Jumping: Nico and water: Christopher enjoying the captains' boat
July 29th, 2013
I really want to go to the movies today. I just wish I could go. Making this decision is more challenging than it used to be since I take care of the boys full-time and work all the time. I suppose millions of single parents go through this every day, but it still sucks nonetheless.
I just picked up the boys from school and want to take them to a movie since I can't do it alone. The Conjuring is out of the question. That's definitely not for children. From what I've seen in movie trailers, Pacific Rim looks technically awesome. Who cares if there isn't a plausible plot. But no, we can't go see that movie either. R.I.P.D. Nah, it looks dumb, and I'll think of Mimie when I watch it since it's about the afterlife, so I suppose I'll cross that off my list forever. The Heat looks hilarious but too adult. My kids wouldn't understand it, and the older moviegoers wouldn't appreciate me for bringing my kids. We could go see Turbo. But racing snails? How stupid is that? It's up there with R.I.P.D., and the boys are uninterested in seeing it.
[pulling over car, thumbing through phone]
No, I can't see that movie, nope, nada, can't, won't. "Hey guys, knock it off back there," I announce to the antsy children who just want out of their car seats and into some sort of exploration other than the view from their van window. Nope, most of these movies are too adult.
Well, look here: Monsters University starts in an hour. I can drive in circles and kill an hour! YES!
"Okay, boys, we're off!"
[music begins playing, Maroon 5]
"Here I am waiting; I'll have to leave soon; why am I holdin' on
We knew this day would come; we knew it all along
How did it come so fast...
[I begin to sing out loud]
...this is our last night, but it's late, and I'm tryin' not to sleep
‘Cuz I know, when I wake, I will have to slip away
...And when the daylight comes, I'll have to go
But tonight, I'm 'gonna hold you so close
‘Cuz in the daylight, we'll be on our own
But, tonight, I need to hold you so close."
My mind wanders off.
Man, I don't want to chase them around the movie theater. They probably won't sit for me; I can picture them climbing onto seats and disrupting everyone else's movie time. Geez, I should just turn around and go home. That's it, I'll just go home.
[I pull the van into the nearest turning lane to make a U-turn and return home. I look through the review mirror and gaze at my sons. They are in their own world, having a blast. They'd enjoy the movie. Screw it. I'm going. I safely pull back into traffic and head to the theater.]
I found the best parking spot, tailor-made just for me. Perfect for loading and unloading the boys from the cargo van without having to pay extra for a valet. Maybe my luck is going to be good.
I'm not dressed the best for the movie, especially for this affluent area, but I have extra clothes in the back of the mini-van. And yes, I changed from my lazy day, giving up on life attire for a nice pair of khaki pants and a polo shirt. I changed on the sidewalk beside my van because I had little time to change anywhere else.
"Okay, let's go!" I say with enthusiasm. I have no desire to drag them up to the second-floor movie theater at this beautiful outdoor mall. Please, boys, don't create havoc, I think to myself.
My sons are walking by my side as they window shop by staring through the tall pane-glass windows. They're admiring the mannequins that look like people and are amazed at how still they are standing.
Any minute now, they are going to run from me. Wait for it, wait for it... "Daddy, come on, hurry," Nico says as he stands by the escalator.
Hmm, what is he up to?
Both boys hold my hand for our fast track to the second-level box office to purchase our movie tickets. The boys are oddly standing still, waiting for the brief escalator ride to end.
Hmm, What's going on here. Something going to happen. Right?
"1 adult and 2 children, please," I say to the friendly cashier. "Sir," she quickly says to me through the microphone close to her mouth (here it comes, the bad news). "How old is the littlest one?" she said. "Oh, he's 3," I reply. "Well, he looks 2," she began to say as she winked her eye, "and 2-year-olds are free. Enjoy the movie."
Hmmm, interesting.
We walk through the double doors past the bright neon lights that are fixed to the walls, illuminating a montage of pictures of past movies. The smell of popcorn is in the air. The stench of grease slowly drowns out the smell as we get closer to the register, indicating the new trend of curly fries and chicken tenders to be purchased at the counter, right beside the traditional treats.
"I'd like to have a large popcorn, please, and a Diet Coke and bottled water," I tell the concessions clerk. "Sir," he says.
Here comes the bad news, I knew it!
"Yes?"
"Sir, you can upgrade for twenty cents more for free refills and get a free candy box."
Sweet.
Hmmm, what's going on here?
The boys are watching the large T.V.s placed on the walls displaying the newest movies soon to be out. "Come on, guys, let's find some seats," I announce. I look back for them, but they're gone; ugh, they ran off! They ran off! I knew it!
"Nico! Christopher!" I shout.
"Sir"
Aha! I knew it; here it comes! THEY RAN OFF!
"Sir, in front, over here." The boys were standing by the ticket collector. I didn't notice.
Hmmm. What are those boys trying to prove?
"Thank you, sir," she says as I hand her the tickets, "down the hall to the left, theater 15.
We find our seats. They are perfect for the boys. We are at the bottom level 6, rows from the very front. They'll love seeing "Scully" from the movie Monsters University up close. I finally settle in our seats, and I tuck my popcorn into the seat next to me. The movie is about to begin.
"Dad, can I sit here," Nico asks.
"Sure, son," I said proudly as I pushed the seat down so he could sit.
Through the creaking of the folding seat going into the down position, I hear the popcorn fall to the ground. The popped kernels can be heard hitting the ground like raindrops.
"UGH! The popcorn!"
I reach down frantically, trying to recover what is left, when I notice something strange. Only a few kernels hit the ground, and Christopher slid his little hand in between the seats and snagged the bag to save the rest of the buttery treat from falling out.
Hmm, a save?
This is a good choice. How is this perfect outing happening?
I smile from my seat as the lights begin to dim and the previews begin to light up the screen. I think it will be a good day as I feed myself some popcorn. I look at Christopher, who is quietly sitting in his seat. The lights from the silver screen danced off his blue, glossy eyes.
"Maybe the luck is changing, Christopher."
"It's okay, daddy," Christopher says, "something like this can only happen in the movies."
1,278 words
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