Petra Banks adopted green
always pretty forever seen
This short rhyme was written in green chalk on a wooden noticeboard leading to the garden of the allotments
It had been added to the noticeboard many years previously
For reasons unknown it never aged or was washed away
Even during the wettest of foul winters
At first this caused amusement within the town but the interest soon faded and the rhyme became accepted
I was exploring the streets of Marlborough
I had been many years away
A youth of no more that nineteen years was boasting of his conquests in front of a group of girls
Petra Banks everybody had Petra Banks she did not disappoint
I looked at the hill that overlooked the town
The ruddy Bedwyn girl’s country aged before their time whose white bottoms shone like beacons above the town
Oh the pain of my delightful years
The youth looked at me
What did you say your voice was lost in the breeze?
I was just reminiscing
I come from near here although I have been away for many years
The youth turned to the girls again
It were er who wrote on the sign no-one else
The girls giggled
Be gone and do not take the piss
The youth let the girls walk a few hundred yards down the path and then followed them
I was alone
Red tiled rooves that sigh with pleasure as you once did in the bright summer sun
But it was autumn and although the early month threatened late warmth there was a quiet bleakness to the sky
Vivid colours were promised but I was not in the position to share them
I was sitting on an iron seat that was set on a small hill next to the church
The road below was noisy and threatened my peace
A market town between two churches
Set in a valley
The home of a great school
Set between Salisbury and Swindon
Salisbury direct a grand cathedral town
Petra was standing in front of me
It is nice to see you again it has been quite a while
It has been decades
How are you?
Good
And you?
I cannot complain
Where have you been?
To many countries I cannot name them all
I have not left Marlborough for more than a day
Why have you never left Marlborough?
I had no reason to leave the town for all I want is here
A lorry heavy laden with beer barrels rumbled by and caught my attention for a second
When I looked up
Petra had gone
I waited a while and made my way back into the town
It was Wednesday and the market was busy
I purchased a bag of rosy red apples and ate one as walked towards the college
Within minutes I was standing on the bridge that separated the town from the hill that led to Salisbury
She were the masters daughter you know
Simon Sweet Simon Sweet
a handsome chap with very large feet
I walked up the hill and before long found myself looking out over the town
The college and the two churches were easily seen
Behind me cut into the hill was a small factory which had been built on the site of the allotments
I crossed the road and walked down the lane towards the androgynous building
Are you looking for someone Simon?
No I was just thinking about the old allotments
They have been gone for many a year
The factory was empty and up for sale
The access was poor you know not right for lorries
We could not expand
One wonders why they rid the town of the allotments in the first place
In a corner of the disused car park I could see rock partially hidden by undergrowth
It was originally a quarry
Damn silly place to put a quarry
I pulled back the undergrowth and looked at the hidden graffiti which had been carved into the soft rock
The were declarations of love and intimate descriptions of local girls much faded
Petra Banks adopted green
always pretty forever seen
It is still there you know they burnt my sign many years ago but missed the rhyme
Petra was standing next to me
She put her hand on my shoulder
See that is all that is left of me
A half hidden rhyme
Which will vanish given time
I looked into Petra’s sea green eyes which moved rapidly behind her prescription glasses
You still wear glasses I see
Only when I want to
They suit you
They never suited me
A pigeon broke cover from a tree and flew erratically into the air
Silly bugger they are used to the silence
I looked down the lane at the road
It is not as quiet as it was
Why did you return?
Why did you not come back sooner?
Business
Did you miss me?
I always missed you
Did you grieve?
I thought of you every day
But did you grieve?
I was younger and I have seen much since I left
I do not know if I ever learned to grieve
Petra smiled
I do not come back to the town as often as I like
I try to but there is a vacancy
I cannot explain it
Perhaps you are retreating
Possibly
For a while we did not say anything to each other and just stood there holding hands like the young lovers we once were
Are you staying in Marlborough?
Yes
How long for?
A couple of nights
On business
Yes I am always on business
Turn your head I do not want you to see me fade
Will I see you again?
Depends on you
Turn your head
I released Petra’s hand and faced one of the factory outbuildings
I waited for a minute before I turned around
Petra had gone
I suppose I did not expect to see her
I walked along the lane towards the road
A policeman was watching me
Have you any business there sir?
None I was due to meet someone but they did not show up
If you do not mind me saying so sir it is a rather strange place to meet
I agree but I had no intent
There used to be allotments there but it has been a factory for as long as I can remember
Yes I remember it as allotments
Did you have one?
No need my parents had a large garden
I am from Salisbury far
How long have you been in Marlborough?
For ten years but my dad was a copper here for many years
I used to know a girl who used to hang around the allotments
That is the real purpose of my visit
Her name was written on the signpost that once stood over there
I doubt if you can remember it
Before my time sir but my dad spoke about it
A short rhyme written in the lightest of chalk which never seemed to wash away no matter the weather
Petra Banks adopted green
always pretty forever seen
Was that the rhyme?
Yes I knew the girl who added it to the signpost
She was the one that was killed on the green bicycle
It upset my dad proper that one
He saw much during his years in the force
But he always remembered that accident
She was the prettiest girl in Marlborough
So he said
The master’s daughter at the college
The policeman’s radio sprung into life
I must be off now sir
Traffic in the town
Give my regards to your father
What is your name?
Simon Sweet your father would have known me
I watched as the policeman walked down the hill eventually leaving my sight
How long are you staying Simon Sweet?
For as long as you want me to stay
Then be off with you
Why?
I can see you but you cannot see me
Are you fading?
Yes
Just return on this exact day next year do not be anywhere else in the world but here and I will see you again
But your fade?
Just be here Simon Sweet
Although the traffic coming down the hill was busy for a while it stopped and a silence developed
As I looked up the hill a girl on a green bicycle passed me at speed
I saw your knickers Petra Banks
No you didn’t Simon Sweet
a handsome boy with very large feet