deepundergroundpoetry.com

Jamaica Inn

Five years between us, and still sharing a bedroom. I stared at the blue and white wave patterns in my brother's candlewick bedspread, they seemed to move like the ocean in the half-light of our small bedroom.
"Go on, please tell me the story again".
"Piss off and go to sleep, it's two in the fucking morning and we are leaving at four you little fucker".
 
"Keith, wake up, time to go".
 
Dad had turned off the heating and the water. I wrote the note for the milk man and drew a small 'Kilroy was here' in the corner. It was still dark outside as I climbed into the car in my Kevin Keegan slippers and flannelette dressing gown. I slipped inside the sleeping bag and positioned my pillow against the cold car door, I remember allowing my teeth to chatter into a laugh.
All the trees and fields looked the same as they rolled by. Cold, lonely sheep looked like bushes in the gloom of daybreak, the mist gassed me to sleep.
By the time we reached the Cliffton suspension bridge, the sun was up and on me, I held my breath for the crossing as my brother tried to make me laugh.
Somerset smelled of cider and we cheered as the sign passed by, the apples steep put me to sleep again. Down into the clotted cream of Devon, we stopped at Barnstaple
for breakfast, a milky flask of coffee and marmalade on toast. We kept quiet listening to dad snore, huffing at our boredom. Apparently he needed the rest or he could have "killed us all".
 
"I can see the sea, I can see the sea", shouts my brother, beating me for the third year running as we pass the view point. Welcome to Combe Martin, yeah, just another four hours to wait in the car until the caravan's ready.
"Mum did you pack my trunks" ?
"Shhh your dad's trying to sleep".
I lower my voice to a whisper. "Hey Chris, tell me the story again".
"Shut up, we're here now, who needs stories"?
"Mum can I have my trunks"?
"Shhh".
Written by Razzerleaf
Published
Author's Note
family holidays in the 70's
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
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