“What?” she asks. I’m obviously distracting her. “Monthly.” She turns to the group again. “Any other guesses? It will surprise you, I think!”
Okay, so if every single person here gets a chance at their favorite and it’s only monthly, that’s thirty-six movies. There are fifty people here. I suppose it’s possible they haven’t gotten to Nora’s. But she runs the whole damned thing and hasn’t been able to watchherfavorite?
“What’s your favorite movie?” I ask her.
She shakes her head as if to tell menot now. “It’s Alex!” she announces to the group.
Oh…wait, what?
The crowd gives a collective surprised “aw” sound, and there’s light applause.
We’re watchingMonsters, Inc. because ofme?
I stare at Nora. “How did you know that?”
She looks smug. “I know you tell interviews that your favorite movie isThe Dark Knight.”
I do. And she says this right into the microphone so the whole group is included.
“Right,” I say. “Because that’s a fantastic film.” It is. Great acting, great cinematography, great themes.
“Sure,” she agrees. “But yourrealfavorite isMonsters, Inc.”
I narrow my eyes. There is not even a handful of people who know that. I know who told her. “You asked my sister, and she blabbed?”
Nora grins. “Yep.”
I sigh. Well…Monsters, Inc.is great. I look out at the crowd. The group looks pleased. No one’s judging me. I assumed sports fans and sports magazine writers want to hear that a big, tough hockey player likes dark action films with lots of crashing and blowing up. But this group… they’re all grinning at me, not in a ‘that’s so funny that you like a cartoon movie’, but in a ‘how delightful’ way.
“How many times have you seen it?” Nora asks into the mic, then she tips it toward me so everyone can hear my answer.
“What?”
“How many times? Usually, people see their favorites more than once, and typically, you pick up extra things when you watch it again and again.”
“Uh…” I scrub the back of my neck. Do I admit the real number? Looking out at the lawn chairs and blankets, all I see are people who are watching me with open, interested expressions. And she’s right. You don’t watch a favorite just once. “Probably a dozen times.”
Nora looks thrilled by that answer. Okay then, I could probably tell her it’s more like twenty.
“Who’s your favorite character?” she asks.
Again, I’m tempted to lie. Or fib, at least, because of course I do like the two main monster characters. But I give Nora the truth. “Boo. The little girl.”
She’s clearly surprised. “Really? Why?”
“I think because I’d like to be her,” I say, a little uncomfortable. Okay, a lot uncomfortable. “She’s vulnerable and the bad guys are out to get her, but this big monster does whatever he has to to protect her. And his friend steps up to help because he’s a good friend. She just has to trust them. I like that idea. Just being able to be yourself, trust someone, and be taken care of.”
As soon as those words leave my mouth, my eyes widen. Oh…damn. That was a lot. I’ve never said that to anyone about that movie. I don’t think I’ve ever really thought it. I’ve never thought about who my favorite character was specifically.
But Nora looks like she wants to hug me.
And maybe take her clothes off and let me more-than-hug her.
And I like that a lot, so I’m not sorry for baring my stupid mushy soul there for a second.
“And what do you like about the movie overall, Alex?” Nora asks. “What makes it your favorite?”
I wasn’t prepared for all of these questions about a movie I haven’t watched lately. I’m not sure…. Yes, I am.
