:51:04
If I was sick or naughty, you
handed me overtoyour nursemaid.
:51:10
You shutyourself
in and worked,
:51:13
andno one was
allowed to disturb you.
:51:16
I used to stand outside,
listening.
:51:19
When you'd stop for coffee, I'd
go in to see ifyou really existed.
:51:25
You were always kind,
butyour mind was elsewhere.
:51:30
If I spoke, you'd hardly answer.
:51:34
Thank you.
:51:54
Mama wants to be left alone now.
:51:57
Run along and play outside.
It's such a lovely day.
:52:14
You always looked so nice,
so I wanted to be nice.
:52:18
I always worried that you
wouldn't like my appearance.
:52:24
I was so ugly. Lean and
angular with big cow's eyes,
:52:29
and big wide lips
andno eyebrows.
:52:34
My arms were too thin
and my feet too big.
:52:38
No, I thought
I looked repulsive.
:52:42
Once you said:
"You should have been a boy, "
:52:46
and laughed so
I wouldn't be upset.
:52:50
I was, of course. Then one day your
suitcases would be downstairs
:52:56
and you'd be talking on the
phone in a foreign language.