Moving PICTURES

Alice and Steve loved a good film – but would their story ever turn into a romance?

- Matthew Batham

1958

Steve Padden was skulking at the end of the alleyway that ran between the Palace Picture House and the Wakely Antiques store. Alice knew Steve from school. He was in her class but they rarely spoke to each other. In a few months, Alice would be going to Wakely Grammar School; she assumed Steve would be heading to the local secondary modern.

Alice snuck up behind Steve, who appeared to be keeping watch for something down the side of the cinema.

'What are you up to?' she asked, and he let out a high-pitched squeal.

'Oh, it's you!' he said, turning, his cheeks flushed, blue eyes wide. 'I thought you were one of the usherettes.'

'What's so scary about an usherette?'

'Nothing normally, but I'm planning to sneak in for the next showing, so usherettes are the enemy right now.'

'Why don't you just buy a ticket?' Alice found herself also peering down the alleyway, although she had no idea what she was looking out for.

Steve turned his back to Alice. 'Because I don't have any money.'

'What film is it?' asked Alice.

'The Blob.'

'Is that the one about the yucky goo that takes over a small town?'

'Yep.'

Alice wasn't surprised this was Steve's taste in movies. He was the type of boy who dug for worms and loved being up to his knees in mud.

Alice went to ask something else, but Steve shushed her and pointed towards the cinema's fire exit about 20 feet away. It opened and an usherette, wearing a black jacket and skirt, stepped into the alleyway, turning right and heading away from where Alice and Steve stood.

'Quick!' said Steve, and he began running towards the slowly closing door.

Alice darted after him, watching as he quickly wedged a foot into the decreasing gap between door and frame before it closed. He gestured frantically for her to go through before him, then followed, closing the door behind them.