Don’t sit here and read,
go out and play with the other kids in the street,
his mother said while fastening her dressing gown.
Come here, a gruff voice from the bedroom called,
he hesitated
knew the room would smell of sweaty bodies and stale beer,
the man gave him a few coins,
enough to see a movie and buy an ice cream.
The street was empty
but wafted of Sunday dinner.