An English Kid’s Domain Is His Bouncy Castle

by Charlotte De'Ath

now they both lay back

exhausted

catching machine gun fire breaths

she lays there feeling wounded

contemplation

shot with guilt about

the creases in her party dress

and the chocolate stain

she prays will wash off

as she considers

how all this happened

there seemed such a short space of time

between kicking off their shoes

and the carefree abandon with which

all that bouncing began

legs sprawled

crashing into walls with such

wild excitement

such a quick explosion of energy

but now

giggles fallen silent

squeals of glee prostrate

with them

the flash of her knickers

and feel of her skin against his

as he landed on top of her

meant nothing to him

he thinks another glass of coke

then he’s ready to go again but

she starts to cry

for the pink plastic locket broken

and lost

* * * * *

Charlotte was born in the east end of London but now lives in an idyllic cottage situated deep in the beautiful Suffolk countryside.  She has published one chapbook ‘Kicks To Hypnotise Suburban Daughters’ by Erbacce Press, and a further one of dark urban fairy tales is in the making.  She spends most of her free time playing with the Clueless Collective at: www.cluelesscollective.co.uk.