Richard Tipping | + Follow Poet |
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New Boy

The little boy in the corner, who didn’t want to come,
Expressed his shy reluctance, but encouraged by his mum.
He knows he has to listen, and  encouraged to join in,
He doesn’t want to be there, but he’ll never make a din.
Offered opportunities, to join what’s taking place,
But if the others speak to him, he goes red in the face.
The others all are smiling, but he still has a frown,
He never really wanted to, come to a brand new town.
The leader goes and sits with him, and tells him all’s ok
She says it’s sometimes hard when new, if he wants, he can play.
She asks him what his name is, how he likes to be known,
He’s quite slow at responding, to the kindness being shown.
He says his name is William, he likes to be called Billy,
When asked why he’s not joining in, he says he feels quite silly.
She tells him that on their first day, the others felt the same,
They didn’t speak for quite a while, but confidence, it came.
When he was told they had to move, he’d cried a bit for sure,
He now lived in this strangest town, he’d been just once before.
She thanked him lots for telling her, and gently tapped his arm,
She knew it wasn’t easy, but  here he’d come to no harm
He went home still quite reticent, concerned he might act wrong,
But he was less reluctant, when next Wednesday came along.
The weeks passed, he attended, with encouragement and smiles,
He started joining in with things, she said he’d progressed miles.
He realised it offered him, a chance he’d never had,
To mix with boys and girls his age, he’d wanted since a lad.
The chance arose for travelling, a chance not had before,
He’d have to do a presentation, nerves came back for sure.
But now he wasn’t on his own, he’d started making friends,
Now they could plan together, as the worrying descends.
He went to the selection, to go to a jamboree,
His nerves were hidden well because, new friends supportive, see.
Delivered presentation, and the leader he first met,
Supported him applying, first night she did not forget.
He really was so thankful, when he got the call he craved,
So glad he’d not retreated and that week two he had braved.
Since then he’d not forgotten, how she’d watched him and the rest,
Say odd words of encouragement, and chance to show his best.
And so he dialled her number, could not believe it was true,
He said that it was down to her, she said, “no, its all you”
As she hung up she smiled, she felt a prang of pride,
Who’s hero of this story? Him or her?  you can decide!

Copyright © Richard Tipping | Year Posted 2020

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