Drive In Memories

Three kids in feet pajamas. Bouncing with excitement in the back seat of the Rambler station wagon. The youngest has blue pajamas with yellow duckies. The middle child is wearing pink pajamas covered in Barbie dolls. The oldest, his nose buried in book about the Alamo, has pajamas with Cowboys and Indians chasing each other across the material.

A brown grocery store bag fails to contain the aroma of freshly popped popcorn, covered in real butter. The scent of the popcorn dances with the smell of freshly grilled burgers from the local mom and pop. Four wax cups, covered in moisture, hold the sweet taste of coke and a promise to wash down all of the good eats.

The car pulls up beneath the marquee. A large neon sign lights up the evening sky announcing to the local population that this is the Big Sky Drive-In. Four tickets are purchased. What movies are playing? It doesn't really matter it is Saturday and it is family night out.

A speaker is hung from the window of the families Rambler. An argument develops over which of the children gets to share the front seat with the mother. The oldest wins out and clambers over the seat. Elbows and chin on the dashboard he leans forward in anticipation waiting for the entertainment to begin. Before long the sound of previews and cartoon shorts can be heard through out the car. The movie begins and like magic the children fall into awed silence as they lose themselves in the action on the screen.

When the movie is over intermission begins which is every kid's favorite part of the evening. Car doors can be heard opening and slamming shut through out the drive in as kids of all age's race for the playground which stands beneath the big screen. Like the children in the Rambler most of the kids are in their pajamas. Soon the swings are full and a rowdy line has formed behind the slide. Not a parent can be found as the children enjoy a few moments of magic beneath the stars.

It seems that just a soon as the intermission began its over. The lights in the drive in blink off and on a few times and the kids abandon the playground in search of their family's car. Doors open and slam shut again and the sounds of the second feature begin.

In the Rambler everyone but the oldest boy falls asleep before the movie is half over. It happens every time the visit the drive in. He doesn't mind he is lost in the adventure on the screen. If the first movie was good enough he will sit through it again before he wakes up his mother to drive them home.