Shots

Once in the playground I was asked
if I had a gun, and three bullets
who would be my victims?

The first one, I decided, would be Chris Bell
who always walked home from school with me
because we lived in the same cul de sac.
HIs death would have meant
I could have listened to my headphones
instead of talking about wrestling.

The second would have been Joe Cooper
because he fancied my sister.
He once posted a condom through our letterbox.
I wanted her to have a boyfriend
who liked The Smiths.

I never decided who would be victim number three
but when a barman serves his mate
before me
or the lady in front of me in Asda
is paying in coupons
I feel my finger
move towards the trigger.