Frankie’s restless; Dad’s on at him
to get back to school. Mam
is tired, he feels in the way.
He plans to go back, after half term,
get stuck in, catch up,
do his GCSEs
like Corinne and Paddy.
They walk him to school,
Paddy’s mates will cool it -
no more jostling, calling names.
Somewhere deep inside him
something’s changed.
He doesn’t feel so weak or so ashamed,
he still feels different, but
in a different way.