Maureen, I know you said Star Wars was yours. I hope you'll forgive this little excursion into that Galaxy far, far away.

And yes, I am going to see Star Wars, Episode I - The Phantom Menace on Wednesday. However, I will not be at the first showing. One minute after midnight is a little too early for me... Or is that too late? :-D
 
 

Angie Ramirez looked at her father and frowned. "But Papa! 'Return of the Jedi' starts tomorrow! I want to go see it. Please!" She looked up at her father, blue eyes pleading desperately. She didn't want to be the only kid at school to not see the 'Star Wars' movie, especially since her dad worked in the movies. She'd told everyone that her father could do effects just like ILM. And now, he was saying she couldn't go? No! She had to go! "Please Papa! Please!"

"I'm sorry, Angel, but I have to work tomorrow." He gestured over to where his young apprentice was putting together some squibs. "We have to work tomorrow. I promise I'll take you the first chance I get."

"But Papa! It won't be the same. I have to go tomorrow!" When her father just sighed and shook his head, the girl frowned mightily and ran upstairs to her room. She slammed her door shut behind her, wanting the world to know her anger and hurt. Throwing herself on her bed, she buried her face into her pillow and burst into tears. He didn't understand! She had to go! All of her friends were saying they would see it tomorrow. Everyone was going, except her! It wasn't fair! It just wasn't fair!

Rollie Tyler looked up from his work and sighed. He could sympathize with Angie, he wanted to go too. But the young Aussie knew his job took precedent over seeing a movie, any movie, even the newest 'Star Wars' epic. He planned to try and see it his next free day, if something didn't bend his finances back out of shape. He'd already learned that one. It seemed whenever he'd saved up a bit for something he wanted, something else came up to take that money away from him. Maybe the Force would be with him in this case though, especially since it was only the price of one ticket and he would be going to a matinee. Oh well, he'd see it... eventually. And it wasn't like he'd seen the others in a theater. Oh no! Something in life seemed to conspire against that. Of course, when the first one came out, he'd been at Docker River and they didn't get it anywhere they could go until after his Dad had dragged him off to the States. And by that time, it wasn't playing in the States. That had been the way with 'The Empire Strikes Back' too. Somehow or other, Dingo always managed to drag him off to whichever place it wasn't showing. Even Mangela had managed to see the two movies before him! Mind you, it had been fun, listening to him tell the stories as if they were Songs or tales of the Ancestors. Well, he would see Jedi in the theater and if he was lucky, maybe now that the third movie was coming out, they might decide to show all three together. He would have to go to that. Even if it meant a day without pay!

Manny turned back to his own work, muttering in Spanish under his breath. He knew Angie wanted to see this movie. She'd been talking about it for what seemed like forever. But damn it, he had work to do! He couldn't just call up the director and say, 'Sorry, we can't make it today. We're going to see 'Return Of The Jedi'.'. Oh that would go over real well! He glanced up at his daughter's bedroom, wishing he could find a way.

"Mister Ramirez?"

Manny jumped slightly at his apprentice's soft words. He turned toward the young Aussie, about to apologize for the scene he had just witnessed.

"Maybe we could work it so I can handle the last part of  tomorrow's shoot? Then you could take Angie to see 'Return Of The Jedi'."

The Cuban American looked at Rollie, noting the earnest expression on his face and the serious brown eyes so full of understanding. And longing as well? While his apprentice didn't talk about 'Return Of The Jedi' the way Angie did, he'd noticed a repressed excitement fairly vibrating through him when they saw an ad on television or Angie read an article in the newspaper. Oh yes, his apprentice was as eager to see the movie as his daughter, if not more so. And now Rollie was trying to find a way for him to take her. Manny had noticed this behavior before, acts of selfless generosity as if Rollie and his feelings and desires didn't matter as much as others and their feelings and desires did. It's only a movie, he argued with himself silently. It was more to Angie though. It was... a symbol of... what? It was only a movie, but Angie was at that age where movies and books and television series were so very important. Where the actors and actresses seemed realer than real and where it was so easy to get a crush on one of them. And Angie knew exactly what went into making those bits of imagination and yet still felt their thrall. He shifted slightly, before answering his waiting apprentice. "It's good of you to offer, Rollie, but tomorrow will be a busy day and we're doing one of the big scenes that evening. I can't leave it just to you. It wouldn't be fair. Besides Rollie, while you're good, you still have a lot to learn."

"Yessir," Rollie responded meekly, turning once more to his assigned task. He felt a pang of disappointment, but at least he made the offer, however impractical. He went back to work, pushing away the slight ache.

If only, Manny thought to himself. If only there were some way. A thought struck him and he peeked over at Rollie Tyler. Perhaps that would work. Yes, he thought to himself, that would work. But he wanted it to be a surprise, so he remained silent.

Angie went to school with a great deal of reluctance. She'd even considered pretending she didn't feel well, but... Well, she wouldn't give her father the satisfaction. She went with her head held high as if she were a martyr going to the stake for burning.

Manny watched her performance with carefully hidden amusement. Amazing! Perhaps Angie would decide to be an actress instead of doing special effects. She certainly had a talent for it. Fortunately, he managed to keep a straight face and his secret. The consequences would have been dire if Angie had detected even a hint of her father's good humor. He dropped her off at school and went on to pick up his apprentice. There was a lot to be done today! Especially, if he wanted to pull this off.

