Paris , 28 May 2022 .
Off we went , we went to town , me and our Drew , while the sun streamed down and red clouds struck the sky , all up and down Bold Street .
And off you went , you and Hel , with the rest of the reds , with the flag , down south , through the tunnel , and the cars honked recognition .
A four-person playlist for the final , and Nan watching at home , and let ’ s get the ales in , and which shirt for today ? And Chantilly ,
Pictures from your hotel room . The bartender keeps one eye on the screen , pumping Erdinger into plastic cups .
And here I am craning , pleading in silence for his other eye , because I can ’ t miss it , and we ’ re cutting it awfully fine , but the minutes go by , I ’ m swept back to our perch , and still nothing ’ s begun DUE TO THE LATE ARRIVAL OF FANS , but how early were you ?
– always an hour , hence the hotel ; never risk it , never , but here we gnaw at our cheeks as unease makes the rounds , and then and then at length two hours - and just like that we ’ re wilted ( wankered ), the room collapses , clears out , and as the sweat cools , clammy at the bus stand , 86A , 86C , that nagging thing , what happened ? Hangs overhead and disperses , seeps inside , like so much lachrymator .
45