Excerpt
We finally got to the movie house. Mack went through the same process again, only this time I got out of the car first so that Doris wouldnt have to crawl over me. She and Mack went ahead of me and Jeremy, and Papa left to take care of whatever business he had in town.
Well, I took up my spy post two rows in front of Mack and Doris, and Jeremy sat two rows behind them. The movie started, and I got so interested I forgot to turn around until a spit wad hit me in the back of the head. It was a signal from Jeremy, so I turned around and looked. I didnt see any hand holdin or kissin. Mack had a sack of popcorn, and he was leanin so far into the empty seat beside him, I thought he might as well get in it. Then I looked at Doris. She was doin the same thing, leanin so far away from Mack, I wondered if one of them smelled funny or something.
I turned around. Then I got mad cause Id missed some of the show. I heard something, so I turned around again, and Mack must have gone out cause he was comin back into the row. For once he acted like a gentleman. Instead of squeezing past her to his seat, he sat down next to her in the empty one on the other side. I could see he had lots of candy with him. He gave some to Doris. She didnt even look at him, just took it and kept on starin at the movie.
I wondered what Jeremy was doin, so I got up and walked back to him.
Go back to your seat, Ann, he whispered loud enough for everybody in the middle section to hear.
I want some candy, Jer, Mack got Doris some, and I know you probably have some, too.
Here, he said. Now go back to your seat, youre gonna miss the good part.
What good part? I thought as I walked back and sat down. The movie was about Frankensteins monster. My brothers had seen it before, but I hadnt. It started to get scary, so I scrunched down in my seat and wondered if Mama Dee knew what the movie was about. She usually didnt let me watch anything that was scary.
Well, this crazy guy is diggin up bodies, and suddenly he holds this head up. I screamed, and then I heard Doris scream. Later we found out that her yell was because of something else. A mouse ran over her shoes, and she screamed and jumped up on her seat. Everybody in back of them yelled, Down in front.
But she wouldnt come down off the seat. I wondered how long she could stand up without the thing foldinup on her, but I guess you can do anything when youre excited.
Well, I moved back to see if I could help. Mack jumped up to help Doris, but his seat jerked him back down. He tried and tried lots of times, but something on the seat pulled him down again and again.
Finally, Jeremy couldnt stand it any longer, either, so he came up the aisle to help, and so did half the people in the movie house.
Jeremy asked, Whats wrong, Mack?
I cant get up, Im stuck.
Jeremy said, Here, Ill help you.
He got hold of Macks arms and pulled straight up. I heard a funny rippin sound, and I thought I knew what it was. It was Macks britches.
Jeremy and I laughed, but Mack and Doris didnt. With everybody in the place yellin for us to sit down, Mack ran out of the movie house to look for Papa. The seat finally folded up with Doris, and Jeremy had to help her down. I looked for the rest of Macks pants and found a piece of cloth stuck in a wad of gum. The other side had caught in the seat hinge. There was no way that cloth was comin loose, not without takin the seat apart.
About that time someone yelled, This is better than the show.
Laughter seemed to explode, and thats when Jeremy said, Come on, Doris and Ann, the usher will be looking for us.
Mack put his jacket over his head and started to follow Jeremy out of the theater. Someone said, Wrong end, fellow.
I guess Mack didnt want anyone to see who he was. Doris was already out front. Before Jeremy pushed the door open, Mack said, Wait, Jer. Then he took his jacket off his head and wrapped it around his middle so that it covered the rip.
Well, the ride home from Macks first date was very quiet except for the time when Papa had to stop the car to let Doris out so she could throw up. I felt sorry for Mack. He just sat crumpled in his seat. I couldnt even see his head.
I scooted over in the middle so Doris wouldnt have to crawl over me. I couldnt see much in the dark, but what I did see was terrible. She looked just awful. I worried, wonderin if Mack would walk her to the door what with the rip in his pants. I didnt need to worry. Papa took her to the door, and I heard him talkin to Doris mother, and then we went home.
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