Many years ago, as a child I couldn't wait for the weekend to roll around. Every Saturday our family would dress up and go downtown. There were so many stores to shop at and so many things to see. There was the five and dime store, where you could always find a bargain. Across form it was the corner drug store where I used to get ice cream sodas and the best French fries in town. Just down the street was the movie theatre, the bank and the best doughnut Shoppe. Just as with many other small southern towns those places are now just a memory. The strip malls and outlet stores have closed the doors on most downtown stores.
On my way to work the other day I noticed the towering monster (of ball and chain) had been erected to tear down the old movie theatre. I couldn't help feeling a solemn sadness. When my workday had ended, I hurried home to shower and change clothes. I wanted to drive downtown and take a few minutes to admire the old building while it was still standing. In some idea of respect for the theatre, I dressed really nice for my visit. On my way driving, I was remembering back when five bottle caps and a nickel would get me into the movie.
I parked my car there in front of the building. I could see that the beautiful glass doors had been removed and the marquee still read "Top Gun" as it was the last movie shown there. I got out of my car and walked up to the door. The ticket booth was just as it had always been and the movie poster frames were all empty but none were broken. It wasn't quite dark yet so I decided to venture inside to see whatever I could. The concession counter was the first memory my eyes looked towards. The counter still had the glass shelves and I could almost smell the fresh popcorn popping.
The tall roof had giant holes it where the ceiling was falling in. Being just before dusk the light was enough to illuminate the doorway into the theatre room. The door was still propped open as if to say "welcome". I ventured on over to the door for a peek inside. Oh my how beautiful the room still was. The huge movie screen still had the elegant velvet curtains hanging over it. I continued walking down the isle noticing each row of seats still in an orderly line and the house lamps still on the walls. I continued down about half way to where I always used to sit as a child. I turned and walked down a row of seats to the middle.
While standing there something I had forgotten caught my eye. The balcony behind me was still spread wide and looked as reverend as a choir loft. I decided to take a seat here on the floor level for a few moments just to take it all in. I could feel that anticipation (just as in my younger years) of waiting for the movie to begin. The silence seemed so out of place there yet afforded me the nostalgia that I began to lose myself in.
While watching and waiting for the curtains to go up I could almost see the spotlights shinning on them. I could hear the music on the speakers playing just as it used to. Then a flash of light from the projector shinned out and the curtains began to go up as the houselights went down. I looked around and I hadn't noticed the theatre fill up with people now all saying "shhhh". The movie had begun. It was "Giant" one of my favorites with James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson. The seat beside me was empty and it looked to be the only empty seat in the house. I noticed that everyone had popcorn and I had forgotten mine. I asked the gentleman beside me to save my seat while I went to the concession counter.
While waiting in line I looked outside and the street was bare, dark and dead. I couldn't understand how downtown could be so desolate outside with so much going on inside. Just then I noticed a man standing outside the door looking in. He looked to be lost or something. He was maybe in his 20's and was wearing jeans and very tight white t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He had dirty blond hair and was smoking a cigarette. This stranger looked somewhat "rough around the edges" but somehow I was mesmerized by him. He was looking right at me and I wasn't sure what to do. The look in his eyes just overpowered my better judgment so I went to say hello.
Once outside he spoke to me first and seemed most friendly. I asked if he or was lost maybe or needed help. He explained that he really just wanted to see the movie but that he had no money. There was no one at the ticket counter just as when I had come in. I explained that he didn't need money to see this movie. I reached out my hand to him and said "come on my friend." He took my hand and smiled. I said "tonight is my night at the movies and this one is on me." Forgetting all about the popcorn at this point, we walked hand in hand back into the theatre and took our seats. I told the stranger my name and asked his. He said "my name is Jimmy." He seemed to be just so involved in the movie but he never once let go of my hand.
Looking behind me I could see that there was no one in the balcony. I know that sometimes they close it and won't let people up there and I never really knew why. Jimmy seen me looking and asked if I would like to go up there. I told him yes that I really would like to. I explained to him "you know, I would just really like to be alone with you away from the crowd." He stood up to lead me out to the steps going upstairs. I knew two things by now. He had been here before and that he wanted to be with me. I expected the stairway to be roped off but it was not. The lights were off but Jimmy for some reason had a flashlight so we could find our way up.
