14. Criswell Speaks
"One is always considered mad when one discovers something that others
cannot grasp."
— Bela Lugosi, "Bride of the Monster"
Julia and Rhonda ran inside the theater at exactly 7:10 pm. Still giggling, they bought two tickets from a weary looking man wearing a jacket and a "Manager" tag. When they hit the concession stand to relieve their munchies, they found a sign that said: "Closed".
"Aww!" Rhonda whined. "I was getting really hungry too!"
"It's too bad I can't hop back there and get us some popcorn. I worked at a theater for two summers when I was in high school."
"I beg your pardon?" the Manager inquired, somehow looking five years younger. "Do you mean that?"
"Oh yes!" exclaimed Julia. "I was Assistant Manager for a month as well!"
"Would you like a job? Part-time?" he asked, regaining another three.
Both woman screamed and hugged each other. Wiping a tear from her eye,
Julia said: "Sure!"
A smile suddenly broadened upon the Manager's now young and chipper face. Tom had been showing signs of being less than happy with this job. Perhaps he was ready to move on. Maybe he needed a push. Anyway, he had called in sick for the evening, and despite the run of good luck with the second-run bad movies, the Manager did want something left over for a vacation this year.
Julia was about to ask a few questions from her new employer, but a voice like a drunken oracle began to blare from inside the theater. Julia found herself entranced by the grammatically awkward oratory: