movie tickets

Billy stood outside the glass window, staring up at the stickers showing showtimes and prices. He wasn’t sure he would have enough money for tickets, especially since he wanted to ask Wendy to go with him. If they went to the matinee, they could probably even get popcorn.  

Billy remembered the time his parents’ friends were sitting at his house. They were laughing and bragging about how they see multiple movies in a day because they just scoot from one theater room to the next without anyone noticing. The went on to say that because theaters were only employing one person for the counter and one for keeping an eye on things, they really had no problem and didn’t have to sneak.  

Billy’s dad had looked past the man’s shoulder, catching Billy’s eye. Billy could see the disgust on his face, as he listened to this adult talk so pompously about stealing from the theater. Billy’s mom was shifting in her seat, trying to get a word in, trying to end the conversation. Billy couldn’t believe these adults were so proud of their dishonesty.  

So now, looking up at the shows and the prices, he can see how it might be tempting to stay for a second show, but he would never be able to live with that decision. He was also concerned that Wendy would simply walk away with a dishonest idea like that. It wasn’t worth it. They could just come to the early show and save money that way. It is supposed to be a positive thing to do, why turn it bad?  

©2020 CBialczak Fiction