Jimmy found us a seat in the back of huge balcony overlooking the entire theatre room. For me, I wanted to sit in the front row, as there was no one else there but us. Jimmy said that it might not be safe to walk that far down, as the building was so very old. That was fine with me so we took our seats in the back instead. We continued on watching the movie. Jimmy was so into it as if this movie was a part of him. Just sitting there holding his hand all alone in the balcony had really made my night at the movies. Then the strangest thing happened. The movie wasn't like I had seen it before. The parts where James Dean was supposed to be.. Well he wasn't there. I mean the whole movie is about James Dean. I have seen this movie so many times I know it by heart. What was wrong?
Still holding hands I looked at Jimmy and he was already looking at me. I said "what is wrong with this movie? And where is James Dean?" Jimmy smiled at me and said "He's with you." Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I couldn't believe it. How could I be so stupid not to recognize him? I said "You left that movie to be with me?" Jimmy replied "Let's just say I came to this movie to be with you." Either way I felt like I had ripped off every body in the entire theatre because I was the only one with him. Yet why would he want to be with me? Don't get me wrong. I'm glad he was and all those other people were cheated but I still wanted more.
"This has to be a dream come true for me" I said. Jimmy asked why? I asked "Can I show you why?" He said just smiled at me. I got out of my seat onto the floor in front of him. I moved up closer between his legs and unzipped his pants. Jimmy continued to watch the movie without him even being in it and looking straight ahead. He wasn't wearing any underwear and I soon found his dick. I looked up at him as he looked down at me. I said "Wow!" I had always thought that James Dean had a big dick and was gay. Now I could say that I knew it for sure.
He said "go on and suck it." Sweet words to any gay mans ears but coming from James Dean... I'd better be damn good at it! I started sucking his huge dick like it would be my last. It was so big and thick. I almost couldn't take it all but I made myself do it. I sucked his man meat like my life depended on it. I was so hard too. I pulled down my pants so I could stroke too hoping he wouldn't mind. I was getting so lost in sucking his dick nothing else mattered. He was enjoying it too. I could no longer hear the movie just his man sounds from being sucked. I was thinking at this point for him to bend me over the balcony wall and fuck my brains out would be so hot, yet I was already lost in just sucking his dick.
"Oh yeah" he was saying as I stroked my own. My eyes were closed and I had truly lost myself in this and I felt like he had too. We were both so much enjoying this and I knew I was getting close but I would keep sucking him. Once again he said "oh fuck yeah" and I knew it was time. Just knowing he was about to unload made me cream. He pulled his dick out and started jerking it. He shot over and over and I could barely see it.
Jimmy stood up to zip his pants and I was still in the floor. I was just coming back to reality when the police officer said "Ok we've had our fun and now it's time to go." I looked around just to see total darkness except for his flashlight. There was no movie. There was no one else there but us. As we reached the bottom of the steps I could see it was dark outside and no one had even been there but us. I spoke up and said "Oh I am so sorry.. I was just lost in the nostalgia here" I couldn't believe I had been caught there by a police officer and then sucked his dick. As we walked toward the door leading outside I said "please tell me you aren't going to take me to jail." The officer said "Na.. We just had a night at the movies."
I thanked him over and over again and promised I would never do something like this again.
Walking outside the theatre the officer walked the other way. I had to look back up once more at this building and it's beauty for what it had meant to me. Tomorrow it would be demolished. I was just wishing there was something I could do to save it. In the background I could hear a loud car drive up just behind me. I turned to see the officer in his convertible. I was rather confused. He looked like the same man who was standing outside the door before. He yelled "Hey you!" I walked over to hear his voice above the engine. The red light turned green. He said "Thanks for the movie but I gotta go" I yelled why are you not in uniform and a police car? He yelled back driving off "I'm not a cop.. I'm a Rebel Without a Cause."
Renovation starts soon on the old movie theatre to restore it just as it was. The Grand Opening is already being planned. Who made it happen? I have no idea. All I can say is "Come Back to the five and dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean"
Chris Brandon awhtboy@yahoo.com