GROWING UP BEFORE TIME. You stood outsidethe ABC cinemawith Helen lookingat the framed photographsof the stillsfrom the filmthen showingshe clutching her dollBattered Bettyyou standing therepointing outthe main charactersmy old man saidhe’d take meto see thison Saturdayyou saidHelen rocked Bettyin her armsI hope our childdoesn’t call youold manshe saidmaybe he won’tyou repliedit might be a sheHelen saidsure it might
you saidyou gave Betty a lookas she hung therein Helen’s armsyou looked backat the photo stillsputting your handsin the pocketsof your jeansmaybeyou can take meto the cinemawhen we are olderHelen saidand we can sitat the backlike those grown ups doand kissyou sensed her handtouch your armand rub it upand downBetty movingas Helen’s arm movedsureyou saidlong as I can still seethe movieHelen handed you Bettyand you took