Rollie didn't seem to detect any difference in Manny's actions than any other day, which was a good thing. Manny had already found the young man was uncannily perceptive about people, especially those that were close to him. He rather thought he and Angie fell into that category. They set to work just like normal, quickly settling into the rhythm of working with each other and doing their job. The day passed quickly with the normal frustrations and highs of movie making.

Manny glanced at his watch for the third time in a hour and Rollie had to wonder about it. Mister Ramirez was excited about something. Surely not the day's effects? They were pretty standard, nothing particularly special or exciting. So why was he so excited? And why did he keep checking his watch? Rollie glanced at his own watch. Well, Angie would be home from school soon, probably still upset about missing 'Return Of The Jedi' on opening day. Hardly anything to get excited about, unless Manny thought she would try to sneak off to the theatre alone? No, that couldn't be it, he would be upset if he thought that and he would be worried, not excited. What was Manny Ramirez up to now? When the director barked out that this scene was in the can, Rollie moved quickly to set up the squibs for the next scene, his curiosity forgotten.

The special effects expert checked his watch again. He nodded and looked around for his apprentice. "Rollie?"

"Yes, Mister Ramirez?" Rollie promptly hopped up and stood in front of his boss, ready to tackle whatever task was about to be assigned to him.

One of these days, I'll convince him to call me Manny all the time, Manny thought with a silent sigh. "I want you to go pick up Angie and take her to the movies."

What?!? That couldn't be right? Rollie shook his head, thinking he couldn't possibly have heard correctly.

"Here's money for the tickets and some snacks." Manny shoved a twenty into Rollie's lax hand. "Well? What are you waiting for? Go! Go!" He waved his hands at the stunned young man in a shooing motion.

"But..."

"But what Rollie? Go on." Manny turned toward their next effect, then glanced back. "I want Angie home by ten! Understand?"

Rollie nodded mutely, still stunned.

"Then get!"

The movie had been every bit as exciting as they'd expected. Manny had been waiting for them when they tumbled inside the old brewery laughing. "So Angel, I take it you enjoyed yourself?"

"Oh yes, Papa!" She flung herself at him, hugging him tight. "Thank you, Papa!"

"You're welcome. Did you enjoy it, Rollie?"

"Yessir!" Rollie grinned, his eyes bright with remembered excitement.

"Good. So Angel, tell me, what did you like best?"

"Everything, Papa! It was wonderful."

"If you could chose, what character would you have?"

"Chewbacca, Papa! I want a wookiee!"

"A wookiee?" That hadn't been what he expected. "Why?"

"Because he's tall and shaggy like Rollie, Papa!" She laughed and danced away, keeping her eye on the young Australian.

"Why you!" Rollie sputtered, then darted after her, trying to catch the elusive young blonde.

Manny threw back his head and roared with laughter as Angie dodged and ducked Rollie's grabs.

Angie Ramirez smiled to herself at the memory. She leaned back against her companion as they stood in line, waiting for the theater to allow them in to see the newest Star Wars movie. Had it really been sixteen years? She smiled and glanced up at her best friend. She stifled a chuckle as she looked up at her dark brown wookiee companion and glanced down at her own blonde, shaggy arms. Trust Rollie to remember that tease and to follow through on it. Tonight, he was an extremely believable wookiee and she was his life mate. She felt him wrap his arms around her and sighed in contentment. They were the talk of the line waiting to get in the very first showing of "The Phantom Menace". There were Darth Vaders and Jedi Knights, Rebels and Imperials, wookiees and Corellian smugglers, even a Darth Maul, but none matched this pair. The wookiee couple were breathtakingly real. They garnered more than one set of awed compliments, which were answered by low grunts, hoots and growls from the couple. Cameras had come out and flashed as pictures were taken of the pair.

A couple of teenagers walked away. "They'll never believe it at school!"

A third teen dressed as a Rebel soldier nodded. "Never!" He looked at the wookiee couple with yearning in his eyes. "I wish I could do a costume like that." He really wanted to get into the movies and was particularly interested in make-up, but as his mother frequently reminded him that was little chance he'd actually be able to do that. She was constantly nagging at him about getting serious about life and looking for something with a future - a real job. He sighed and looked at his feet.

Rollie tightened his hold on Angie and she looked up to see the question in his expressive brown eyes. She nodded ever so slightly. Rollie hooted and reached into his pouch. He slipped a business card into the almost an adult's hand. He winked at him.

The teen looked down at the card in his hand and gasped. Here was an opportunity he'd only dreamed of! He looked up, his brown eyes full of questions. The taller wookiee's eyes twinkled as he hooted at him. With trembling hands, the boy slipped the card into a breast pocket, careful to pull the tab closed. An invitation. The card was an invitation and he grinned hugely. Here was a chance to get the inside scoop on working in the movie business. He stood up straight and pulled at the bottom of his jacket, settling it better on his shoulders. Maybe his mother was wrong, maybe it wasn't just a dream after all! The line moved and he lost sight of the wookiee couple, but it didn't matter. He touched the pocket holding that precious card. He could find them again. After all, every saga had a beginning...

Rollie and Angie laughed in delight as they reached their car.

The taller wookiee looked back at the theatre. "Can we do it again?" Rollie asked, his eyes bright with excitement.

The short wookiee tilted her head to one side. "Do we have to wear the costumes?"

"No," Rollie answered, shaking his head, making his fur fly a bit.

"Then sure! Let's do it again!" Angie responded, her voice bubbling with laughter.

So they did, the very next night...