Jamie had the blissed-out expression of an eight-year old whose wildest dreams had come true as they walked out of the theater, Amanda and Dotty corralling the herd of ten boys who were all simultaneously trying to act out the fight scenes and clamoring to describe their favorite parts, flinging imaginary disks and riding imaginary light cycles.
"If they're like this now, I can't even imagine what they'll be like when we get them back to the house and give them cake and ice cream," commented Dotty good-naturedly.
"Mom! When we get home, can we get out the Frisbee and try some of those tricks?" asked Phillip.
"Sure," answered Amanda distractedly as she counted heads. Realizing she was one short, she turned and saw Jamie standing stock-still, mouth and eyes wide open as he stared across the lobby.
"Jamie, what's wrong?"
"Mom… they're here."
"Who's here?" she asked, turning to follow the direction of his gaze.
"The people from the movie– they're here!" he whispered as if he was afraid the mirage might vanish.
Amanda peered through the crowd, trying to understand what he meant and then the crowd parted and she realized Lee, Efraim and Francine were lurking across the lobby, having obviously snuck in to see the show too – probably Efraim's idea. She could see what Jamie meant – Francine did look a lot like the girl in the movie and with his glasses and curly hair, Efraim did make a passable Rom or Rack or whatever that guy's name had been. And if she squinted, well, yes actually, Lee did look almost exactly like the movie's hero. She bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud as a voice at her elbow suddenly said, "Mrs. King?"
"Yes?" she turned, realizing it was the theater manager she'd talked to about bringing the birthday party here.
"Then you must be Jamie, the birthday boy?" the manager beamed at him.
"Uh huh," Jamie answered not really listening as he continued to stare at the trio across the lobby who were studiously trying to look inconspicuous.
"Well, I have a little something for you," said the manager, handing him a large box. "It was dropped off earlier by someone who thought you might like it."
Even Jamie couldn't resist the distraction of a mystery gift and he began to pull at the wrapping paper. Amanda looked over and caught Lee's eye, lifting an eyebrow to ask the silent question. He'd barely had time to wink at her and make a circling gesture to include the other two before Jamie was whooping with joy. "Mom! It's a bunch of action figures from the movie! And lightcycles!" He gasped and reached in for the last item "And a video of the movie! Can we watch it again when we get home? Please?"
"I don't see why not," she answered him and watched as he darted over to join his friends to show off his loot. She glanced back, but the trio had vanished.
"Spies," she shook her head affectionately. "Everything has to be so mysterious."