‘Sidney?’ June peered into the half light.
‘Yes, that’s me. June?’
‘Yes. That’s me.’ She giggled at her own repetition.
Sidney thrust out his hand. ’It’s lovely to finally meet you.’ He never knew whether to hug or not. They did know somethings about each other but this was the first time they’d met. Best be formal, Sidney thought, don’t want her thinking I’m too grabby.
‘And you.’ June shook his hand, with added vigour. Don’t want him thinking I’m meek.
‘I like your scarf.’
‘Thank you.’ She blushed. ‘I knitted it myself.’
‘That’s impressive.’ June thought he sounded sincere. ‘I tried knitting once. Never got the hang of it.’
She giggled, nervously. ‘Really.’ She thought it sweet he’d tried but also had her doubts. ‘I guess it’s a habit you have to work at.’ She bit her lip, it wasn’t quite what she wanted to say.
‘Was in a show at the Alhambra Theatre. Had a fair bit of time between scenes. Sat in the dressing room.’ He began to realise this anecdote was going nowhere. ‘Thought it might be a way of guarding against idle hands.’ He didn’t commit to the jazz hands, but did just enough to feel awkward.
‘Sounds exciting. What was the show?’
‘Aladdin.’ He said, full of bravado.
‘Oh.’ Said June.
There was a moment of nothing. They both surveyed the hotchpotch of sheds and fences and frames.
‘Its good of you to come and help us tonight.’ June cheerily offered.
‘Well as first dates go the back of Meersbrook Allotments takes some beating.’
June giggled, still nervously, and shuffled between feet. She hadn’t thought of it as a first date, more of a social meeting, to see, if, maybe, but she didn’t say anything. She was too polite to correct him. He’d been so sweet in his messages, if a little eccentric. But she liked that. Thought it would suit her.
‘I didn’t know trapping cats was a thing either. Do you,’ Sidney paused, ready to emphasise his punch line, ‘come here often?’ Whilst he found it hard not to laugh at his own wit, he remembered the advice of his friend at rehearsals. Be calm. Actually he’d said, don’t be weird. You can be a tad weird when you first meet people, Sidney. Not everyone loves early episodes of Lovejoy as much as you.
‘We’re not really trapping them.’ Said June
Sidney was puzzled. Why else were they here when there’s a warm real ale serving pub only a stones throw away.
‘We’re helping save them.’ June could see Sidney’s uncertainty.
Sidney now regretted not googling Friends Of Ferral Cats before coming on the date,. Beginning to twitch he fell back on the rest of the advice. Talk about her, and listen. Don’t talk about yourself.
‘We take the wild cats to the cat sanctuary.’ said June
‘Wild? They were livid.’ Sidney couldn’t resist a chuckle, and more. It was June’s turn to look puzzled.
‘Livid.’ Repeated Sidney. ‘The Not The Nine O’Clock News Sketch? Rowan Atkinson? Gerald The Gorilla?’
‘Oh.’ Said June. Somehow she sensed it was going to be a long night.
