“Yeah. But there’s no meat on these bones. That’s why I survived.”
“What luck.” The corner of his mouth twitches. “Normally she’s a real beast. Tyrannosaurus rex. Swallows you in one go.”
“She really did look pretty scary.”
He laughs. “I’m here to save you from William.”
I look toward the old man who is standing behind a varnished counter with slender wooden legs, inspecting the popcorn machine. He taps the glass with a finger, before closing an eye and squinting inside, then tapping the glass once more.
“A bit strange, isn’t he?”
Knox leans forward. “A bit. In Aspen everyone is smart enough not to disagree with him. He’s taken care of the town for what feels like an eternity. He may be a bit kooky, but he simply belongs here.” Knox grins as he casts a glance at William, who is now inspecting a piece of popcorn between his index finger and thumb. “I can’t imagine Aspen without him.”
At that moment, William looks up. His eyes alight on Knox’s jacket over the chair. “Hey!” he calls out. William puts the popcorn down on the counter and puts his hands on his hips. “There’s no hanging out here, Knox! Whoever isn’t shopping has to pay for a ticket to the next film.”
Knox heaves a long sigh but looks amused. Eventually he looks at me. “Do we want to stay?”
We?
“Umm.” I feel overwhelmed. Not because I don’t know whether I want to stay here to watch a movie or not. I’d already made up my mind about that after taking one step in the place. No, what’s overwhelmed me is the thought of sitting in a movie theater next to Knox, the star snowboarder. For one and a half hours at least.
“When you say ‘umm’you mean ‘yeah.’” Knox seems strangely content as he strides over to William and buys us two tickets. I follow behind him because I don’t want to just stand around looking lost.
“One large popcorn with butter,” Knox is saying as I reach his side. Then he looks at me questioningly. “Would you like a cheese sandwich as well?”
“A cheese sandwich?” Not that I’m picky, but…that’s not exactly the snack I associate with movie theaters.
William opens a small blue retro fridge behind him and points inside. All the shelves have been carefully filled with sandwiches, one after the other. “I’ve got the best in town.”
My befuddled glance wanders to Knox, who nods in agreement. “Sometimes I come over after training, just to have a few.”
I decide not to ask any further. “No, thank you. I don’t like cheese.”
Knox’s eyes almost spring out of his head. “Youdon’t like cheese?Who on earth doesn’t like cheese?”
With a timid smile I raise my hand. “Me.”
“I could take the cheese off for you,” William suggests.
And then I’d have…a bread sandwich?
“No, no, it’s fine,” I say, but give William a thankful smile. “The popcorn’s enough.”
We make our way to the theater and sit down on one of the sofas. He drapes an array of sandwiches across his lap. I place the bucket of popcorn as a protective wall between us and grip my iced tea.
“Won’t your friends wonder where you are?”
“Nah.” He devours half a sandwich in just one bite. “It’s not abnormal for me to just disappear all of a sudden.”
“Ah ha.” I decide not to pursue it any further. I’ve learned enough about Knox to know that he is clearly…not all that easy. “Oh, cool! I love this movie!” I whisper the very next moment, in ecstasy.
Knox smirks, recognizing the credits. “Signs? You can’t be serious. Isn’t this the one where at some point the actors make aluminum helmets to protect themselves from those things out in the corn?”
“They’re aliens, not things! And with the aluminum they can protect themselves from their rays.”
“I would bet this whole beautiful plate of cheese sandwiches that you ran around with one of those hats after seeing this movie.”
I laugh so hard that I almost swallow my popcorn. “I was eight and really superstitious!”
