LITMIR.BIZ

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sigh escaped her and she met Guy’s eyes.

      ‘Are you okay?’ he asked.

      ‘Sometimes I wish I could turn back time and have my life again,’ but Nell knew standing there looking up at the building she couldn’t turn back the clock. She’d lovely memories of the Old Picture House and ones she would cherish forever.

      ‘What happened to this place? Why did it close down?’

      ‘I’m assuming financial difficulty. I suppose these days people watch films online and less and less people began to use the place. It never really moved into the digital age, it continued to run exactly how it had done since the day it opened, with its projectors and ice-cream sellers in the foyer.’

      ‘There was a little place like that in Ireland. It kept going and going and soon it was all the rage again. The Vintage Cinema, you even had waitress service to your seat.’

      ‘That sounds just like this place. When you walked inside the foyer it felt like you were a Hollywood film actor. There was a beautiful chandelier and floor-to-ceiling posters of the latest films as well as the old classics. You should have seen it. Then there was … Gladys, I think that was her name. She was the woman who sat behind the wooden box taking your money. Oh and I can’t forget the plush velvet red bucket seats, once you sank into them there was no getting out, well not with much dignity, anyway. It was a very sad day when the doors closed for the final time.’

      ‘Such a shame the magic can’t live on.’ Guy added, ‘And now it’s up for sale.’

      Nell felt saddened by the ‘for sale’ sign, but it was only a matter of time before the property was sold on. ‘I’m surprised it’s not been sold sooner.’

      ‘It’ll be more than likely snapped up by a builder, then flattened for houses.’

      She felt a sudden pang in her heart at the mere mention of Guy’s words.

      They stared for a moment longer until they were interrupted by a distant yelp, then a bark.

      ‘Sam,’ Guy shouted, ‘Sam, where are you, boy?’

      They both stood rooted to the spot, waiting for him to bark again.

      ‘Sam,’ he boomed again.

      The next bark came from somewhere behind them. They both spun round. ‘Over there, I think,’ said Nell, hurrying towards the water’s edge.

      She strained to look between the moored canal boats. ‘There, over there,’ she pointed.

      In the distance, standing to attention on the bow of a boat, was Sam. As soon as he spotted them, his tail swished madly and he began to woof excitedly.

      ‘How the hell has he managed to get himself all the way out there? I didn’t even know he could swim.’

      ‘It’s instinct. All dogs can usually swim.’

      ‘Come on and mind your head,’ Nell said, squeezing between the rails at the end of the jetty, then jumping down on to a small rowing boat that was tied up.

      ‘Grab an oar.’

      Guy dithered, ‘Who does this boat belong to?’

      ‘Fred Bramley. He’s my neighbour, lived on the marina for years. That’s his boat there. The one next to mine, ‘The Old Geezer.’

      ‘Will he mind us pinching his boat?’

      ‘Needs must! We’re only borrowing it. I’m sure it’ll be fine.’

      Rubbing her hands vigorously in an attempt to warm them up Nell untied the rope and grabbed an oar.

      ‘Jump in, what are you waiting for?’

      Guy hesitated for a second, ‘I have to admit, I’m not too keen on water.’

      She glanced back up in his direction and tried to read his expression. With the anxious look on his face she realised that he wasn’t joking and looked absolutely terrified.

      Nell wondered how to put it tactfully. ‘Guy, you need to get in. I can’t rescue your dog by myself, I need help lowering him into the boat.’

      ‘Is the only way to get there by boat?’

      ‘There’s the long walk round to the far jetty but it’ll take about ten minutes.’

      ‘I’m being silly, aren’t I?’ he said, but still didn’t move.

      ‘See that box on the bow of the ‘Nollie’,’ she nodded towards her narrowboat, ‘There’s a life jacket in there. Go and grab it quickly.’

      There was a look of slight relief on Guy’s face as he turned and hurried towards the box. Watching Guy slide the life jacket over his head, her heart hammered against her chest. She felt a little saddened. That was Ollie’s life jacket and she hadn’t set eyes on it for a while, but it was the perfect fit for Guy.

      He made his way back to the boat. The colour actually drained from his face as he grabbed the sides of the rickety old thing and began to lower himself in.

      ‘Whoa,’ he exclaimed as the boat began to rock.

      ‘Try and steady yourself and sit still, it can be a little daunting when you first climb in.’

      Once Guy was safely perched on the edge of the seat she noticed his knuckles turning white as he clung on for dear life.

      ‘You really don’t like water, do you?’

      He shook his head and stared out towards Sam.

      Nell immersed the spoon of the blades into the water and began to row gently.

      ‘No holidaying on a cruise ship for you, then,’ she joked, trying to lighten the mood and put Guy at ease.

      He shuddered, ‘I can’t think of anything worse. I think it’s safe to say I’m petrified of water.’

      ‘I hadn’t noticed,’ she said, cocking an eyebrow and offering him a warm smile.

      ‘I know it’s pathetic, a man of my age …’

      ‘About thirty?’

      ‘Twenty-nine actually.’

      ‘Good guess.’

      ‘But …’

      He squeezed his eyes shut as they glided smoothly towards the barge.

      ‘But?’

      ‘It happened a long time ago, I was only seven years old.’

      ‘A very long time ago then,’ she said, playfully.

      He peered through one eye, ‘Cheeky. Near to where I live in Ireland there was a lake. Every school holiday, I used to hang out there with my mate Dan and build dens in the forest near by, but this one day we came across a small rowing boat that had been abandoned near the water’s edge. It was Dan’s idea to see if we could row it to the other side of the lake. Unfortunately, halfway across, the boat began to leak and it capsized and I couldn’t swim. In no time at all we were both clinging to a sinking boat and the water was getting higher and higher around us. I clamped my mouth shut while Dan screamed for dear life. Dan could swim but didn’t want to leave me. Luckily for us, a dog-walker heard him, jumped into the water and rescued us both. That was the last time I ever went near open water, until now.’

      ‘Sounds very traumatic,’ exclaimed Nell.

      ‘If I close my eyes I can still remember the stench of the water,’ Guy shuddered.

      She manoeuvred the rowing boat as calmly as possible through the icy cold water. As they approached Sam, he rocked excitedly from one paw to another. His tail was wagging and he began to woof.

      ‘Look at him, he’s soaking wet,’ Guy exclaimed. ‘Without a doubt he’s been in the water.’

      ‘Okay, here’s what I’m going to do.

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