Invitation To Tea 1969 Poem by Terry Collett

Sophia's parents
had invited me to tea

best go
she said
they invite
it rude not to come

(she was Polish
and spoke a broken
kind of English)

so I went and I put on
my best suit and tie
and clean shirt
and there I was
at the front door

Sophia opened the door
and gazed at me
you come ok?

sure why not
are they both home?

she nodded

do they speak English?
I asked

she nodded

I entered the house
and the hall light
was bright and contrasted
with the coming
evening light outside

she ushered me
into the lounge
where the parents sat
on a sofa

the father stood up
a short stocky man
with a moustache
and a shock of short
greying hair
his hand was offered
and he said
you welcome
friend of our daughter
welcome here

(I had been once before
when they returned early
and almost caught us
in bed having a good time
and I crept by him
on the way home)

glad to be here
I said smiling weakly

the mother looked at me
her eyes were searching me
she didn't smile

Sophia sat in an armchair
and I sat in one next to her
and waited for talk
or questions

you Roman Catholic?
the father said

yes convert 1968
I said
go to Mass each Sunday

the mother looked
at her husband

where you meet Sophia?
he said

I work at the same nursing home
I said

you nurse?

yes sort of
I said

Sophia say you good boy
and respect her?
he said

o yes I do
I said
(pushing any images
of us making love on her bed
a few months previously
and my friend's flat
some months ago
out of my mind)

we want her to be pure
and marry untouched
the father said

of course
I said
looking at Sophia
who sat pale faced
and hands in her lap
she's a good girl
I added
highly respected at work

the mother smiled shyly
the father looked at me
his eyes searching mine

good
he said
that is good
our neighbours see you
and Sophia come here
that time and think things
but we knew she
would not do anything
to spoil herself
before marriage
he added stiffly

that's right
I said
not looking at Sophia
but at the mother
who was warming to me
she's a daughter
to be proud of
I added

he nodded his head
right now we have tea
he said

and the mother and Sophia
got up and went into the kitchen
and began bringing in
sandwiches and cakes
and teapot and jug
and cups and saucers
and plates and such

and I sat there gazing
at the father who sat back
gazing at me

you know the Pater Noster?
he said

I frowned thinking stupidly
of the Italian Mafia
then remembering
he was Polish
said
o yes the Our Father
yes of course and recited
the Pater Noster in Latin
softly and unsurely

you can say it
in English if it easier
he said

so I did
and all the while
the females were bringing
in the food and Sophia
like some virgin queen
looking innocent
and untouched
and secretly
I wanted her
o so much.