Page 110 of Christmas at the Movies
‘It was just an enquiry,’ James told Sarah. ‘I thought it would be good to consider our options. In light of our … er … situation.’
Sarah’s heart started to pound. She felt like she was going to be sick. Sure, things had been bad between her and James. They’d both said some terrible things when they’d argued. She had been sulking since then, but she’d assumed they would make up eventually. That things would get better when the film crew moved out and life went back to normal. Did James really think their relationship was over? Was their love not worth fighting for?
‘W-why would you do that?’ Tears clouded Sarah’s vision. ‘Don’t I have a say in the matter?’
‘Well, we both know it’s not working—’
Sarah couldn’t bear it any more; her heart was breaking. She ran into the cinema before she broke down in front of nearly everyone in Plumdale.
The lobby was mercifully empty, as the cast and crew were all filming outside. Sarah went into the office and threw herself onto the sofa – and then the tears came.
It was over. James had given up on them. Thirty years of marriage down the drain.
‘Oh, Sarah,’ said her mother, coming into the office and sitting down beside her. Geraldine gathered Sarah into her arms and let her weep. ‘I know,’ she said soothingly, stroking her daughter’s back. ‘I remember how tough it was being your age. It gets easier, I promise. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard.’
‘It’s not that.’ Sarah sobbed into her mother’s shoulder. ‘It’s me and James. Things have fallen apart.’
‘I’m sure it’s nothing you can’t fix.’ Geraldine handed Sarah a tissue.
‘James has obviously given up on us.’ She wiped her nose and sniffed. ‘You’ll probably be happy if we split up. You’ve never approved of my marriage anyway.’
‘Sarah,’ said Geraldine, shaking her head. ‘How can you say that? True, I’m no fan of the institution of marriage. But I’m a fan of James because headoresyou – anyone can see that.’
‘Then why is he trying to sell the cinema behind my back?’ wailed Sarah.
‘I don’t know,’ replied Geraldine, taking her hand. ‘But I think you should give him a chance to explain.’
28th October 2022
Nick sat at a table with his classmates Ollie, Abby and Grace. Their Year Six class was drawing pictures of the things they’d gathered earlier in the week on a nature walk – deep crimson maple leaves, golden beech leaves, glossy brown chestnuts and a silvery blue feather.
‘Psst!’ said Grace.
Nick looked up from his drawing.
‘I’m having a Halloween party and you’re all invited,’ whispered Grace. ‘We’re going to play games and bob for apples, and I’m going to make spooky snacks.’
‘Cool,’ said Ollie.
Abby giggled excitedly. ‘I can’t wait!’
Nick smiled, masking his apprehension. When he was little, he had hated parties. His mum usually had to come and pick him up early. It wouldn’t take much – just a balloon popping, loud music or a strange smell – to set him off. Now that he was eleven he was better at dealing with those situations. He still found new environments stressful,but Mum had taught him different coping strategies – like taking a time-out if he started to feel overwhelmed. He would take deep breaths and focus on three objects, three sounds and move three body parts. That usually calmed him down. When he got home, he would spend time alone in his room stroking Jonesy. It helped him relax. Mum said that Nick was like a mobile phone – his social battery needed recharging when he ran out of juice.
‘My mum said we can watch a horror movie,’ said Grace.
Nick felt his stomach twist. Hehatedhorror movies. He didn’t like watching anything with blood and guts. Even though he knew movies weren’t real, violence on screen made him upset.
‘My big brother showed me an old movie calledThe Exorcist. It was about a girl who gets possessed by a demon. Her head spins around!’ Ollie rolled his eyes and moved his head around comically, making the others giggle. ‘I wasn’t even scared a bit,’ he boasted.
‘I might not stay for the movie,’ said Nick. He hoped his friends wouldn’t think he was a wimp.
‘That’s OK,’ said Grace. ‘I bet you’ll have the best Halloween costume.’
Nick loved making things. The Viking ship he’d made last year was still on display in his teacher’s classroom. When his Year Six class had dressed up for World War Two day, Nick had painstakingly created a gas-mask box for his evacuee costume.
‘What are you going to be?’ asked Ollie.
‘I haven’t decided yet.’ Nick had lots of ideas – he just wasn’t sure which one to go for.
