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Margie: Sister, do you know what I was thinking about this morning? Those double feature movies that we used to go see every Saturday at the Jericho theater. How come they don't make those anymore? I guess they got greedy and want you to pay for each movie separately.
Remember that wonderful popcorn? They don't make it like that anymore. I could sure drink one of those cold drinks too. That makes my mouth water. Those were the days!
Edna: That old movie popcorn was the best. These days they slap rancid yellow oil on it and call it "buttered". Buttered, my Aunt Fanny! That popcorn is about as close to being buttered as you are to being Miss America.
Maybe we should start showing our own double features, revive a tradition. We could see if Cousin T could rig us up one of those projectors you can use with a computer, and we could show movies on the side of the barn during the evenings. We could even charge a quarter admission fee! What do you think?
Margie: I think you'll be serving popcorn and drinks because I'm going to collect the money!
Edna: Fine. I'll be serving special tea so you'll just have to miss out.
Margie: Fine. I'll just go to Bailey's with the money I collect.
Edna: Fine! When you come home, don't be surprised to find the locks changed.
Margie: Going to call my lawyer now. Bye.
Margie: Edna, I read an article in the Sunday paper about the old dime stores. Remember those? I can just hear those wood floors creaking now. Oh, and who could ever forget the smell of that popcorn popping?
I remember you always ended up at the candy counter. You'd get a dime's worth of M&M's and you'd have enough to last you a week. I sure miss those good prices too.
Edna: At least I never fell head-first into the pickle barrel like you-know-who. I miss those good prices too, especially whenever we go down the candy aisle at the grocery store. I'll never forget all that penny candy in glass jars, all set out in rows. Every now and then I still get a hankering for a sarsaparilla-flavored candy stick.
Margie: Me too, sister. Lawsy me, remember when Daddy bought Mama that stinking Blue Waltz perfume? It smelled like skunk water but we didn't dare tell Mama.
Edna: If you hated it so much, why were you always sneaking dabs from Mama's bottle when she wasn't looking?
My favorite thing to get from the dime store were the ice cold bottles of birch beer. Remember how they used to keep them in an old washtub full of ice? Your hand would be frozen by the time you fished out your bottle, but it sure hit the spot on a dusty day.
Margie: I remember the time I shoved your face in that ice but Daddy caught me before your big mouth froze.
I need a shot of Special tea, you moron.
Margie: Times sure have changed. I watched Beach Blanket Bingo last night. Remember those old beach movies with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello? I thought they were grand when I went to the movie theater to see them.
I look at them now and think how silly they are and the acting surely left a lot to be desired. I can't talk about the music or I'll really get tickled.
Watch them sometimes and see what you think. I only regret that I can't get that good popcorn we had back then. It's not the same now either.
Margie: Edna and I have always loved cool weather. You know the kind where it's cold enough to have the fireplace going. There's a smell to those old fireplaces that we always loved when we were girls. Our favorite times, though, were when Mama, Daddy, Edna, and I gathered around that fireplace and Daddy popped corn for us all. Mama made hot cider for everyone and we'd have a wonderful time.
Edna loved to hear Daddy tell stories about when he was a boy. She would get her funny box turned over because she couldn't believe that Daddy had once been a boy and not a Daddy.
Well, my old mind wanders a lot these days. I've said all this to say that October is National Popcorn Popping Month. That sure brings back a lot of happy memories. I think I'll go back and have more happy thoughts of the old days.
Edna, you sure are quiet. What's on your mind?
Edna: Nothing, I was just listening to you jaw away about the old days while I was munching on this popcorn I popped. If you want some, you'd best get over here and eat before it's all gone.
