I take another sip of water. “Do you think they have an exhibition kink?”
“I was just wondering that. Though sometimes I guess you just can’t wait until you get home.”
“Mm.”
“Their windows are starting to steam up.” Noah tosses some popcorn into his mouth. “You know you’re getting old when yousee something like this and think a bed would be so much more comfortable.”
“It would, though. You’re just being practical.”
“Thanks,” he says with a smile.
“I didn’t know people still did this at the drive-in.”
“Pretty sure they’re not supposed to do this in public.”
“Imagine telling your child they were conceived at the movies.”
“I was conceived somewhere over Nebraska while my parents were busy joining the Mile High Club.”
My mouth falls open like it’s come unhinged. “No. Really?”
He nods.
“Is it wrong that I love how your parents told you that?”
“Sort of.” He grins. “What about you?”
“Not a clue. My mom died when I was little, and my dad was never in the picture.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. But I was lucky. I had my grandma, and she was amazing.”
“Did you have any other family around?” he asks.
“A cousin who used to stay in the summers. We were really close there for a while. But Grandma was kind of a free spirit and not to everyone’s tastes. My aunt and her didn’t really get along, so we were usually just our own little family unit.”
“Nice.”
There’s now some definite up-and-down movements happening in the flatbed truck. We both watch in silence for a moment. As you do. But a woman with a flashlight is coming this way, walking down the aisle between cars. She bypasses us and knocks on the window of the truck.
“Oops,” I say.
“Busted,” agrees Noah.
The lovers separate as the woman with the flashlight does some finger-wagging at them. Threats are made. It’s all very dramatic and we’re not the only ones watching them instead of the screen. Though their conversation is carried out in low voices in due deference to the film. Which is highly unhelpful.
“What do you think they’re saying?” asks Noah.
“Well…the dude is all sheepish. He knows they’re cooked. But his girl is going full-on denial. Look at her shaking her head and staring down her nose at the woman. She is shocked and stunned by these baseless accusations. How dare her reputation be besmirched in such a fashion.”
“That’s what she’s saying?”
“Yeah.”
“She actually used the wordbesmirched?”
“She did. Big feelings deserve big words. Thoughbesmirchedis only two syllables, so…” I smile. “Our valiant hero, the lady from the snack bar, is having none of this bullshit, however. She knows exactly what sort of shenanigans have been going on and is banning both of them.”
