The Great Aunt

Your parents gave me the news at Wilton's Music Hall a place of joy and drunkenness Laurel and Hardy, Hetty King, Marie Lloyd and now A Great Aunt. A figure of jest, jeers and laughter what fun, what fun. A great Aunt - fast track aging I shall buy a lavender shawl and another for you pink or blue. We shall wrap ourselves in warmth and love, mix them, confuse them and smile secretly to ourselves and one another. We shall walk with aids together at the start for me a magic stick, a jump for dragons, a sword to fight foes or a pole to dance around in May with pointed toes. You will wobble holding a hand, then faster, faster learn to run away. We shall share visits to the Doctor first check the heart, then check the weight, mismatched bodies ticketed like turkey for Christmas but you are the gift who can eat solids now. And I will toast you with champagne and tell you quietly of the pleasure of a glass too many to cure a pain. We see the goldfish swim in Buddha's circles your eyes test out the strange face you may give a film star smile, then tantrums as a plump white bottom gets a jab. They dab the blood on my skinny blue veined arm. You hear the ticking of the white rabbit's watch I am too late for ta and sit observing from afar. As you grow energy will crack out worlds apart electricity strikes your life. Mine diminished by God the Father, Son and strife. Gadgets will run wild and flat batteries create rapid tears running as we used to do. Our play was different, sober as befits a Great Aunt or so I tell to you. Your parents will reflect themselves and claim the right to own your triumphs Disasters belong to the other side. November, another Scorpio with opals for your eyes. Your lonely journey finished and begun I am a Great Aunt now and still feel young. Nicola Stevens npstevens@btinternet.com