His dad was a Commercial Traveller
Who went to work in a suit and tie
Didn't have that weathered complexion
From daily working under open sky.
They lived last house in Mill Row
The village school not very far.
Unlike most of village families
They had both a bathroom and a car.
He had an electric train set
Which he set up one day
Then when I'd properly seen it
Very carefully packed it away.
He was a Roy Roger's fanatic
We'd play cowboys for fun
He had a leather belt an holster
Specially made for each six gun.
He failed exams for the Grammar
So,was sent to Commercial School
Where he learned Gregg shorthand
Tech Drawing and use of a Slide Rule.
The last time I saw him was
On one leave from Army life
We had a drink in the pub
And I met his soon to be wife.
Not an easy meeting and
I never ever saw him again
Though we'd speak on the
Phone every now and then.
I heard he'd suddenly died
While on holiday in Spain
They'd had him flown back
In the cargo hold of a ‘plane.
I hope he died easily when
It came to his sad end.
I still have fond memories
Of my not quite friend
I suddenly thought of him today
More than ten years being passed.
Of that little gang of village kids
I think I'm now nearly the last.
