Katie Ginger - The Little Theatre on the Seafront - The perfect uplifting and heartwarming read

‘I … I was going to sing. If that’s okay?’

‘Yes, it’s fine. I won’t have your music though. Will you be okay without it?’

Sarah nodded and Lottie worried she might throw up at any minute.

‘This way,’ said Lottie, gently holding her elbow and leading her forwards. She could feel her trembling beneath her fingers. Sarah climbed the stairs and gazed around as if searching for the exits, ‘Take your time, Sarah,’ said Lottie, softly. She’d never seen anyone so terrified. Lottie angled her head and smiled, hoping to put her at ease.

Even from the third row they could see Sarah was shaking and her hands were clasped in front of her, the knuckles white. ‘What are you going to sing for us, Sarah?’ asked Lottie, keeping her tone light and friendly. She hoped it would prompt her to begin.

Sarah opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She was paralysed with fear. Lottie felt the heavy silence of the room weigh on her shoulders. The poor woman. This must be so embarrassing and awful for her. Unsure what to do Lottie turned to Sid. He winked with his usual easy confidence, then walked onto the stage and whispered something into Sarah’s ear. Some of the fear disappeared from her face and she gave a nervous laugh. Sid returned to his seat and Sarah closed her eyes.

After a pause she began singing ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’, in a soft but powerful voice. The song was one of Lottie’s favourites and always gave her goose bumps but as Sarah sang even her goose bumps got goose bumps. Every nerve in Lottie’s body tingled with emotion. Sarah’s hands moved in time, even without the music, clenching and releasing her fists.

There was something so pure and heartfelt in Sarah’s voice, it was like it enveloped Lottie’s soul. Sarah’s face registered terror when she finished and opened her eyes to the stunned silence. Lottie immediately stood and clapped and Sid and David joined her.

‘Thank you,’ said Sarah, in a hushed voice, her face reddening and tears forming in her eyes.

‘You were marvellous,’ said Lottie. ‘You’re definitely in.’

Mayor Cunningham slowly stood to join them and once Sarah had left said, ‘If that’s all of them, Miss Webster, I’ll be off.’

‘Yes, that’s everyone,’ Lottie confirmed, an enormous smile on her face. ‘Quite a good turnout, don’t you think, Mayor Cunningham? I think it’s been a pretty successful day.’ She didn’t care if he couldn’t wait to be out of there, or if she was just rubbing it in – she’d had the best day ever and Greenley-On-Sea had proved to be a hotbed of talent.

Mayor Cunningham strode past her then paused at the door. ‘I concede, Miss Webster, it was a better turnout than I expected.’

Lottie and Sid high-fived. The Greenley Players were officially reinstated.

Sid wandered aimlessly along the seafront and took a deep breath of the salty sea air. The bright gold afternoon sun reflected off the sea in a glorious haze of light and strangely shaped clouds drifted across the sky. The seashore was littered with clumps of dark green seaweed and the regular dog walkers chased their mischievous dogs away from it.

Sid was bored. Lottie was busy again. She had another committee meeting coming up and wanted to go through all her nan’s papers to make sure she knew everything inside and out. As the auditions had gone so well and the troupe was now all go, she’d decided to catalogue all the different plays the old Greenley Players had done and do something called ‘brainstorming’, which sounded incredibly painful. Sid had offered to help but she wanted to be alone. Perhaps he could nip round later with her favourite pizza. She’d like that.

Sid sighed. He was happy for her, of course he was, it was just that all this suddenly being alone took some getting used to. They’d spent mostly every weekend together for years. Not all day every day, but they’d nip into town together, go to Nick’s record shop, look at the tat in the Saturday market, have Sunday lunch in their favourite old-fashioned pub, that sort of thing. He kicked a stray pebble back onto the beach. Anyway, she was too busy to meet him and as it was a Sunday he found himself at a loose end with no one to play with.

The piece of paper with Selena’s number on rustled in his pocket. She’d given it to him weeks ago and he still hadn’t had the courage to do anything with it. Every time he looked at the note and thought about calling he’d see the carnage in his flat and decide she was still way out of his league. But it wasn’t too late, was it? Not like with Lottie. He could always call Selena and see if she wanted to meet for a drink. He wouldn’t say dinner, he didn’t want to sound pushy. But they could have a drink as old uni mates catching up, just like Selena suggested.

Sid found himself nodding along to the voice in his head and before he lost his nerve, grabbed his phone and called. She sounded happy he’d rung and they agreed to meet at the Hare and Hounds at seven. Sid hung up and decided he would break the habit of a lifetime and wear a shirt, as long as he could find where he’d left one.

The pub was in the next village along from Greenley and had bare wooden tables, chalkboard walls and a menu that boasted things like spinach foam and hazelnut jus. Sid entered and creased up his nose at the strange smell.

Selena spotted him from over her shoulder and waved. She was already sat at the bar in a short black dress that displayed her amazing figure. Her long hair was tied back in a simple ponytail, but still reached down past her shoulders. Sid wondered how a woman who looked like that could ever be interested in him. As the fear mounted he pushed it down and ran a hand through his combed hair. Glad he’d checked for signs of a monobrow before leaving, he walked forward to meet her. ‘Hello.’

‘Hello,’ she replied, smiling. ‘I was worried you weren’t going to show.’

She’d been worried? Really? ‘Why?’ he asked. He wasn’t late.

‘I don’t know. I thought at first maybe you were ignoring me.’ Selena giggled nervously and turned back to her nearly empty drink.

Sid felt the knot in his stomach loosen a little. He wasn’t sure if it was a surge of self-confidence or his normal just-not-giving-much-of-a-fuck attitude returning, but he began to relax. ‘Yeah, sorry about that. It’s been pretty mad these last few weeks with all the am dram stuff.’

‘That sounds fun.’

Sid perched on the barstool next to Selena and his leg brushed hers as he climbed up, sending a shiver through him. ‘It was okay.’

‘Anyone I know in the group?’ Selena finished her drink.

‘Maybe. I can’t really say yet. We’re going to print a list in the paper this week. Would you like another drink?’ Sid asked. He needed one. The nerves in his tummy were biting again making him feel sick.

‘Yes, please.’ Selena turned to the barman who stood waiting to take their order. ‘I’ll have a glass of champagne, please.’ She turned back. ‘If that’s okay?’

‘Of course.’ Sid ordered a beer for himself and drank half of it. ‘Shall we find a table?’

Selena nodded and smiled before slipping elegantly from her stool and grabbing her coat. For a guy with no experience it seemed to be going pretty well so far. He hoped the rest of the night would too.

Selena led them to a table by the window and sat down. ‘Thanks for the champagne. Wine’s a bit of a killer for me and I don’t really like beer or spirits. Too many shots when I was at uni.’

‘On those one pound a shot nights?’ He laughed. ‘Yeah, me too. The Student Union’s got a lot to answer for.’

Selena angled in towards him. ‘Do you remember when that guy’s shoe ended up on the roof of Cooper Building and was there for the whole term?’