My Child

(spoken)
[MRS LYONS]
Hello, Mrs J. How are you?
Mrs J? Anything wrong?

[MRS JOHNSTONE]
I had it all worked out. With one more baby I coulda managed. But not with two! The welfare have already been onto me

[MRS LYONS]
Twins? You're expecting twins?

[NARRATOR]
How quickly an idea planted can
Take root and grow into a plan
The thought conceived in this very room
Grew as surely as a seed in a mother's womb

[MRS LYONS]
Give one to me. Please, Mrs Johnstone, please

[MRS JOHNSTONE]
Are y' that desperate to have a baby?

(sung)
[MRS LYONS]
Each day I look out from this window
I see him with his friends
I hear him call
I rush down, but as I fold my arms around him
He's gone
Was he ever there at all?

I've dreamed of all the places I would take him
The games we'd play, the stories I would tell
The jokes we'd share, the clothing I would make him
I reach out, but as I do he fades away

[MRS JOHNSTONE]
If my child was raised in a palace like this one
He wouldn't have to worry where his next meal was coming from
His clothing would be supplied by George Henry Lee

[MRS LYONS]
He'd have all his own toys
And a garden to play in

[MRS JOHNSTONE]
He could make too much noise
Without the neighbours complainin'

[MRS LYONS]
Silver trays to take meals on

[MRS JOHNSTONE]
A bike with both wheels on

[MRS LYONS]
Yes!
And he'd sleep every night
In a bed of his own

[MRS JOHNSTONE]
He wouldn't get into fights
He'd leave matches alone
And you'd never find him
Effin' and blindin'

[MRS LYONS]
Never!

[MRS JOHNSTONE]
And when he grew up
He could never be told
To stand and queue up
For hours on end at the dole
He'd grow up to be

[MRS JOHNSTONE & MRS LYONS]
A credit to me!

(spoken)
[MRS JOHNSTONE]
To you?

[MRS LYONS]
Yes

[MRS JOHNSTONE]
But I would still be able to see him every day, wouldn't I?

[MRS LYONS]
Oh, of course you would!

[MRS JOHNSTONE]
An' you'd look after him, wouldn't y'?

(sung)
[MRS LYONS]
I'd keep him warm in the winter
And cool when it shines
I'd pull out his splinters
Without making him cry
I'd always be there
If his dream became a nightmare
My child

[MRS JOHNSTONE and MRS LYONS]
My child
My child