Quinn The Twin 1962 Poem by Terry Collett

Quinn
was a twin
his sister went
to St Clare's
a school for girls
who wanted
to be nun
when she was 21.

But he came to us
a school for boys
and girls
and to my class.

He was a tall
plump kid
with dark
thinning hair.

He sat
next to Brody
who smelt
of bubblegum
and Brylcreem.

What's your sister
look like?
I said.

She's like me
without the dark
thinning hair
he said.

How comes
she went
to an all
girls' school
and not here
with you?
I said.

My parents thought
an all girls' school
might be better.

They're
probably right
I said
can't trust
boys here.

He nodded
guess so.

Why does
she want
to be a nun?
I said.

She always has
since she was 6
and saw our aunt
who's a nun.

I see
I said
what about you?
you want to be
nun too?

No I thought
about being
a priest
though
he said
seriously.

So is that why
you don't come
to assembly
with the rest of us
you're
a Roman Catholic?
I said.

He nodded
yes all
my family are
but the Roman
Catholic school
is too far way
for me to go.

I see
I said.

I showed him
the girl I liked
up on
the sports field
who was
playing netball
with her class.

She was wearing
a short green skirt
and yellow top
and now and then
as she jumped up
a sight of green
underwear.

Quinn looked
away shy.

I stood
and gave
a steady stare.