Popcorn and a Movie

Jimmy Kelp leaned up against the side of the theater watching people come and go, he checked his watch for the forty eleventh time, yeah he knew he was early she’d be along he told himself. He hadn’t been on what you would call a date in years. He could and had picked up women at The Crossing, a little hangout he frequented with a few of his buddies. He felt a little rusty in the social graces department.

Nell Walker had rushed home showered and changed into a pair of tight fitting black jeans and a pullover. She slipped her feet in her high heeled boots and checked in the mirror one last time and left her flat. She was in walking distance to the theater and she set off down the street. She’d liked the look of Jimmy she just hoped he didn’t turn out to be a jerk. Jerks were norm in her experience.

Click, click, click, he heard her heels tapping down the sidewalk and straightened up, damn but she cleaned up good. He had a big smile on his face when she came up to him.

“You look real nice Nell,” he said still smiling.

“Thanks, hope you haven’t been waiting long?”

“Oh no, not at all, just got here myself,” he lied taking her arm, “are we ready to go in?”

“Yes I think so.” He escorted her to the till and bought the tickets.

“Oh let me pay you for mine I didn’t mean for you to pay.”

“What hey where I come from a gentleman pays, put your money away, it don’t buy nothin’ around me. Now you want some popcorn, candy, drink?”

They settled on a large tub of popcorn and a couple of cokes. Jimmy hadn’t paid any attention to what they were going to watch, “You know I didn’t even notice what the name of the movie is?” He said as they found their seats.

“Oh, it’s State of Play a new Russell Crowe movie, he lives not far from here you know over at Nana Glen.”

Jimmy burst out laughing, “I know him, I used to work over at his ranch at Nana Glen, well I’ll be damned, oh begging your pardon ma’am.”

Nell smiled looking at him, he knew Russell Crowe! He’d apologized for cursing maybe he wasn’t going to be a jerk after all.

“Popcorn?” she said offering the bucket.