If Fred hadn't came to visit
I would have got involved
With an unsavoury crowd
One guy in particular
Showed interest in me,
Is now in a secure unit
For attempted sexual assault
And other violent crimes
And went so off rails
I'm not sure I
Will ever see him
In town again
At least not for
Many many years. Thankfully.
But how can I know
That I wouldn't have had the resolve.
My family may have stepped in.
After all my neighbour
Fetched me from
A night club
Not long after
I was discharged
I was firemans lifted home
Like princess Fiona in Shrek.
By Fred none the less
On my neighbours
And parents orders.
I was well warned
I would have to build
Up my tolerance to alcohol. Slowly.
Nothing at all ideally.
I remember speaking to girl
In ward at 18 and she
Wound up driven home
In an ambulance
After a fishbowl, too many
On a night out
Because she hadn't
Yet recovered properly.
She had been in a priory
Before I met her.
Fred knew she was a distant relative
But decided to keep
It from me, on principle.
I asked for him to
Try and elaborate what
On principle really meant .
He replied: on principle,
I have higher principles
Than most people.