My Fair Lady

Chapter 9 - 1959

Flashback

"Are you sure this is a good idea Iris?"

"It's a great idea Liza. It's a good way of setting you up with someone. You should be glad George asked Neil & not Paul."

"Why, what's wrong with Paul?"

She giggled. "He isn't really your type."

"Should I be relieved?"

"Terribly."

"I still don't see the point of this. Why do you want us to join you both on a movie date?"

Iris let out an exasperated sigh.

"Liza, for the love of God stop questioning everything. When was the last time you've been to the cinema?"

"I'm not a cinema person & you know that", she muttered.

"That excuse won't work anymore. George wanted Neil to come with him. And since Arthur's out of town, both of us figured you should join us. Besides, I've seen you two get along well. Neil would be glad for your company."

She pushed her spectacles up her nose, scowling unhappily.

"For his sake, I hope he does."

Deep down, Eliza didn't understand why the couple felt the need for another pair to join them. This was their rare day off & they should be spending it with each other, not with their friends. She blamed it on the distance that had come between them.
George had just gotten an electric apprenticeship & if he wasn't busy before, now he had nearly disappeared. Now that school was off, Iris barely met Eliza either. She was always busy with something or the other.

The romantic notes were now being sent through the mail. Maybe they constituted the thread by which the two hung on to their relationship. Strangely, there was no belying awkwardness between them. He still met her at her place. And they'd sit together, watching TV, holding hands & snacking on the chips her mom would make. Eliza wondered if his visits were more for Mrs. Caldwell's handmade delicacies than for Iris. "Mrs. V", he had taken to affectionately addressing her. He got along swimmingly with her, playing guitar in the kitchen while she fixed him with some fish & chips. It was endearing to watch.

The movie Iris chose was 'The Mummy'. George & Neil were thrilled when they learnt of it, Eliza not so much. She got spooked easily. The only saving factor was that they'd be sitting in the dark & she'd be sitting away from George. She didn't want to appear any wimpier in his eyes.

Neil grabbed two buckets of popcorn & they crowded into the dimly lit theater hall with the others. They found their seats quickly. To Eliza's relief, Iris sat on her one end whilst Neil grabbed the other end. He almost tripped on the aisle steps but Eliza quickly grabbed his arm. Smiling sheepishly at her, he settled into his seat.

Instantly, the two boys began to crunch on their popcorn.

"Can't even wait for the movie to begin can you Georgie?", Iris commented.

"Nah. There's a lot of time for it to start. I gotta fill me tummy to understand the story."

"Well I hope you don't stuff yourself too much 'cause we have dinner reservations later."

He hummed through a mouthful of popcorn.

Iris had taken care of the movie expenses while she & Neil had pooled in money for the popcorn. George had made use of his birthday money to treat them to dinner, claiming they had to 'reconnect with their old mates'. In fact, he made the reservations long before either Neil or Eliza had accepted the offer. That was just like George though. He sometimes went out of his way to please his friends.