Chapter 7: Thor: Ragnarok
One rainy Saturday in June 2018, I met my childhood friends Sarah, James, and Henri to watch the movie Thor: Ragnarok. We were originally supposed to see the movie at Flagstaff Hill near Phipps Conservatory in Oakland, but it was raining too hard, so we ended up seeing the movie at Sarah, James, and Henri's new apartment in Shadyside instead, since they had Netflix. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. "I am making a very nice dinner for all of you guys to eat while we watch the movie," James told us. "What is it?" Henri asked. "Flank steak with potato wedges and spinach salad," James replied. "Yum," Sarah remarked. "One of my favorites." "Mine, too," I agreed. "This is a nice new apartment you guys have," I remarked. "Thanks," James replied. "I guess living in Oakland was making you a little sad, huh?" I asked. "Yes, Angel," Sarah replied. "As a matter of fact, I am glad we are not seeing the movie at Flagstaff Hill since Oakland is right next to the Carnegie Mellon University campus, and it makes me sad that things are changing and I don't know anybody there anymore." "I know how you feel, Sarah," I sympathized. "I feel the same way about Highlands High School in Natrona Heights." "Have you guys seen Thor: Ragnarok before?" I asked. "Yes, Angel," James replied. "Early last November." "It's a really funny movie," Henri told me. "You will like it." Pretty soon, dinner was served. Sarah then went into her bedroom to paint her toenails and tie her hair back. "Sarah, what are you doing?' I asked my friend. "I am trying to impress boys," Sarah replied. "Why?" "Because I was thinking about what James and I said about romance last week in Squirrel Hill," Sarah replied. "I like you for you, not because you have a boyfriend," I encouraged Sarah. "But, you don't understand, Angel," Sarah told me. "I saw Robert with another young woman at Waffalonia this morning, and I didn't like it." "I remember when you used to do so many nice things for me when we were young," I remembered. "Like what?" Sarah asked. "You know, fixing my hair and painting my nails, like what you are doing right now," I replied. "Oh right," Sarah remembered. "I used to do that for you." "Do you still consider yourself more of a tomboy, a girly-girl, or somewhere in between these days?" I asked Sarah. "I am starting to become more girly," Sarah replied. "As a young woman in my late 20s, the more feminine I look, the better!" "Carly, Alex, and I all look up to you, Sarah," I told Sarah. "By the way, your new bedroom looks nice! Is there a place for me to sleep?" "Yes, there is a sofa bed beside my king-size bed for you to sleep on," Sarah replied. "Now, let's go watch the movie," I told Sarah. James also had a special treat for all of us to watch during the movie- ice cream sundaes with our choice of chocolate or vanilla ice cream, along with various toppings such as chocolate chips, nuts, chocolate syrup, and rainbow sprinkles, as well as some cookies from Giant Eagle. "I'm worried that this movie is like the one that John Paul took me to as a teenager," Sarah admitted in a worried tone of voice, "and it was an R-rated movie with a lot of action, but with so much violence, as well." "No wonder you are so worried about romance, Sarah," I told my friend. "Can't you just relax and give the movie a chance?" James asked. "Yes, you will find that you might like the movie," Henri agreed. After the movie was over, Sarah, James, and Henri drove me back to my mom's apartment in Highland Park. "Thanks for a great evening, everyone!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Bye, guys!" "Bye!"
