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NIT NURSE
Posted: 15 March 2004
Word Count: 90
Summary: Older generation will know about this.
Shirly temple has a lot to answer for.
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Friday night wur nit night
head bent low
tugging at my hair
with a fine tooth comb.
Crying out
"aww mam, aint got nits"
"keep thee head down
for i'll gi thee a clip"
She tugged, she pulled,
then douced with suleo, drenched
for another hour
I stunk like hell.
Washed in soft soap
no shampoo then
hair in rags
Ringlets instead.
Still I complained
aint got no nits
"another word
and flea in't ear"
Sit and wonder
which is worse
nits in the head
or fleas in the ears.
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Comments by other Members
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 olebut at 11:25 on 16 March 2004
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Alice
fortunatley I never wentthrough this although I recall Kids at school who did
'Nitty Norah' The Nit Nurse
very funny
take care
david
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The Walrus at 13:50 on 16 March 2004
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Funny how certain memories come flooding back. A vivid snapshot Stan. Love the dialogue, so natural, so well captured.
The Walrus
xx
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Fearless at 13:58 on 16 March 2004
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I identified with this Al, as I went bald in protest and also hate Shirley Temple.
Hairless
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roovacrag at 15:19 on 16 March 2004
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Thank you for the comments.
Nitty Nora only did girls as their hair was so long.
Mum made doubly sure, my brother never got the ritual.
xx Alice
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igbit33 at 16:35 on 16 March 2004
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Oh, and didn't it smell! thank you for that memory, Al!! Loved the dialogue in it.
Ig. xx
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poemsgalore at 18:26 on 16 March 2004
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this bought back so many memories Alice, especially the 'rags' and ringlets. Not only did I suffer the indignity of the nit nurse, mum was obsessed with cleanliness and went through my hair with a toothcomb twice a week - and the smell of that Suleo yuk!
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miffle at 10:51 on 17 March 2004
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Alice, loved the last verse. Reminded me of the way that children can interpret phrases so literally and yes, you certainly have a point! Don't remember 'Suleo' but do remember 'nit nurse horror' in primary school - and they always said it was nothing shameful (!?) i.e that 'nits only chose clean hair' !? Was that true!? Dialogue brings it to life in time, place and character. Well done, Miffle ;-)
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suva at 17:25 on 17 March 2004
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Alice,
This is a good piece - reads well (and all too true).
She tugged, she pulled,
then douced with suleo, drenched
for another hour
I stunk like hell.
- This is my favourite bit although I really like your use of the vernacular, you manage to capture the young voice well.
Cheers
Susan
xx
PS: My hair is naturally red and curly by the way and my mother hated Shirley Temple so much that I wore a shaven head for most of my early years!
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Lawrenco at 00:10 on 20 March 2004
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My Daughter was a victim of nits .she has very curly hair .It`s still an unpleasant reality luckily she hasn`t had any for ages.
I loved the yorkshire accent ,and purposeful phonetic text.The terror reminds me of Ridley Walker by Russell Hoban,and the humour Stanley Holloway.
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 pauls at 16:03 on 21 March 2004
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Hi Alice,
This is funny to a degree, and then I feel sorry for the poor soul.
Well told!
Take care,
Paul
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