October means something different for everyone. For some it means the beginning of cozy coffee drinks and hearty meals taking the place of light summer fare. Others see it as a time to wrap oneself in an over sized sweater and drive around witnessing Nature's rich myriad of colors.
And for others it means a time for terror. I, sadly, am in that camp.
I actually love all those things about fall (although being now in Florida, the color palette is changed less dramatically and the only time I might reach for an over sized sweater will be if the restaurant is extra heavy-handed with the AC). But what I fear is the onslaught- pun intended- of bloody, unnerving scary movies that I am forced to watch throughout the month, as part of a deal I struck with Joe years ago. Since I never voluntarily chose to see the horror movies that would come out throughout the year, Joe saved up all the scary movies he wished to see and during the month of October I had to be a sport and sit through them.
Our system has been working, although I'm not sure how much of a good sport I am. I tend to still grit my teeth and hide my eyes whenever I know a scary part is happening. So to lessen the pain, we've tried to add some variation to our month, such as adding micro brews to our viewing sessions (as a nod to Oktoberfest) and since we are in temperate climes, going to the drive-in.
On one such evening, my sister, Joe and I all packed up Joe's car and set out to the Funlan Drive-In out near Tampa.
I have been fortunate to experience a couple of drive-ins and adore their vintage ads and classic movie previews, so I was expecting something similar. As we drove up we noticed the area around the drive-in. There were shopping centers right across the street, and the bright neon lights took away from the excitement a dark road to a drive-in elicits. Right off the bat, that should've been our first hint that it was going to be an unusual night.
As we drove up we immediately saw our first hurdle- no cards, just cash. We had to turn around and find the nearest ATM, which happened to be in not-the-best area. When we got back we drove through a paved parking lot, rather than matted down grass or soft soil. We pulled out our chairs and set ourselves up for our movie, only to notice the car directly next to us had their loud motor still running and drowning out the already barely audible film. We became hopeful that an employee was coming to tell the patron to turn off his car, but instead did nothing, and wasn't until 45 minutes into the movie that they finally killed the motor. At last some peace...for about 10 minutes.
Nearby we heard the rumble and screech of what sounded like race cars zooming next door. When that had finally subsided, we turned our attention to the screen. The lights from the concession stands continued to shine directly at our screen, making the movie as tense as a wet noodle since we couldn't see anything. We had just gotten used to it when all of a sudden the screen split, right across Ethan Hawke's bearded face.
At this point, I kept thinking, what else could possibly go wrong? As if by divine providence, or perhaps the ghost of Alfred Hitchcock lending his wry and morose humor to our evening, a large bird suddenly appeared and loudly clunked down in front of the screen, causing a helpless laugh to burst out of each of us.
As we drove home, we kept recounting all the oddities that occurred that night and though it wasn't my favorite drive-in experience, it still somehow managed to satisfy that requirement for my movie month of October- as if like a character in a horror movie being chased by a madman, I had to keep wondering, "what else could possibly go wrong?"
...
As I tried to imagine how one would contract ocular flatulence, my lawyer approached us and explained the situation.
"The judge is very tough. She has been known to incarcerate people, even on their first offense."
The words knocked any humor out of my head and replaced it immediately with terror. I gripped Joe's hand and look pleadingly at my family for direction and advice. After some wise words, it was decided to roll the dice (quite appropriate for me) and take my chances. I took a deep breathe, and entered the courtroom.
As I settled in my seat, I tried to focus on what was happening in front of me. A woman was at the podium next to her lawyer, who was speaking on her behalf. He spoke about how she had "accidentally" hit a man, and then continued on her way.
Amazingly, the man was actually in the courtroom, and came forward. A kind-looking man came up to the podium on the prosecutor's side, and told his side of the story.
"She didn't mean any harm, but her actions just weren't the best."
"Sir, how did the defendant hit you?"
"Well, she basically hit my legs."
"And so she just pushed you with her car?"
"No ma'am, I rolled over the hood."
Once again, I found myself blinking in disbelief. This was becoming less like an episode of Law and Order and more like a Three Stooges short. I barely had a chance to fully comprehend the humor in the image of this nice man walking along and then getting hit and rolling over the hood of a car a la Jason Bourne and then continuing on his way home before it was my turn.
I stood up and walked next to my lawyer, hands trembling. I heard my lawyer explaining everything I had done in the months since my accident, but all I kept focusing on was trying to breathe and not appear a completely sniveling mess. I had practiced my words for so long, I felt them forming a line in my throat as I waited for my turn to speak for myself. Then it came...
"Your honor...." and so began my plead for my life (at least that's how it felt). The words came clearly to my brain and despite some moments when my tears overcame my voice, I managed to get everything out like a steam-train. Finally, it was over. There was nothing more I could say or do. I just had to wait. And breathe. Breathe.
"Breathe, Ms. Bott," I heard the judge say. "You have obviously learned your lesson. You have said everything that says how remorseful you are. I think you drank way more than you normally do, and made a terrible mistake. You seem to have learned your lesson. So...give yourself a break. Will you do that, Ms. Bott?"
"Um, yes your honor..." I couldn't believe my ears.
In a few painless seconds, I was ordered to just finish up my classes, and handed my walking papers. In that moment, the pain and fear and shame was suddenly lifted like a heavy sheet off my face, and I really could breathe again.
It was done. It was finally over.
And now...it's just the beginning....
:)
So there I was...
Fidgeting on the hard wooden bench outside the court room, shivering from both the frigid air conditioning and my own nerves. I constantly shifted my black skirt, smoothed my pink shirt, and tried to breathe.
"It's going to be ok. Just think about getting back on that plane," Joe said, squeezing my hand.
I kept trying to think about that, and how Florida- and a new life- was on the other end of it. But my mind kept snapping back to the fear that gripped my legs. Images of courtroom dramas where they drag the convicted kicking and screaming "You'll never take me alive!" kept popping in my head, and I'd find it hard to swallow.
I just had to keep breathing, and praying, and crying (actually, I didn't have any trouble with the crying).
I scooted a little closer to Joe to allow a large elderly man to sit next to me on the bench. Joe continued to grip my hand as we waited anxiously for my family and my lawyer to show up.
"You know, the courthouse downtown has rats running around it."
I turned my head to acknowledge what the man had said.
"Oh....r-really..?" I sniveled.
"Yup, run right across the floor."
I tried to process this as I began to turn back to Joe.
"I have a gas bubble in my eye."
"...Uhm"
"Yeah doctor said I'm not supposed to lean over, otherwise it might float to the back of my eye and burst."
I found myself staring up at the ceiling, no longer willing just the fear away...
He was just concluding his tale about how his lawn mower's parts were stolen while under a tarp when finally it was my turn to enter the court room...
Stay tuned for Part 2eux
