Coming Attractions

by Paul Beckman

“Slide over,” Milton said to his wife. He was  standing in the theater aisle holding a giant tub of buttered popcorn and a  large cola.

“I like the aisle,” she said. “You know that.  Squeeze by me.”

He tried to hand his wife the goodies but she  ignored him and made no move to pull her legs back.

“I can’t squeeze by,” he said. The lights began  to dim.

“Shh,” she said and Milton looked around and saw  an aisle seat, walked over and asked the woman next to it if it was taken.

“No, it’s not,” she said pleasantly, and then  the old story became the new one as they shared the popcorn by the light of the  movie.