At Dinner time

there’s a lightness in his head
his feet have lost their boots of lead
he shoulders his pack
and makes his way to the hall.
Becca’s standing with a pink bag
on her arm, in a group of girls,
she sees him and comes over
Hiya Frankie.
Good ter see yer back.
Sorry bout yer Nan.
And all what happened,
over Christmas, like.
Aye – thanks.
She touches him on the arm
Yer look much better.
Aye? Yeah, I am.
She smiles and goes off.
Corinne comes up, nudges him
She still fancies yer.
Frank blushes and undercover
of the clatter and clash
of three hundred people
eating lunch, he whispers
I’m gay
for the second time that day.
He beams, Corinne looks at him
his smile, infectious, spreads to her.