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Bud Grossmann’s
Words of the Week
for the Week of
June 24, 2007
Previously unpublished fiction.
© 2007 by Bud Grossmann.
All Rights Reserved.
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Movie Watchers, 2007
© 2007 by Bud Grossmann
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DEALBREAKER
From: David C. Fischer <d—@juno.com>
To: qgram—@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2007 23:19:59 -0500
Subject: Good evening, Nurse Maureen.
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Yes, Maureen, I did see Citizen Kane once, many years ago, and wouldn't mind seeing it again with no expectations. Evidently the young Orson Welles displayed tons of innovation and brilliance in storytelling, camera techniques, directing, editing, and more. I didn't notice, and I hope I don't notice when I watch it again. I might enjoy discussing movies with you, or possibly watching movies with you, not that you invited me to or would have any time or reason to do so—it's just a thought: you say movies, and I'm thinking, I enjoy movies twice as much or even more than twice as much if I see them through my own eyes and ears and heart *and* through someone else's. Even holding hands (and you understand, Maureen, I would not presume to suggest you and I would hold hands, for heaven's sake!), you can pick up a lot from someone's reactions to a movie. I watched what I consider a lot of movies with my daughter. Her mom didn't mind taking her to the kid movies, but I rented or took her to grown-up ones (like Amélie, American Beauty, Riding in Cars with Boys, Walk the Line, A Perfect World—wish I'd kept a list—I think we saw some that I'd loved when I was her age or a little older, like The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy). Can't remember if we held hands in the movies, my daughter and I, but I should think we would have. I'll ask if she remembers. If you invited me to a movie (nine in the morning at your too-big place some weekday when you get off night shift is what I imagine, but I am not inviting you to invite me), the first thing I'd ask you is Can we hold hands. Then I'd ask my favorite not-a-girlfriend if that's okay (I'd ask if it's okay with her if I don't hold hands with you if you said No, and if I do hold hands with you if you said Yes). Then I'd ask you What movie. Then I'd tell you it has to be letterbox. But if you said the DVD is full screen only, I'd say, Well I guess I can live with that. Then I'd ask what you want me to bring for breakfast. Or is it supper you eat when you get off night shift? And then, and then, and then. So, you see, Maureen, even if I were to invite you to invite me to a movie, it would be wayyy more work than even Citizen Kane is worth. Pictures of grandchildren are much more manageable than classic films, especially since it's nearly impossible to hold hands while flipping through someone's four-by-six glossies of her grandchildren.
...
♦
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