"I want ice cream," CT stated.

"I want popcorn," chimed in David.

"I want out," muttered Tyler as Alex presented a $50 bill to the cashier.  She ignored his comment in favour of righteous indignation as the cashier returned only $15 of her money along with four small brown rectangles.

"It's highway robbery, that's what it is," she muttered, being elbowed aside from the window by her family before she could create a scene.

"No, Mom, it's inflation," David informed her gravely, pushing his glasses up his nose in a manner Alex found unnervingly familiar, and relieving her of the tickets.  "C'mon," he said, ever practical, "let's get the junk before the movie goes in."

Alex sighed, and let herself be manoeuvred to the candy bar, where the remainder of her $50 was very quickly disposed of.  Alex glared at the slack-faced attendant as if it were all his fault, and was about to launch into her interrupted tirade about the cost of things in general, and simple, wholesome family entertainment in particular, when a combined CT/David/Ham assault forced her sideways and into the cinema.

"Where have you been all your life, Mom?" CT asked severely, "Prices have always been this high."

"They have?"  Alex looked surprised.  "Guess I don't get out much."  She smiled down at her children, although CT at eight years of age was shooting up rapidly. "Sorry, kids, I got carried away for a bit."

"You sure did," CT agreed, "and all because of Bambi."  She made a face.

"Hey, it's a good movie, and -- ohffh!"

"Watch the step, Mom."

"Yeah, yeah, thanks Davie."

"Shhhhhh!"

"These seats will do," Tyler's voice cut in.  "Sit -- all of you."

They sat.

When the screen parted and the ads started to roll, both children brightened -- maybe the afternoon wasn't a total loss.  This quickly gave way to more previews and a short Mickey Mouse cartoon, which CT loudly pronounced to be 'wet'.  Even David agreed.

Both parents spent the cartoon wondering if their children would ever be like normal kids, and concluded never in a million years.  What hope did they have with their genetic make-up?

Finally, the familiar strains of "Bambi" floated out of the speakers.  Alex sighed happily.  CT rolled her eyes.  David yawned.  Tyler crossed his arms grimly and settled in for the wait.
 
 

"Yeah?"

"Got a tissue?"

"You wimp!"

"B... but it's so sad...  Bambi's mother just...  j...  just... "  Another sniff.  A manful swallow.  "You know... " he finished lamely.

CT sighed.  "Hang on, I'll get some off Mom -- she's dropped off again."

David fumbled for the tissues in the dark, blew his nose comprehensively on one, and passed the second along to his father.

Tyler cleared his throat, and said roughly, "Thanks."

A small arm had worked its way around Tyler's neck and Tyler hugged his son close, trying to bury his sniff in the tissue.

Damnit, why did Bambi's mother always have to die?  It happened every time he watched the damn movie.  He blew his nose, craning his neck to make sure Alex was not witness to this un-Tyler like behaviour, but he needn't have worried.  Alex was fast asleep, slumped in her seat with head back and mouth open, snoring for all she was worth.  Serve her right for working such long hours, he thought, although she would be worse than a bear with a sore tooth when she woke up to find she'd missed the movie she'd paid so much to see.

CT was cheering for the skunk, and David was only just managing to hold back full blown sobs, his attention riveted on the big screen.  Tyler drew a finger under each eye, making sure they were clear of the tell tale moisture, and tightened his grip on his son's shoulders.

Damn.  If this wasn't the saddest movie he'd ever seen.