Page 42 of The Wish
I t’s early morning, and Alex, in his beaten-up old car, drives into an industrial park on the fringes of town, driving inside a warehouse through large heavy-duty doors.
‘Is this your studio?’ Kelly asks, sitting next to him.
She feels strangely nervous, or maybe it’s just anticipation – Jesse’s wish has come together and tomorrow will be the big reveal.
She wants to ask Alex if he feels nervous too – he must do, because of all the work he’s put into it – but feels strangely shy.
‘One of them, this is where we film. I’ll explain more inside. I want to double check everything is ready for tomorrow.’ He grins. ‘And I want to show you how it will play out.’
Alex pulls up at the far wall and he and Kelly get out. From the backseat Kelly retrieves a large white box.
‘Trust you to drive straight into the building,’ Steve says to Alex, shaking his head. Then, turning his attention to Kelly, says, ‘What have you got there?’
‘It’s THE dress,’ Kelly says. ‘Well, it’s just a beautiful white dress I found. I think Jesse will look amazing in it. I’ll also pick up some fresh flowers tomorrow before I come here.’
‘Let’s start with the dressing rooms,’ Alex says, lightly taking her by the elbow. ‘I want to show you around.’
Through a gap in large black drapes that fall from the twenty-metre-high ceiling to the ground, Kelly gets a peek at a screen stretching from the floor to the ceiling. She recognises some of the footage.
‘No, no, I want you to see the other part of the studio before you see how we make magic,’ Alex says, steering her away.
‘I’ll see you on the other side of the curtain,’ Steve says with a wink, walking away.
Alex takes Kelly into a dressing room. It’s the size of a small living room, with a sofa, coffee table, a sideboard and an ensuite.
‘There will be snacks and drinks here tomorrow,’ he says awkwardly, stuffing his hands into the back pockets of his jeans.
Kelly knows she doesn’t need to ask, he is nervous.
‘Close your eyes,’ she says.
‘Why?’ He closes them anyway, and she takes the dress out of the box and hangs it in the wardrobe, closing the door. It’s going to be a surprise for him, too.
‘This one’s for Jesse. Mandy can be in here as well to help her out, plus you; just make sure Mandy doesn’t open the wardrobe, you’ll have to do that.’
‘Can I see it now?’ Kelly asks, her excitement mounting.
‘Are you sure you don’t want to check out all the other rooms?’ Alex jokes with her.
‘Seen one dressing room seen them all. Come on, Alex, I want to see what’s behind the curtain.’
By the time they come back from the dressing rooms, Steve has fully closed the curtains. Alex walks Kelly up to the join in the middle.
‘Close your eyes, take my hand and when I say take a step, do so.’
‘Stop teasing,’ Kelly says.
‘Then do as you’re told.’
Holding her hand out for Alex, Kelly closes her eyes.
‘Take a step,’ he instructs gently.
Kelly takes a deep breath then steps forward.
‘Open your eyes,’ he tells her.
Nothing could have prepared Kelly for what she sees.
Alex hears the gasp: her breath is taken away.
Slowly she scans the scene in front of her.
The vast screen is showing videos of Jesse and her family playing in a park, filmed by a grandparent, Mandy told Alex.
Turning her head, she sees ten pairs of eyes all smiling back at her.
Several people have elaborate headphones hanging around their necks.
She looks at the cameras sliding across the room on wire cables above her, stretching from one side of the room to the other, the microphones moving up and down, side to side.
To the left she sees a large console area, similar to what Alex has in his home, only this one is at least twice the size, the monitors much bigger.
Steve is standing behind the console and appears to be controlling the moving cameras and microphones with a series of joysticks.
In front of him, off to the side, she sees a large rotunda, a replica of the one in the video before her.
Steve toggles a stick and the virtual rotunda glides silently into the front of the screen.
It becomes all too much for Kelly as she recognises other props, play equipment, a table holding the picnic gear which will be placed in the rotunda.
She puts her hand out to Alex, and he steadies her.
‘Step towards the screen and you will experience what Jesse and the others will tomorrow.’
Hand in hand, Alex and Kelly walk towards the screen and Kelly gasps as she finds herself standing in the park, surrounded by trees, manicured lawns, a sparkling sky. A silent tear tracks down her cheek.
Alex gives her a few minutes, looking around at his colleagues, many of whom are fighting back tears, overcome by Kelly’s reaction.
‘Come on, say hello again to the magic makers,’ he whispers.
Sarah runs into her arms, headphones and cables jangling around them.
Charlie and Phil join in the hug. Dragging her away, Alex introduces Kelly to several other crew members who will be here tomorrow.
He explains their roles. She nods in understanding even when she doesn’t.
It doesn’t matter, she knows she will witness Alex make the impossible possible.
That evening Steve, Phil, Charlie, Sarah and Kelly come over to Alex and Max’s house.
Pizza and beers are shared as the new friends relive the night they spent creating Jesse’s wish.
Kelly tells Phil, Charlie and Sarah that Jesse wants to meet them, and they should be prepared to be hugged endlessly.
At a reasonable hour, Steve suggests it is time for them to leave, they all have a big day ahead of them.
As Alex walks them to the door, he wonders if he should ask Kelly to stay.
She joins the others hugging Alex goodbye but adds a quick kiss on his lips. Max barks them his goodbye.