Page 118 of I Am the Messenger

I think he's asleep again, so I walk out and find a door that says Staff Only and go in. It leads to the projection room, where the man snores quietly, leaning back in his chair and against the wall at his side.

"Sir?" I ask.

"Oh no!" he shouts at himself. "Not again!"

He's visibly upset, rushing around to get the new reel, castigating himself and apologizing.

"It's okay," I tell him, "calm down," but he won't have any of it.

He tells me over and over again. "Don't worry, son, you'll have your money back and I'll even give you a showing for free. Your choice." He continues on fervently. "Any movie you want."

I accept. I have no other option.

He rushes forward and says, "Now if you hurry down, you'll be there in time not to miss anything."

Before I head back to the theater, I feel compelled to introduce myself. I say, "My name's Ed Kennedy," and hold out my hand.

He stops and shakes it, looking into my face. "Yes, I know who you are." Momentarily, he forgets about the reel and looks me directly in the eye with total friendliness. "I was told you were coming."

He carries on with his work again now.

I stand there.

This keeps getting better and better.

I watch the rest of the movie and tell myself, I'm not walking out of here until I find out who informed the old man I'd be coming.

"Enjoy that?" he asks as I come out, but I don't allow him any room for that kind of discussion.

I say, "Who told you I was coming?"

He tries to shrug away.

"No." He's almost panicking. "I can't." He's moving off now. "I promised them, and they were such nice fellows...."

I pull him back now to face me. "Who?"

He appears even older now, inspecting his shoes and the carpet.

"Was it two men?" I ask.

He looks at me like yes.

"Daryl and Keith?"

"Who?"

I try another angle. "Did they eat your popcorn?"

Again a yes.

"It was Daryl and Keith," I confirm. The greedy bastards. "They didn't hurt you, did they?"

"Oh no. No, they were very nice. Genial. They came in about a month ago and watched Mister Roberts. Before they left they told me a guy named Ed Kennedy would be coming and that you'd get a delivery when you're finished."

"And when am I finished?"

He holds out his hands. "They told me you'd know." His face tilts, almost in sorrow. "Are you finished?"