Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Two seats, a dime apiece, and he chose one of

the last rows in the back of the theater, away from the shrieking

kids that threw popcorn and candy at the screen. He waited until I

sat down, then plopped into the seat beside mine, his arm draped

casually over the armrest and half in my lap. “Do you bring Betty

here?” I asked, shifting away from him. Better to bring my sister

up like a shield between us, in the drowsy heat and close darkness

of the theater, to remind me why I was there. Betty trusted me,

even if I didn’t trust myself.

Jim shrugged, uninterested. As the lights

dimmed and the film began, he crossed his legs, then slid down a

bit in the seat, letting his legs spread apart until the ankle

rested on his knee. His leg shook with nervous energy, jostling the

seat in front of him and moving at the edges of my vision, an

annoying habit, distracting, and when I couldn’t stand it any

longer, I put my hand on his knee to stop it. As if he had been