Once
upon a time last Thursday morning, an elderly couple named Betty Jo and Larry
decided to see a movie at their closest multiplex. This was surprising since
they hadn’t been to a big-screen theater for many months. They stopped at the
concession stand, bought a large tub of popcorn, and received two courtesy cups
of water. So far so good.
Then
after entering the darkened theater, they found it difficult to walk up the
ramp to the screen area, but they managed to make it to the end of the incline.
Hooray!
Next,
they turned and saw foreboding stairs they would have to conquer to get to the
seats they wanted. Bravely, Larry said, “You stay here at the bottom and I’ll
take the water up to our seats and then come down and get you and the popcorn.”
Betty
Jo agreed and watched Larry slowly accomplish that mission. Happily, he
returned to her and took the popcorn, saying “Now you follow me – but be sure
to use the hand-rail.”
She
followed his instructions – all the time watching Larry to make sure he was
okay. As she turned into the row where he had picked out the seats, she saw
Larry sit down – and couldn’t believe the popcorn began to fall all over his
head and chest!
She
hurried to him and salvaged as much of the precious popcorn as she could.
They
both settled down to enjoy their treat and wait calmly for the movie to begin.
A few minutes later, they heard a CLINKING sound. “What was that?” Betty Jo
asked Larry. “Nothing – just my car keys,” he grumbled.
So
for the next 10 to 15 minutes, they were on their knees trying to find those
darn keys (remember, it was a darkened theater.) Finally the keys appeared and
made their way back into Larry’s pocket.
All
this happened before the movie even started! Larry said, “With our luck today,
it will probably be a dud.”
Thankfully,
the film was one of the most entertaining ones they had seen in a long time. It
was Disney’s live-action version of Beauty and the Beast.
I
love a happy ending, don’t you?
(Dedicated
to Donna Ware, my wonderful sister-in-law, who needs some cheering up right
now.)
Labels: A Slapstick Comedy, Beauty and the Beast, Betty Jo and Larry, Donna Ware
