.
Because where Billy went I ‘ad to follow.
Shared our first cigarette, both of us puking up afterwards, back of the chapel.
‘ad our first working day at the same factory, the same time.
Our first pint at the Working Men’s. Together.
Our first kisses, with those awful Probyn sisters, down the Tanky Woods.
Whatever Billy did, I tagged along, and he didn’t mind.
We signed up, pals in the Pals’ Regiment, me hoping I wouldn’t get rejected if he was accepted.
Trained together, trying to outdo each other at drill, or spit and polish.
Stood in the same holding trench at Mametz, me behind him, the only one who could see behind his jokes and his games and spot the fear.
Said to him, “I’m here, Billy, it’ll be alright,” meaning, “I love you, butty, as a man loves a maid,” only I couldn’t have told him.
Woke up in hospital, half my leg shot away.
Couldn’t find out if Billy ‘ad gone where I couldn’t follow yet.
Next morning, he’s there at the bedside, arm and head bandaged up.
“I was wondering where you’d got to, you silly sod,” he said, meaning, “I love you Harry, but I can’t say it here.”
Only I didn’t find out that was what he meant until later, after; “Seeing as we’re two cripples, the sort a maid would never look at, just as well we’ve got each other isn’t it?” and, “Neither of us could look after ourselves so we’d best look after each other.”
Pals.
July 8, 2016 at 7:31 pm
[…] The anniversary of The Somme has been in my mind greatly this last week, so I had to write something about it. I wrote this. […]
July 8, 2016 at 8:28 pm
Aww, I’m all sniffly now.
Not helped by the bloke with mixed Jewish ancestry who started talking to me in Games Workshop after commenting on my symbolic safety pin.
July 9, 2016 at 8:27 am
Thank you. Isn’t it odd how something very small sets you off?
July 8, 2016 at 8:33 pm
What a wonderfully moving piece. Thank you for sharing it with us.
July 9, 2016 at 8:30 am
Thank you. It’s been forming in my mind for days.
July 10, 2016 at 5:49 am
*sigh*. It’s lovely. Thanks for sharing ❤
July 10, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Thank you. Do you ever have some story buzzing in your head that must be told?
July 10, 2016 at 4:28 pm
Heavens yes, I know what you mean! And I’m grateful you can write it out for us x
July 10, 2016 at 6:38 pm
xxx
July 10, 2016 at 6:22 pm
[…] I take a writing break when on holiday, although this year I’ve felt compelled to put pen to paper (fingers to keyboard?) to write something in remembrance of the 100th anniversary of the first battle of the Somme commencing. You can find it at the Macaronis blog. […]
July 11, 2016 at 1:53 am
A lot of very moving story in a very short piece. Thanks for posting this. Been thinking about the Somme of late.
July 11, 2016 at 6:45 pm
Same here. xx
July 20, 2016 at 7:10 am
Gorgeous. *wipes eyes*
July 20, 2016 at 7:21 pm
Thanks, my lovely.