Free The Big Picture by Jenny B Jones Page B

drop all the acts, okay? Continue being Joey Farmer, but just be yourself. No more embellishments.”
    “But I could — ”
    “No.” I jerk the van doors open and reach for the blankets. “Just be you — with a different name.”
    His head bobs in a nod. “Okay. So that was too much?”
    “Just a bit.” I hand him a blanket.
    “Everything okay back here?”
    I slam the door shut to find Charlie standing near.
    “Uh . . .” Other than the fact I’m trapped inside a dating nightmare, yeah, things are pretty good. “I forgot to tell you happy birthday. So . . . happy birthday!”
    “Thanks. I’m glad you came. Katie, I’ve been wanting to talk to you about — ”
    “This town has the coolest drive-in.” Brian steps between us. “I heard it was going to be shut down though. Such a waste.”
    “Maybe we can talk later?” I stare at Charlie, willing him to give me an indication that Chelsea means nothing to him, that he’s ready to tell me what all the secrecy is about.
    Chelsea, in her tiny khaki shorts, walks herself to where we are. “Hey, sweetie,” she coos. “You have lots of guests to greet before they start the movie.”
    Sweetie? Make me vomit.
    Without thinking, I link my arm through Brian’s. “Yeah, we shouldget settled. We don’t want to miss a thing.”
    “Katie, wait — ”
    “See you later.” And I pull my date along and join Nash and Frances.
    “I knew you’d come around.” Brian pats my hand. “Few can resist my charms.”
    I glare. “Is this before or after you send them the Orlando Bloom picture?” I jerk my arm back and pass a blanket to Nash and Frances.
    Ten minutes later a young, feather-haired Michael J. Fox struts his stuff as Back to the Future begins.
    “Hey, Charlie said the snack bar is open and it’s all on him tonight. Wanna go get something to eat?” Frances glows in anticipation of endless free popcorn.
    “Definitely.” I jump up, grateful to get away from Brian, if for just a few minutes.
    “I’ll go too!” My date is on his feet, moving faster than a superhero.
    “No, that’s okay. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll get it.” Of course it could take me a while. Like a few hours.
    “I insist on going. I’ll help you carry stuff.”
    He walks ahead, and Frances and I follow, resigned to our fate.
    Buford T. Hollis greets us from behind the snack counter. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite kids.” Buford says that to everyone. But it always makes me smile.
    “I love tonight’s movie choice.” Frances grabs some napkins in anticipation of her popcorn, heavy on the butter.
    “Yeah, you come back next week, and it’s Karate Kid. ” His big chubby hands do a perfect wax on, wax off.
    “Don’t you ever show anything more modern?” Brian asks, and everyone freezes. Even the popcorn maker slows.
    “We love Bubba’s Big Picture just like it is. Old movies are what make it so cool,” Frances sputters. “Bubba’s captures the essence of yesteryear and family values, when people would slow down and spendtime together. When life was simple and the world was innocent. When America — ”
    “We can all get in for five dollars a car.” I grab my popcorn. “It’s the best deal in town, especially for those times when you’ve been grounded without allowance. Not that that happens to me often.” Unless you call once a month often. “Plus,” I pop a kernel in my mouth, “it’s the best popcorn in town. Buford is not stingy with the butter.” Though I now probably have the arteries of an eighty-year-old.
    “Well, enjoy it while you can, kids.” Buford sighs. “The Big Picture will only have a few weekends left if the mayor gets his way.”
    Frances slams her hand on the counter. “But he won’t! We won’t let him. He can’t take the drive-in.”
    “I’m afraid he can. He has a mile-long list of things to fix or else he’ll condemn it.” Buford wipes his hands on his white T-shirt. “I can’t possibly do everything he’s