Chapter 14

Thursday 30th July

Jim had waiting for her, as planned, outside the cinema. Lauren realised eventually, and told her mother, that there was only one cinema now in town. Her mother had checked the film schedule and warned her not to see `Stabbing Frenzy’, especially not on a first date. She had also given her twenty francs and strict instructions to be back before it got dark. That was only after they had finished a heated debate about what she should wear. Her mother thought she had won by convincing Lauren to wear a smart, pale yellow dress, rather than jeans and a T-Shirt. Lauren had objected until the threat of reduced cinema money, and had then given way. Lauren thought too that the dress was probably the better bet, especially as she thought she had reasonable legs and had some shoes with a heel that would show off their shape. But to agree publicly would have been in poor taste. She swirled past her mother at the front door, listened to the regular warning about strange men, being home on time and telephoning if in trouble, and then skipped down to the bus stop.

Jim bought their tickets (after mild protest from Lauren) and they entered the second part of the cinema where an action film was showing that promised to have all the basic ingredients they needed, such as a little intrigue and suspense. In addition Lauren wanted something with romance in it and a happy ending, not that she shared these thought with Jim. He, however, had alternative ideas.

“If it doesn’t have twenty-seven car chases then it’s not a good film” he stated matter- of-factly.

“Do you think `The Pirateers’ is going to have many?” asked Lauren rhetorically, smiling as they sat down towards the back of the cinema.

They engaged in small talk for a while during the adverts, leaning closer to each other. Once the film had started, Lauren thought she had lost her man for the duration, but he was attentive, checking she was still alive every ten minutes. Lauren didn’t find it very interesting, but wouldn’t have left for the world. Quite naturally, they both happened to turn to each other after about an hour at the end of an action packed scene. They were leaning towards each other and Lauren’s lips parted. Jim drew her towards him and gently kissed her lips, sending a bolt of excitement through her which left her hands and toes tingling. He smiled and turned back to the film, taking her hand in his.

The rest of the picture was lost on Lauren as she basked in her conquest. Outside, they walked through the streets and into the small park on the south of the town. Arm in arm, they wandered along the pathway, passing the ducks and willow trees on the edge of the pond until they sat down in the long grass by a tree and watched the world go by.

“Oh, I spoke to my aunt. I told her you were beautiful and a perfect model. She’d like to see you!” said Jim, turning to Lauren.

“You didn’t!”

“I did. Really, she would like to see you. Even if she can’t use you it would be fun to have your picture taken in a real studio, eh?”