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
