Barbara and Trixie sat on a bus en route to the picture theatre. Barbara adored the cinema, the pure spectacle of it. Cinema-going in her younger years had been to films with religious undertones and although To Kill a Mockingbird was not religious per se, she still appreciated the morality and tolerance in it's message.
"Have you read the book, Trixie?" asked Barbara.
"Oh no, sweetie, it's too heavy for me. I like a good romance. I swear whenever Rock Hudson looks at Doris Day he's really looking at me."
Barbara smiled then realised her manners. "If you like, we can see another film, a romance or musical perhaps?"
Trixie placed both hands on Barbara's shoulders, "there you go again, trying too hard to please others. No, Gregory Peck will please me just fine, thank you very much."
"Are you sure?" asked Barbara.
"I'm sure," said Trixie, "besides you've been talking about that blasted book for months. Perhaps on our next outing we can do something more my thing, as you put it."
Barbara blushed, she knew she was quite enthusiastic about the book but was mortified that she may have lingered on the verge of annoyance. "I promise to go out dancing with you to make up for it," she said, hoping to atone.
Trixie clapped her hands excitedly, "I'll hold you to that Nurse Gilbert. And remember it's a sin to swear falsehoods."
Barbara sighed, "yes, quite."
Barbara stared out the window, wondering what mess she would soon be in. She hated dances and bars, she didn't see the point in socialising when the atmosphere was too loud and chaotic to socialise in.
"Now," said Trixie, breaking Barbara's thoughts, "this movie, it's about Scouts, isn't it?"
It was only then that Barbara realised that despite her apparent non-stop talking about the novel, Trixie was never really listening. Barbara smirked and wondered whether failing to listen was worse a sin than failing to fulfil a promise.