A Little Rain by Dee Winter Page A

broadly, arm-in-arm.  A spark ignites in Benny that makes him slap
handshake Tobes and kiss Demi on the lips as he puts his arm round her.  This
gets on my nerves.  Demi just giggles.  I give Tobes a big hug and kiss him on
the cheek, close to his lips, but not quite hitting the mark.  The plan works.  Benny
says, “Easy!” looking bothered.  I hug and kiss Demi too, the same way just to
make a point that Benny made a fuss about nothing.
    “So what are we seeing?” says Demi quietly.  The boys
have already agreed over the phone on some fast car, gun fighting, action racket
that’ll make my ears hurt.  Demi I think is a bit perplexed.  She tells me she
had her heart set on seeing Brad Pitt.  I join the snaking queue to buy
tickets.  The line is slow.  I watch over intently at the people who have
reached the windows.  Some are taking ages.  Maybe they’re the sort of people
who do their deciding when they get to the front of the queue.  Like the people
at the supermarket checkout, who don’t reach for their wallet until the lady
tells them the total, like it’s a surprise they have to pay.
    Benny and Tobes wait outside.  Demi too but she
doesn’t even smoke.  This gets on my nerves a bit too as it means I stand on my
own.  I don’t let the little bubbles of resentment bite.  They are not going to
spoil my night.  If she were standing here with me we’d probably just be
talking about Tobes.  It makes me think I like being independent.  I become
next in line as the two ladies in front of me move forward together.  I can
hardly believe my eyes as some middle-aged bald man wearing glasses has
appeared from out of nowhere and pushed in in front of me.  “Excuse me!” I say
loudly and quite a few people turn to look.  He looks back at me blankly, then
turns his back to me.  Rage rapidly spawns from my toes to my cheeks in a split
second.  I know I’m going to cause a scene.  I don’t care.  Nothing starts hot
fire in my soul more than some crazy fool like this.  He had his chance to step
back and queue, but no.  
    The next window becomes free and I run in front of
him, pushing him back with my hand on his shoulder, adrenalin pumping.  I turn back
and stare at him, “You know I was next,” and he huffs, looking disrespected.  I
shoot him one of my wildest glares and almost shout, “This is a queue, in case
you didn’t notice.”  My heart is racing and I don’t look back again.  I get to
the window first and I sense people are looking still, eyes burning into my
back.  I say sweetly, nodding to the girl at the desk, “I was next.”
    I buy tickets for everyone.  I will have to send Rob
round as debt collector if I don’t get my money back.  I’m not expecting Benny
to give me any money but I have a plan.  I’m going to make him pay for the
food.  We get a huge tub of sweet popcorn and the biggest size cola drink they
do.  Benny makes a big noise about it costing so much and acts like he’s taking
it personally when the girl serving him asks for the best part of ten pounds.  She’s
a timid little thing and looks a little frightened as Benny hums and haws about
whether he’s even going to pay at all.  I butt in, “Don’t listen to him…” and
after he eventually gives up his tenner, I pull him away.  He’s struggling now
to carry the bin and the bucket.
    “Whoa, watch it… Watch it!” he says to me, as I tug
his arm, popcorn spilling on the floor.  Demi and Tobes are waiting nearby.  They’re
not getting food.  Demi is on the phone and Tobes is looking vexed.  Tobes is
usually always smiling when he’s with Demi.
    “Who’s she on the phone to?”  I ask.
    “How should I know?” He pitches.
    “Oh.  We’re going to get seats,” I say.  I give them their
tickets as Tobes gives me the money they owe me.  Benny and I go in first as
they hang back.  I think Demi has gone to the toilet.  The seats we get are
actually spot on.  A few rows from the