Talking Heads 21998

[now an old woman, Violet tearfully recalls her regret at missing the opportunity of losing her virginity to her fianc? when he last came home from leave before going back to fight in World War I]

Violet:
I gave him his tea and then we went in and sat in the front room. And he started on, like, undoing me buttons and kissing and whatnot. Only I'd wanted to look nice so I'd put on me best frock and he couldn't fathom how it unfastened. I should just have taken it off. But I didn't.

[her eyes fill with tears]

Violet:
And poor lamb, he got so fed up with these flaming button things, in the finish he gave up. He'd taken his leggings off, his puttees, because they were hot. And he was in his shirt-sleeves. They were right rough khaki shirts, then, real cheap and itchy. Anyway, in the finish he gets up off the sofa and says "Hang this lot". And he takes his shirt off - and everything else besides. He doesn't say a word. Just taken it all off and stands there on the hearth-rug. He looked a picture, with the fire and all that. Not a mark on him. And then he says "Take *your* clothes off now".

[she sobs]

Violet:
And I didn't. I didn't. And I wanted him so much. I don't know - it was just the way I'd been brought up. And he stands there looking down at me. Then he picks his clothes up and he goes next door. And after a bit I heard the front door bang.

[pause]

Violet:
I saw the yellow thing the boy on the bike brings - his sister fetched me round. The telegram. And then later on they had a letter - reckoning to be from the King - same as everybody did who lost somebody.