Curzon Cinema Soho, 29th January

The film is still turning over in my head as I climb up the stairs and got to leave through the bar. I switch on my phone to find out why it is called ‘Roma’ A jittery young guy stops two women -

“Excuse me, before you go, did either of you pick up my black pencil case?”

The women look to each other - “No.” They turn to go.

“Can you check?”

They take off their back-packs and give a cursory rummage - “No, any luck?” “No.”

He looks from one to the other. And to their bags. “Can I look please?”

The woman hold open their bags and exchange a glance.

He dives in, shifting books around and peering into corners. He shakes his head. Nothing.

“Ok thanks”. He scoots to the floor, craning his neck to search under tables.

The women smile at each other as they put their bags back on.

Beside me, an elderly man finishing his coffee tells his friend “And what always intrigued me that when shepherds count to twenty they put a pebble in their pocket”.

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