CROSSED WIRES Say goodbye to that girl Who once snuggled in your arms Muzzled like a kitten With a purring schoolgirl charm. Blinked up happily And smiled into your face Would innocently kiss you No matter where the place Say goodbye to that girl With whom you walked hand in hand Over chilly hilltops, lazy beaches packed with sand. For if you remember She began to tie you down Took too much precious time Always wanted you around. Say goodbye to that girl Because she's said goodbye to you. She's going to scrub you out her life She's found somebody new. She's found a new freedom That's she's never known before Now she's found out She doesn't need you any more. A fine goodbye That was! What happened To that vow To eradicate His memory? What happened To the girl Who said she'd scrubbed him out? A fine goodbye That was As a TV repair man Watched my attempts To two-time two blokes. "Which one do you prefer, then?" His voice was disapproving. A laugh. A shrug. I nervously pace the room "Neither. I mean - not really." The telly rasps angrily. The TV man Shakes his head. "That's not right," he said. Was he talking about The TV, or me? "Th-There's safety in numbers." I gabble on. "I mean, I've just - I split with my fiance." "Oh?" He looks up from the telly And seems sympathetic. "Yes, but, I mean - There was nothing official." "Oh," he said. And lowered his head. The telly sulked blackly. I lit another cigarette. He picked up a screwdriver Put it down again Then fiddled with the aerial. "How long were you engaged?" Another nervous laugh As I paced around the room. "Oh, about a year, but I knew him For five." "Then you packed him in?" "Oh, no. He - er - " "Found someone else, did he?" "No. He just - " A shrug. "He just had better things to do." The TV man stared. I looked away and Inhaled sharply On my cigarette. "Did he really say that?" he asked. I nodded. "And you believe it?" A bitter, clattering laugh. "Oh, yes. I believe it." And suddenly my throat Was tight with unshed tears For all of those years I struggled To have more of his time. "What happens If he comes back?" Asked the TV repair man "Would you still want him?" No laugh. No shrug. No pacing. Just a nod of the head. "Yes." The word slipped out. He looked severe. "You're lowering yourself." "Women shouldn't demean Themselves Like that." We said no more But talked about the television. Then he went away Taking the telly with him Because (he s