excited kids laugh about their new favorite movie 'my own private auschwitz' showing at the multiplex – "wasn't it funny when ..." fat kid screams face distorted into a donkey's grimace – the others laugh to themselves remembering their own favorite moments – I cross the street kicking a parked car – I always hated the color green – shout from behind turn old friend from college – "hey buddy, what you up to" – "just heading to bible class" – taking long draw from cigarette blowing smoke from corner of mouth "learning how to molest children" – "good, good, stayin' out of trouble then, gotta go" take off down sidewalk friend running to keep up wave my hand over shoulder – "Fucking wild about what's going on, eh?" –"what are you talking about?" – "those fucking planes flying right into those towers in new york?" – just stare at his puffy face – "you know, september 11, right?" – "I don't have a fucking idea what you're talking about?" – "it's all over the fucking news, man!" – "the only thing i know is that my tv schedule has been screwed up for weeks and it pisses me right off" – duck into the hudson's bay – weave through racks of practical women's outerwear – lose the aging jock in the cosmetics department – sneak out the granville street exit continue up the street – old man with ragged gray beard preaching on street corner "your soul is an insect that follows you around!" pointing finger into the crowd – "Okay, okay I'll get the money!" I shout ducking past him and marching away quickly – sniffing my fingers to distract me from the stock brokers smoking outside vancouver's best coffee – the way they look at me makes my stomach turn – that way a stripper stares you down – makes you look into your beer for the rest of the show – stop in front of the peepshow – warm air filtering from doorway smells good – like a morning shit –

[back again – little girl writhes on sidewalk in front of multiplex – clutching at clothing – mother's legs – "but i want to fuck harry potter!" she screamed – gnashing teeth – grunting – "behave yourself! that is no way to act in public!" – i stopped, leaning against the wall, scratching the brick with my fingers, staring at the soccer mom – i've been attracted to soccer moms ever since my friend's mother molested me one night during a sleep over – i've always known these suburban housewives to be insatiable sexual deviants– she disappeared into the movie theatre dragging her child by the hair – the smell of popcorn makes me want to vomit – ]