I
to tell you the truth
I last saw her outside
The Star of the West
on Christmas Eve
looking like she was
about to drop a calf
with a young bloke that
my mother would have
said, ‘wasn’t from around here’,
she looked all done in
round near the toilets
at the back sitting
on the car park wall,
pretty girl!
II
well it was going off
down at The Star on
Boxing Day morning,
I shot in for a quick pint
and bumped in to Bill
Shepherd and his lads
doing the same
before the footie,
well it sounds like all hell
broke loose after closing
time Christmas eve,
that young girl and her bloke
I was telling you about
were found spark out
in one of the cubicles
holding a new-born sprog
a hell of a mess
paper towels everywhere,
they refused to have an
ambulance called and
damned near legged it
when Daphne went to phone,
something’s not right
so Daph called Irene instead
to come and tidy her up
III
well it seems word got out
about that palaver
on Christmas Eve
because three fellas
evidently turned up asking
after her and her chap,
Jim said he thought they looked
a bit like social workers
as they were well-dressed
so, he let them into the snug
before opening time
and the couple came down
for a chat with them
Daph stayed up to look
after the baby
Jim made out he was tidying
behind the bar in case
there was any trouble,
then Daph came down
with the little’un and
they seemed quite taken
with him
‘it’s a boy by the way’
who was as good as gold
all through it all,
they left her some stuff
for the little lad
to tide them over for a bit,
I think Jim said they were
off home soon
to face the music,
one thing is for sure
Jim and Daphne won’t
Forget this Christmas
in a hurry, Daphne’s face
has been lit up ever since
*
© Graham R Sherwood 12/22
grahamrichardsherwood.co.uk 