Traditional Movie Show

"Let's go to the movies tomorrow!"
"Yeah, we want to go over the winter break, and see one of the new movies!"
"Let's use the passes we got from Dad's latest girlfriend."


And so I went on the search for a movie that a 13 year old sports fanatic young man, a fashion oriented sixteen year old lady, and a retired fuddy-duddy would agree to attend.

Annalisa called.
"I just saw, 'Skyfall' and it was amazing!"
"What's that?"
I was clueless.
"That's the newest James Bond film, but even you would enjoy it, Mom."

So I gave the kids three choices, Lincoln, and they said, "NO!"
I wanted to see,  Les Miserables, they said, "NO! NO! NO!"

But when I showed them the trailer for Skyfall, they were excited and wanted to go.

We were ready early, I do not like to drive at night, but the show was an evening showing, and I wanted to have dinner out.  We bought our tickets early.  After all, who knows these days what mobs might invade the theatre and crowd us out of our seats?????  I do not like to disappoint.

We even fit a bit of shopping in before the movie, and I was the big spender, buying each child a candy bar, the 2 for $1 size.  They fit into the purse I was carrying.  These are the same kind the movie establishment demands $5 for the bar, often only having the larger size for $7.  You are then so thirsty you are forced to purchase a bottle of water for $5.  This is cheaper than the $7.50 cup of soda, and you can refill the bottle at the water fountain, which we did.  Of course, the best idea would have been to bring our own container, and refill it at their water cooler.  Must remember that next year when we attend the annual Movie Show.

We entered in eager anticipation, to aromas of popcorn,  which Weslee insisted on buying in the largest butter-smothered bucket size.

"We get continuous refills, Mom!", he shouted  in glee, as his eyes glowed, his mouth already full of butter.

"Last theatre to the end of the hall, on your right," said the ticket taker.

We walked over the carpet, past at least four doorways and bathrooms, but the sign said something else.

"Brianna, go tell them it says some other movie,"  I directed her, while Weslee sat onto the carpet, munching furiously, his back leaning on the wall.  I think he was talking, but I ignored his open mouth.

Brianna came running back.

"Look!"  She pointed, and the crawl said, SKYFALL.

AHA, we could enter, but some cartoon was showing.  It was dark and people were all watching.

We left.  We decided we would go in, sit down quietly, and just wait for the show to end.
"Probably the show will end soon, and we can move then, if we want other seats, okay?"

We sneak in, take a seat on the edge of a row, and watch a bunch of characters, Santa, Jack Frost, the Sandman, the Toothfairy, and the Boogeyman, as they talk about scaring children and taking over the earth.  Nice sort of movie, with a James Bond theme,  but not James Bond.  Not at all.  Not even a short for James Bond.  As my eyes are accustomed to the dark, I look around and see there are lots of children here.  Not the audience I'd expect, either.  Hummmmm.

It is quite a long time until this movie ends.  I wonder if my crew has as yet figured out I came to the wrong movie, or at the wrong time.  At least we have limitless popcorn, and this has kept Weslee's mouth quiet.

The movie ends, and the theater empties.  We move to the middle of the theater, but no one enters. We wait.

The kids are now starting to wonder at my capabilities as a parent, or that senility may be closing in quicker than  expected.

A crew of well dressed ushers enters, brooms and dustpans in hand.  They move to the front , sweeping and picking up efficiently working the theatre.

"Why are you here,"  one young man asks, "You waiting for the James Bond show?"

"We're here for Skyfall," Weslee says with a full mouth of buttery stuff.

"Oh, that's not for another forty-five minutes.  You're early!"

"Well, I never heard of this!",  I assert loudly, "that a ticket taker would let you into a movie early! Usually they tell you the movie hasn't started, PLEASE WAIT IN THE LOBBY, they say.  But here we are, kids.  I think we should enjoy watching they fine young people work.  You know I love to watch people work.  I just don't see enough of it!   I hardly EVER see anyone work at my house.  Now watch how they do that...they pick up stuff and clean up.  I just LOVE work.  I could sit here for hours and watch them work!   And you here, Weslee and Brianna, don't you drop your candy wrappers or popcorn on the floor.  Do you see that there are other people that have to pick up AFTER YOU!!!!! You need to be responsible for your own trash, take care of the world, and clean up after yourself."

As I am talking I see the ushers laughing, and my kids cringing.  I am having a wonderful time.  I see my job to use this as a teachable moment for all the young people in the theatre.  After all I love the theatre, and when the movie is NOT showing, I am on stage.....


I am planning to go see another movie this weekend, maybe Lincoln, or Parental Guidance.  


I just have to convince my teens I will be on my best behavior.  Maybe I'll just bribe them with that buttery popcorn bucket...