Picture This Life

The bucket of movie popcorn was big, and the jumbo cup of cola was even bigger. Fizzy and icy cold, the cup sweated and dripped in the moderate heat of the theatre. As we made our way down the outside aisle, carefully scouting out the optimal row, Laura’s dainty hand lost it’s grip on the slippery cup, and 64 ounces of pop spilled onto the theatre floor.

But it didn’t just spill, it exploded. I was five feet behind Laura, and I’m more than six feet tall, and droplets of flying pop speckled my glasses.

Accidents happen, but Laura was embarrassed. Fortunately the theatre was totally empty, and the staff, obviously having seen this situation before, had it cleaned up in the time it took me to rinse off my glasses.

We took our seats.

Me: Laura, it’s no biggie. We can share my pop.

Laura: (slumped in her seat) Thanks.

Lady from the Theatre: (from behind us) Young lady, what kind of pop was that? I’ll get you another.

Laura: Oh, no thanks. You don’t have to do that.

LftT: Nonsense. What would you like?

Laura: It was a Coke. But you don’t have to bring it to me. I can come and get it myself.

LftT: (without hesitation, obviously insistent) Oh, no no no no. You just stay right there. We’ll hand deliver it right to you.

A moment later, she returned, carrying a big cup of Coke for Laura. She even slid it right into Laura’s armrest-mounted cup holder. No way she was letting Laura hold that heavy, slippery, full cup again.