Laura

Laura sitting here old memories
Are flooding back
How we used to put on plays for Mum and Dad
How we made up songs and costumes
Plots counter plots we even made
Them little ticket stubs
And we'd move the chairs around to make
A stage and put a curtain up
And would make the front room
Out of bounds for
Hours as we practiced and we dragged them
For the kitchen we're they be trying to relax
As time would say we're ready now
And then we'd pushed them through the doors
And then we'd make them sit
And watch and then we'd pause and
Bow gratefully and await applause
And I remember me and you and Jack
Sharing baths at Grandpa's flat and
Using the shampoo bottles as props for
Them made up puppet shows
You taught me to go underwater
Without holding my nose i still can do that
And we sat there 'till the water
Got cold being TV chefs

Or whales in the sea surfacing to blow
Water out and take a breathe
Spilling bubbles all over the
Floor and speaking gibberish
And singing and you made me sit at the plug
End cause I was always the youngest sibling
Always i got so many memories of me
And you mainly just giggling
Over some inexplicable joke that no
One else had even heard
You know that strange intrinsic
Humour that doesn't even need a word to be
Spoken just a little look between us
Both was all it took
To provoke silent hysteria our
Bodies heaved and shook
Our breath came hard with teary eyes
And screechy yelps of glee it's the kind
Of laugh I've only ever seen
In Mum and you and me and way
Back with Jack and Ruth and Cita
In their school days we'd go on
Them long car journeys we'd have
To sit in the boot on duvets and
They all get in the back seat
And we'd complain it wasn't fair but it's
Cause we were the smallest and
You would play with Ruthy's hair and we
Would sing them cheesy
Songs together completely
Out of key but we did every
Backing vocal though and every harmony

And if I got upset you'd
Prod my face or tickle
Me or give me cuddles 'til I forgot what I
Was crying for my troubles was
Your troubles you took the
Wrong for yours you'd sit me down and like
Kate this just won't do
You would not accept that I'd be
Sad if there was games to
Play fun to be had cause
I was your little mate
You'd drag around and getting mischief with
Us two the kitchen making
Biscuit's I can picture it and
Then when we got
Older before I toughened up when I
Was getting picked on you
Were tough enough for both of
Us and then when we
Were teenagers I copied what you wore
And then I followed you
To youth club and was shocked at what I saw
I went all the kids kissing
Smoking fags and drinking coke
And I'd sit there in the
Corner looking sheepish and remote
But you never let her tease me Laura
Though I'm sure that you are embarrassed
And if it weren't for you Laura I'm
Pretty sure I'd be more damaged
Anyway so now we grownups right? And I'm sat
Here treasuring the times and we played
Out in the streets and didn't have to
Be in bed 'Till nine how
We snuck down to Michaela's
House Michaela she
Was the baddest on the street and
She made us watch this horror film we
Both had nightmares for three weeks

Having sit there on the Dean's
Wall makeup dance routines
To Kris Kross and we'd play cricket with
The wheelie bins from wickets
Laura none of it's
Lost those days remain within me they
Are brilliant and real and I know that at
The moment you don't know quite what to
Feel cause you are ready for that baby
Laurel you are ready to be a
Mum but a universe it has it's ways and
Even though you're numb and you're mind is
Spinning backwards and you're hurting
And confused I love
You like I always have and time
Will pass and time will move onto other Mum's
And then one day one day not
Far away we'll sit there giggling in silence
Watching your kids put on a play