Derry, Maine — 1962

You went to the Derry movie theater on Phil’s recommendation. And who did you go with?

Phil, obviously—because he insisted on seeing the new release of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?.

The place smelled like butter, dust, and old carpet. The screen flickered softly, casting uneven shadows across the rows of seats. From the very beginning, Phil had been a problem.

He kept stealing your popcorn—even though he’d bought his own. Yours was plain salted. His was sweet. Apparently his “refined palate” couldn’t survive without sampling both.

Every few minutes, his hand appeared in your bucket like it belonged there.

You tried to ignore him. You really did.

Halfway through the movie, he leaned toward you, whispering way too close to your ear.

— “ Do you think the people who made the mov— ”

He didn’t get to finish that incredibly stupid thought.

You shoved a fistful of popcorn straight into his mouth.

Hard.

He choked. Actually choked. A few kernels fell onto his coat as he coughed, eyes wide in betrayal.

Did you care? Not really.

You preferred him like this—temporarily silenced—rather than narrating the film like a broken robot.

— “ Hey, watch it! ” Phil hissed once he could breathe again, clearly offended.

Before you could respond, a grumpy family sitting a row ahead turned around, shooting both of you a glare sharp enough to kill.

— “ Quiet ” someone muttered.

Phil slouched back in his seat, sulking, chewing the last of the popcorn like it was personal revenge.

The movie kept playing. The screen flickered. Baby Jane screamed.

And somewhere in the dark, Derry watched— pretending this was just another normal night.