Tidbit and Tattle

Born, father told wife
Child highly resembled
Some Vietnamese refuge,
Dark skin, stormy eyes, hair black,
As black as hot cherry pie,
Mother’s first, fathers third,
Another girl, he rolled his eyes.

For two years she screamed, they knew
Not the cause, palmed her deftly
To dear nanny, who tried to calm,
Reassure strained young mum,
Such anger made her pressure rise,
What could the child possibly want?

From shuffle, to knees, exploring
To finally standing as tall as Joe,
Who was her best friend living next door.
Mischief, menace, spanked her raw,
Made absolutely no difference at all.
Refused food, baths, hairbrush, avoiding
That farce, even bolted at signs of love.

Great Dane Faye, larger than she, chased
Around the house with almighty glee,
Swung from tail, yanked floppy ears,
Shared dogs dinner she lapped it up,
From water bowl, cat shared same fate,
Kitty Kat digested, adults totally exasperated.

“Catch!” she would shriek from top of steep stair,
Knowing not a soul was there, frantic scramble
To seize child to chest, rattle teeth for that little test.
Frantic legs ran, streaked over lawn, laughing,
Temptation called, liquid of blue beckoned,
As she leapt into neighbours pool, knowing full well,
At three, she couldn’t swim a jot at all.

Exertion of pushing bed, across carpet floor,
To cherished sister’s white cot by the wall,
Perched, in she would climb, sighing,
Not liking her sister at all,
So, with a quick deft slap,
To baby fleshy cheek,
She vaulted with nimble speed,
Shoving her bed back, pretending to sleep,
Whilst little nuisance shrieked at the indignity
Of it all, for where was the fairness in that, she bawled?

One sunny day, she ran away, simply
Walked from big house,
Toddled down the lane,
All thought never to be seen again.
Hours passed by, desperate search of police
And like, found little minx, sat,
Making daisy chains with the cows,
Who chewed, quite amused at the chatter,
But, promptly fled as daddy boomed,
Bribe of daisy chain was not enough, she knew,
Heart hammered, here comes trouble anew.

Then the dog, who tore to shreds, skinny
Little legs, he not much bigger than her,
But gripped, sank and held, drawing
Obscene amounts of blood, white socks
Turned red. Mummy vomited, panicked,
Ran a mile to next house to ring Dad,
Who ranted, bought the doctor in tow
In his Mercedes, to view for himself.
Crafts, scars, yet never felt remotely
Afraid of little, yapping dogs that barked.

Not long after Mummy left.
Dead, daddy said,
Confused she cried, fumbling fingers
Rang Mummy on plastic red phone.
“Please Mummy, I’m sorry,
I’ll be a good girl
I love you.
Just come home.”

Mummy didn’t hear, see, or ever return.

She grew up, wondering what purpose was served
At being born, when you trusted no one at all.