Least Said (43 page)

I
was
just
wondering
if
there
was
any
way
I
could
stand
up,
turn
around
and
take
a
proper
look
at
the
audience
without
Jon
asking
me
what
or
who
I
was
looking
for,
when
the
lights
went
down,
the
show
began,
and
I
forgot
everything
but
the
story
unfolding
around
and
in
front
of
me.

The
whole
thing
was
completely
magical,
from
the
opening
scene
when
the
animals
walked
through
the
theatre
to
get
to
the
stage,
and
seeing
the
amazement
on
William’s
face
as
they
came
close
enough
to
touch,
was
absolutely
priceless.
It
was
possible
to
forget
the
animals
were
actually
actors
and
the
scenery
just
a
stunning
backdrop
as
you
became
part
of
the
story
of
the
young
lion
cub
and
his
friends.

Of
course
I
wasn’t
alone
in
not
wanting
the
show
to
end
and
the
unanimous
and
enthusiastic
standing
ovation
was
absolutely
to
be
expected
and
truly
earned
by
each
and
every
member
of
the
cast.

‘That’s
not
the
end,
is
it?’
Will
looked
from
one
to
the
other
of
us,
lip
trembling
and
eyes
sparkling
with
unshed
tears.

‘They
lived
happily
ever
after,’
I
reminded
him
gently.
‘Remember?
We’ve
read
the
book
and
watched
the
DVD
over
and
over.’

‘But
I
want
to
see
it
all
over
again,
Mummy.’

‘And
so
you
shall,
one
day,
if
you’re
a
very
good
boy,’
I
felt
obliged
to
promise,
with
a
rueful
look
at
Jon.

We
left
our
seats
and
joined
the
mass
exodus
of
the
huge
audience
of
thousands
heading
for
the
exits,
making
very
sure
we
each
held
tightly
to
one
of
Will’s
hands.
It
was
noisy
with
children
and
adults
alike
discussing
the
show
loudly
and
in
detail,
the
songs,
the
scenery,
the
animals
and
the
sadness
and
joy
of
the
story
itself.

We
had
almost
reached
the
foyer
when
there
was
a
sudden
jostling
for
space
and
Will’s
hand
was
pulled
from
mine
just
as
it
had
been
on
the
way
in.
For
a
moment
I
panicked,
and
then
reminded
myself
that
Jon
would
have
him
safe,
until
I
spotted
him
across
a
sudden
clearing
and
realised
with
absolute
horror
that
he
was
quite
alone.

I
hurried
to
him,
pushing
people
out
of
the
way.
‘Where
is
he,
Jon?
Where’s
Will?’
I
could
hear
the
shrill
note
of
fear
in
my
voice
-
see
the
unmistakable
alarm
in
Jon’s
blue
eyes.

‘He’ll
be
here
somewhere.
He
can’t
have
gone
far.’
Jon
was
trying
to
sound
reassuring,
I
could
tell,
but
he
wasn’t
quite
pulling
it
off
and
he
looked
every
bit
as
scared
as
I
felt.

‘Will,
Will,’
I
screamed,
my
head
swivelling
this
way
and
that,
my
mind
already
understanding
how
impossible
it
was
going
to
be
to
spot
one
small
boy
among
so
many
families
exiting
the
theatre.

To
give
them
their
due,
of
the
people
pushing
around
us,
many
did
pause
to
ask
what
the
problem
was
and
someone
quickly
went
to
find
a
member
of
the
theatre
security
staff.
Another
man
found
a
chair
to
stand
on
and
pleaded
with
everyone
to
look
out
for
a
small
boy
on
his
own
–
many
others
just
continued,
uncaring,
on
their
way.

Members
of
staff
arrived
quickly.
‘Will
you
both
come
to
the
manager’s
office
and
wait
there
for
the
police
to
arrive?’
a
security
guard
urged,
putting
his
hand
on
my
arm.
‘They
shouldn’t
be
long.’

‘We
can’t
just
wait,’
I
stared
at
him
as
if
he
had
lost
his
mind.
‘We
have
to
keep
looking.
He
could
still
be
in
the
vicinity
and
he’ll
be
absolutely
frightened
to
death
all
on
his
own.’

I
shook
his
hand
off
and,
leaving
Jon
to
give
William’s
description,
I
ran
hither
and
thither
like
a
mad
thing.
Returning
to
the
inside
of
the
theatre
I
tore
up
and
down
aisles
that
were
deserted
now,
peering
along
rows
of
seats
that
might
hide
a
small
child,
and
constantly
calling
William’s
name.

Back
into
the
foyer
I
raced.
The
crown
there
had
gradually
thinned,
leaving
only
those
who
were
concerned
enough
to
want
to
help.
I
felt
hands
on
my
arms
as
I
ran
past,
but
I
shook
them
off
and
ran
out
into
the
street
with
tears
pouring
unchecked
down
my
face.