‘Look Out Your Window' Series - 'Daddy's Girl'

‘Look Out Your Window’ Series

______

___

1.

‘Daddy’s Girl’

______

___

Look out your window.

See that girl at the bus stop across the street?

Her daddy’s just been sent to the Big House.

California State Pen.

Two hours from now, Pops’ll be shoulder to shoulder with Manson, Sirhan Sirhan and the rest of the band.

Know why?

The answer is too simple to be decent.

The bastard came for her with a hammer in his hand.

‘Cos the old lady fought back this time.

And he repaid each open-handed slap.

Each scratch mark made by bloodied nails.

He beat the woman he married to death like no one was watching.

Yet, someone was.

Hidden behind a bookshelf.

Wincing at each swing.

Weeping silently at the sound each one made against an old woman’s forehead.

The daughter whimpers at that last sound.

At the tragic finality of it.

A sound not unlike someone biting into a fresh apple.

She hears it still, standing at that bus stop.

No umbrella against the wrath of another Mother.

You realise then that she’s thankful for these bus stop drops.

Barbed happiness, right there.

Waitin’ for the No. 6 to North & Hollywood.

Her hair, a doused blonde inferno.

In her own way, you know she’s glad.

‘Cos at first glance, most folks figure it’s just the rain rolling down her face.

And they ain’t stoppin’ for a second.

A neighbour musta called the cops.

The girl hidden behind the bookshelf couldn’t stop her screamin’ enough to make the call.

Over to you, hoss.

Go talk to her.

Ask her to light that cigarette in your hand.

‘Cos this life’s a tricky business, bud.

We ain’t gonna make it without each other.

______

___