Just the next week, though, Mr. Bennett took him aside and asked if he would do him a favor. “Would you mind taking the girls to the motion picture?” he asked. “My back is giving me a bit of trouble, and it could use a rest.”
“Of course. I’d be happy to.”
Mr. Bennett said, “Alice can show you where the girls sit inside the theater. For propriety’s sake, it would be best if you sat in the row in front of them.” He added hurriedly, “It’s not that I don’t trust you, you understand, it’s just . . .”
“That people talk?”
The older man nodded. “That they do.”
John knew full well how small-minded people with time on their hands could make trouble for others. It was a shame, but that was the way of the world.
At the appropriate time, he hitched up the two horses and helped the girls into the wagon. Alice sat up front in her usual spot, the others in back. As Pearl began to climb up, she pretended to lose her balance and fell backward into his arms. “Excuse me,” she cried out, arms flailing. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
John wordlessly guided her back into the wagon and then helped Helen, Emma, Mae, and Maude. He lifted Daisy last, handing her to the outstretched arms of Helen, Daisy’s second-choice sister. Their father sternly told them to mind their manners that evening, and with a shake of the reins, off they went.
The drive to town went without incident, and John parked the wagon around back, following Alice’s directions. Because Alice was the piano player, the family was allowed to enter from the alley, bypassing the ticket counter. Daisy pulled John along by one finger, eager to show him where they always sat. “What if someone is already sitting in your seats when you get here?” he asked, watching as people filtered in through the double doors.
“Everyone knows not to sit in those seats,” Helen said. “The whole town knows this is where the Bennetts sit.”
Emma pointed. “John, look, they have electric lights here.” She pointed to the high ceiling. A large crystal chandelier hung from the center, and mounted directly above it was a bronze medallion decorated with a gold leaf pattern.
“Pretty fancy,” he said with a smile.
“This whole building used to be a ballroom,” Emma explained. “People would come here for weddings and elegant dances. The new owner converted it into a movie theater. It was quite exciting to finally have one right in town.”
The theater was equipped with a raised stage, originally used for the orchestra when the building was a ballroom. A row of spotlights along the front had once been used for plays, or perhaps plays were still held there. The dark-colored stage curtains had been pulled back, revealing a large screen, and off to the left, below the screen, sat an upright piano, a small electric light aimed at the keys.
They sat and watched to see who else came through the doors. So many people. The whole town, by the looks of it. The sisters called out and waved to various friends, but not once did any of them leave their seats. The talk their father had given them had made an impression.
Over the din of the crowd, a male voice cried out, “Pearl, Pearl!” John looked to see Howie making his way toward them, followed by his mother and a young dark-haired woman in a floral-print dress.
To show good manners, John stood as they approached, but Pearl only glanced at the newcomers. “Hello, Howie.” She nodded. “Mrs. Donohue, Edna.” John sensed a tinge of irritation in her voice.
“I was hoping we’d see you here,” Howie said. “I said, ‘We should see if Pearl is here with her sisters.’”
“Of course we’re here. We’re here every week,” Maude piped up. Or was it Mae? Even after hearing about the difference in their hairstyles, John could never tell them apart.
The young woman whom Pearl had identified as Edna said, “I think there are some better seats down in front, Howie.” She tugged on the back of his jacket, then turned to his mother. “Don’t you think that would be better, Mrs. Donohue?”
Mrs. Donohue straightened up and gave Edna a cool look. “Whatever Howie decides would be best.”
“I want to sit with the Bennetts,” Howie declared, nodding toward Pearl. He stood at the end of the sisters’ row. If they had shifted a few seats down, there would have been room, but none of them made a move to do so.
John said, “I’d be happy to move to the end of my row. There’s plenty of space.”
Edna’s face lit up. “Thank you, sir. That’s very kind of you.”