Rhonda, some time the previous fall – day three
The diner is crowded, and every once in a while, Rhonda peeks out through the round windows of the swinging doors that separate the kitchen from the main body of the restaurant. She is terrified she’ll see Howie, but thankfully, so far, he has yet to show his face. Last night, Glenda helped her change her hair color from black to bleached blond, but in her mind, Rhonda still sees herself the same. She glances at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, and is startled by what she sees. She moves closer to its silvery surface, and traces the outline of her hair with her finger. He’d probably love it, she thinks, envisioning Howie, drooling. Then, another thought enters her mind. I can’t stay here.
“Thinking about home?” It’s Glenda, and she has a smile on her face. Her squat frame encased in her blue waitress’s uniform is a welcome sight, and Rhonda returns the smile with a shrug that speaks volumes.
“Here’s a little something for your traveling fund,” says Glenda, offering a handful of change in Rhonda’s direction.
Rhonda hesitates, but then extends her own hand and takes the money. “Thanks, Glenda,” she says. “You really don’t have to do this.”
“Bullshit!” replies Glenda with a wink. “We’ve got to get you to South – I mean North – Carolina, don’t we?”
Rhonda looks down at the ground, then back up. “Yeah, I guess so,” she sighs. “I just hate to leave.”
“And I hate for you to leave, too. But, it’s the right thing to do. Besides, there’s nothing here for you. You have a chance to make a brand new start. You have to go.”
“Yeah, I know.” A tremendous sadness surrounds the young girl, and she appears on the verge of tears.
Glenda shuffles her feet, then snaps her finger. “Hey! What say we go to a movie tonight? There’s a new Tom Cruise film playing. My treat. How ‘bout it?”
“What if—”
“What? If that jerk shows up? Don’t you worry about a thing. I’ve handled worse than him. He’s just a bully. Besides, he’s usually drunk by dinnertime, right?”
Rhonda smiles at the image. “Yeah, right.”
“Then, it’s a deal.”
“Deal.”
The drive to the theatre in Glenda’s old ’89 Grand Prix is a short one, and they arrive in plenty of time for the show. The art deco building is old, probably built after the war, but its shabbiness is more than offset by the warm, comforting feeling it evokes in Rhonda. She huddles close by Glenda’s side as they wait in the brief line for the ticket window. She glances anxiously about, expecting to see Howie’s ugly visage at any moment. But, her fears are unfounded, and after Glenda purchases the tickets, the two slip quietly inside to the relative safety of the dimly lit lobby.
“Popcorn?” asks Glenda. Rhonda shakes her head, no.
“It’s okay. We can share,” says Glenda with a little laugh. “Can’t imagine watching a movie without popcorn.”
Rhonda manages a smile. “I guess not,” she says.
“Pepsi okay?” asks Glenda.
“Sure. Whatever you want,” replies Rhonda. Then, relaxing a bit, adds, “Can we have butter on the popcorn?”
“Of course,” replies Glenda, giving Rhonda’s hand a squeeze. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The theatre is dark and secure. Glenda and Rhonda find seats midway down in the center section, slumping deep into the tattered cushions, like two schoolchildren playing hooky. Within minutes, the pleated curtain withdraws, exposing an ancient screen, replete with numerous scars and miniature holes, no doubt inflicted by countless thrown gumballs and paper clips launched from rubber bands held by teenaged boys. Still, the sight of the silvery white surface holds the promise of escape that Rhonda so desperately seeks. By the time the trailers have played out, the illusion is complete, and Rhonda settles against Glenda’s shoulder, waiting for the movie to begin.
The movie is over all too quickly, and as the two make their way out of the theatre, Rhonda’s thoughts turn to her predicament. She knows it’s only a matter of time before Howie will find her. She pulls the collar of her jacket up around her ears, and looks back over her shoulder, expecting the worst. Glenda pulls her close, and whispers in her ear, “Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone hurt you. I promise.”
Rhonda has her doubts.