Free Write Scene

“Hurry,” Jimmy tugged me along the waterlogged sidewalk as he rushed us toward the theater.

“Why are we hurry to get to some horror flick?” I should never have agreed to go to it in the first place. He should never have asked to take me. He knew I hated those kind of movies.

“Come on you will love it. I promise, Norm.”

“Don’t call me that.” He also knew I despised my real name. He was about the only one who dared get by with calling me it. Okay, he was the only one, besides my mother when she was ticked off at me, who could get by with addressing me by it.

“I love your name, honey.” He yanked me under the awning of the Shadow Theater.

“See, no one else braved this God-awful weather to come see such a horrible movie,” I whined as he wrapped his arm around my waist, nuzzling my neck.

“I will be there to keep you safe and sound from all bogymen. I promise.” He nipped the hallow between my neck and shoulder. “Let’s get our tickets.”

“You don’t stop that display of affection, you won’t get into my theater.”

“Come one, Mr. Henderson,” Jimmy chuckled and held his hand out to old Mr. Henderson, who had owned the theater since before me and Jimmy were born. My mom told us Mr. Henderson had been a young man when he bought it when she was only a child.

“How’s this weather treating you, Mr. Henderson?” I gave him a nod as I stepped away from Jimmy, more out of respect than having to. Mr. Henderson didn’t care how much the consenting adults fooled around outside or inside his movie theater. It was the younger ones he cared about and those who did not consent that ticked him off the most. Still, I felt respect was demanded, even if he joked around with us each time he saw us.

“Weather is a bitch. Each time it rains or snows my old bones act up, but I’m not one to complain, I’m still up and moving, so I’m better off than most my age.” And he was. My mom, who was much younger than him was already bedridden, but she had a hard life full of triple jobs with double shifts most of the days to keep me and my two brothers supported after my father was killed by a drunk driver.

“Big night for you boys?”

“Nah, Sir. Just some old scary movie, which you could ban from your theater if it was okay by you.”

Mr. Henderson chuckled, winking at Jimmy, who gave him this humorous smile. One I only saw on my lover’s face when he was up to something.

“What’s going on, Jimmy?”

“What do you mean?”

“You gave yourself away, my little conniving lover.”