Chapter 81: Film Screening

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- Returning to 2001, younger Jeffrey's time.

Jeffrey went upstairs to grab a few of the extra blankets, Saoirse and Raine ran to their rooms to source the pillows. Their dad was in charge of getting the night's movie to work, setting up the cables to connect to the tv. Mom was busy making trail mix and the refreshments for Friday.

Sometimes, they'd go bowling or an actual movie theater, but it was expensive and they were happy enough just to be at home altogether on a week where Mom didn't have late business meetings or Dad had to go on a trip for work.

Sometimes, Jeffrey, Saoirse and Raine would be dragged along as well taking turns of who would go with mom to visit Sophie's house for some Market America training or exercise classes their mom was so interested in.

Other times, they'd actually be fun getting to travel to New York, sit in Dad's office chair and then go out for dinner or see a museum.

"Jeffrey scoot over you're taking up all the space on the couch", Raine said nudging her arm into Jeffrey's side.

"Yeah, stop taking up all the space Jeffrey", Saoirse supported her sister.

"...", Jeffrey stared at them

"...", Saoirse and Raine started to push and pull his arms to make some room for themselves.

Seeing the situation they're mom stepped in, "Now now you guys, give Jeffrey some space you have plenty to share. Do I have to separate you?"

Jeffrey shook his head and replied, "I think we're good, right Raine?"

"Yeah, everything would be just fine if Jeffrey stopped hogging the armrest", Raine said.

"You've got the recliner footrest, this couch is big enough for all of us", Jeffrey mentioned.

Suddenly their Dad appeared and instead of sitting next to mom, the shadow of his posterior appeared in their sight.

"Dad, NOOO", Saoirse shrieked.

Their mom smiled at their plight commenting, "Don't be such a child around the children"

Their Dad stood up and tussled with their hair telling them, "Behave, ok?"

The three kids nodded their heads to show that they understood.

"See it worked!", their Dad said proudly.

"Movie time!", Saoirse suggested.

Dad went back to the DVD and VCR box and placed the disk inside. "Maybe we should get one of those Playstations to play blu-ray", he suggested to their mom.

"Not another video gaming console, I already know you guys are playing video games behind my back without letting me know. What's even worse is that you won't even invite me", Their mom pouted.

Jeffrey's Dad gave her a hug and a kiss, while the three kids looked away from their conversation.

Jeffrey went to grab a book as it was going to be a while. Raine and Saoirse sourced their own snacks as their parents had another one of their adult conversations.

The trio headed to their rooms.

"When are we going to watch the movie?", Raine asked Jeffrey.

"Hopefully in an hour", Jeffrey replied as they all headed up to their rooms to give their parents some space.

The kitchen sink was still full of dishes from dinner, Jeffrey knew it was his job to wash them tomorrow morning. He was not looking forward to it.

"We'll I'm going to take a shower", Jeffrey informed his siblings.

"Just don't take too long, you'll hog up all the warm water", Saoirse chided him.

"I won't, besides my showers are much shorter than yours", Jeffrey pointed out.

"Bah, you don't understand. Bubble baths are the best", Raine sided with Saoirse.

Jeffrey went to the laundry room to grab a towel. Downstairs it was much quieter and their Mom and Dad engaged in more civil discourse.

"By the time I finish, we can probably watch the movie. Until then go clean up your room", Jeffrey told Raine.

Raine and Saoirse started to make their bed and organize their school backpacks, removing the finished homework packets, completed tests, and in-class assignments.

Jeffrey turned on the water to take a shower. While Jeffrey was showering, he thought he could hear the movie start playing. So Jeffrey finished up quickly.

Sure enough, by the time he'd dried himself, dressed up and gotten out they had already started the movie without him.

"Hey", Jeffrey whispered to his sisters as he elbowed his place onto the couch.

"I thought you guys said you'd wait for me", Jeffrey said with his hair still damp having not had the time to completely dry himself.

"But you were taking so looong", Raine replied.

"Plus Dad already made the popcorn, if we waited any longer it'd be all gone by the time the movie started", Saoirse added.

The movie revealed the glacier starting to crack and move and their attention was turned to the television.