Page 73 of Christmas at the Movies
Nick shrugged. ‘It was OK.’
James was happy to hear it. OK was progress – a few weeks ago the answer had consistently been ‘bad’ – and sometimes ‘terrible’.
Nick picked up the list of movies from the desk. ‘Are these the Twelve Films of Christmas?’
‘Yes,’ said James, taking the list back and sticking it in his pocket. ‘But you weren’t supposed to see that. They’re supposed to be a surprise. Promise you won’t tell anyone – especially Mum.’
‘I won’t. But can you tell me what day you’re showingTokyo Godfathers.’
Tokyo Godfatherswas a heart-warming anime movie about three homeless people in Tokyo who find a baby in the snow at Christmas.
James checked his calendar. ‘The sixteenth of December. Why?’
‘I might invite someone from school who likes anime.’ Nick was trying to play it cool, but James heard the undercurrent of excitement in his voice.
James grinned, thrilled that his son had made a friend. ‘That’s great, mate. What’s his name?’
‘Hername,’ said Nick. ‘Julia.’
James raised an eyebrow.
‘But I don’t know if I should invite her. She might not say yes.’
‘You’ll never know unless you ask her,’ said James.
‘But what if she says no?’ Nick pulled off his tie and shoved it into his schoolbag.
‘Then it’s her loss,’ replied James. ‘I remember how nervous I was before I asked your mother out – I thought she was way out of my league.’
‘Ew,’ said Nick. ‘I don’t want Julia to be my girlfriend. I just want her to be my friend.’
‘Same thing applies – if you want to get to know her better, you need to be brave and take a chance, even if it is a bit scary.’
‘Maybe I will.’ Settling down on the sofa, Nick took out a manga from his schoolbag and began to read.
James went into the auditorium and checked the wiring on the speakers.
‘Don’t die on me tonight,’ he bargained with the equipment. ‘Not with a full house.’
They had placed an order for a new sound system, using the first instalment of Sarah’s screenwriting fee as a down payment. However, it was just a matter of time until something else went wrong. The projector had been overheating with alarming regularity and those cost even more than sound systems. Sarah had been right – the cinema wasn’t sustainable. It was operating at a loss.
James looked around the crowded lobby, trying to spot his wife. The kids had both come straight from school, so Sarah could work in peace at home. Holly was chatting with Aaron behind the concession stand.
‘I dare you to sing tonight,’ James heard Aaron say.
‘No, I couldn’t,’ demurred Holly, giggling
He saw Geraldine, sitting with Pam, Vi, Olwyn and Roger, and went over to say hello.
‘What are you making?’ James asked Pam, who was knitting something with burgundy-coloured wool.
Pam held up her creation. ‘It’s a scarf for the refugee charity in Calais that Roger volunteers at.’
‘It gets very cold there in winter,’ explained Roger. ‘Most of the people there have risked their lives to try to get to safety, and they only have the clothes on their back.’
‘It’s a shame they’re not always welcome when they arrive,’ said Vi.
‘My parents were refugees,’ said Pam, returning to her knitting. ‘They fled Poland at the beginning of World War II.’
