it was the little things that got himthat got her why  instinctually  they gravitated to one another despite the gulf in their years

their relationship was dumb luck

they confided in each other it was unexpected

                                               an when people met themwere put off by them  tried to elaborate poorly  enunciate poorly  their presence existence nearly simultaneously they said Unexpected  saving the others face

                                                                                                     still after all these years

she was unable to make the film

she was laid up  had been assaulted  was recovering from broken bones by an unknown assailant  a coward

he wondered if coward was provocation enough these days a pretty big word

The Shape of Water

hed been anxious the film would depart the art house before he had a chance to see it on a big screen

he checked online twice that day to confirm it was playing an was still beside himselfalmost couldnt believe it was still playing as he walked up to the ticket window  A ticket for Water

from behind him his brother-in-law said  Senior

he looked at the young man behind the glassbehind the circular satin anodised no-draft speak-thru  Whats senior

Senior is sixty, sir.

Well  got that beat

Couldn’t tell by looking at you, sir. Eight dollars, please.

Deal  Thank you

The Shape of Water is in theatre number two, sir.

Thank you again

You’re welcome, sir

Youre a polite sonofabitch arent you

I am, sir.

his brother-in-law Fourth Quarter First Time Out stepped up to the plateglass  Senior please  Water

Eight dollars, please, sir.

the transaction concluded they entered

Fourth Quarter First Time Out went to the Refreshments counter for popcorn and a Coke  Anything for you

Naw  I dont want to be distracted by anything  Thank you  he spoke to his backhe turned immediately when he said Nawwhich didnt bother him  Fourth Quarter First Time Out was usually direct an impatient  little things

there was a short line at Refreshments  his brother-in-law turned back to him an he threw a quick thumb up over his shoulderinclined his head mouthed To the can  his brother-in-law nodded

the walls soft amber were painted with film scenes and portraitures of classic Hollywood starswhen the stars were elegant  Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade directed him to the Men’s Room  Lauren Bacall Slim You know how to whistle, don’t you? You just put your lips together and blow. directed women to their Room

the bathrooms fixtures were from the Fifties  if it aint broke dont fix it  a handsome stalwart bathroom  octagon-tiled floor ceramic baseboards bulbous metal fittings that fit nicely in ones hand  the pedestal urinal roared when you flushed it its cake did somersaults you had to be a slob if you missed an pissed on the floor he wondered if slob was provocation enough these days

he joined his brother-in-law in Theatre Two ten rows back dead center  an aisle ran behind them  up from it were two more rows five seats wide  theirs were ten

Would you like some popcorn  his brother-in-law offered

No thank you

they yapped

in about ten the houselights dimmed an short film trailers began  art house fare  he remained astonished that the local cinemas hadnt picked up The Shape of Wateryet he was grateful  he preferred the intimate setting a jazz setting

the film began

it mesmerised him

                  suddenlyonehundredantwentythreeminuteslater  it was over

as the credits began to rollpeople standing he began applauding enthusiastically  he froze the standers  among the three dozen still in their seats they began applauding too  a smattering   then asif he gave permission more began to applaud an those who were standing began applaudingacknowledging the filmtheir intimate witness 

the house filled with applause  an happy voices   

he applauded first he applauded last he was still applauding when Fourth Quarter First Time Out stood upquietly waited

Now that was film he said as he stood

Film  A filmnow that was a film  Fourth said

No  Film  An edifice to Art

Fourth had been a science math teacher  yet he missed that the laboratory was called OCCAM  when problem-solvingcompeting hypothetical answersselect the one with the fewest assumptions  machinery with the fewest moving parts  or otherwise Ockham  William of Ockham  Thomas Aquinass adversarywho struck down his synthesis of faith and reason  Occam Ockham believed a heretic by the Catholic Church a fideist who believed God was a manner of faith not knowledge

the little things

Day-between-Two-Ts evening,  21  2. 18

1256,  Thursday,  22  2. 18

To Have And Have Not  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY15R3yHBEI