Chapter 9 Chapter 9 The Ghost in the Movie Theater

Chapter 9 The Ghost in the Movie Theater I must fulfill my wish and apologize to my sister Yadan, And the only way I have any chance of getting in touch with her is, Use my thoughts to control a ballpoint pen and let it write the words I want to show my sister. 53 "Where are you going now?" I asked Arthur.We have already walked out of the gate of the school. "What should we do? Where are we going to wander?" Arthur shrugged. "Wherever you want to go," he said, "I don't care where I go." He took his outdated Ghost watch from the pocket of his outdated Ghost coat, looked at it with ghostly eyes, and Put it back again.

"We shouldn't be out too long," he said, "we should go back—" I almost followed suit: "It's time to go back for afternoon tea." I wasn't hungry, and it wasn't time for afternoon tea.Even when it's time for afternoon tea, I don't feel hungry.In the "other world" there is no afternoon tea for you at all.The ghost can only watch other people eat tea, but this is not the same feeling as eating yourself.It's especially like when you see someone drinking tea in a movie, but you can't eat anything yourself. It is estimated that Arthur must not have thought of having afternoon tea now.I think when he was alive people must have had steak for tea and a pint of beer for breakfast - I got it from a history book, forget which one.But now Arthur must be missing his mother again, and he wants to go back quickly. It would be bad if Arthur's mother appeared in "another world" and Arthur was not there.

I can imagine what it was like when they met.Arthur's mother's coat was missing a button, and that button happened to be in Arthur's hand.They recognized each other, hugged each other tightly, and their wishes were all fulfilled, and they finished what they hadn't done before, and went to that place called "the other side of the sky blue" together.Anyway, at that time, they won't be looking for each other everywhere, they can feel at ease, the mood is very peaceful, and they don't have to wander around anymore—— 54 "I think we can do something else," I said uncertainly, "just stay for a while. Besides gambling, is there anything else for fun?"

Arthur thought for a while. "You mean except for the slot machines?" "That stuff isn't good at all," I said. "I never thought it was a good thing," said Arthur. "Well, I remember, and we'll go there now." "Wait a minute, Arthur," I said, "I want to ask you something—" But Arthur was gone, and going so fast that I had to run after him. We left the block where the school was located and walked towards the bustling commercial center. Along the way, I can see many acquaintances. If you could see Arthur and me, then you would think we were two and a half kids heading downtown. At first glance, it would make people think that we were going to the game hall to call the "red police", or Check out the market for new video games.You might also wonder how we two boys were hanging out in broad daylight, thinking we were playing hooky.But when you see Arthur, especially his clothes, you may immediately guess that we are filming a costume TV series, Arthur is an actor, and I am a classmate who came to accompany him and let him not be too nervous.

But no one can see us, though we can see them, and see them well.The way we walk is also different from them, our feet don't really touch the ground, we walk with half an inch off the ground.If you don't watch the road carefully, people will run directly on top of you, and even bicycles will not avoid you, but you don't need to care about it at all, because you will not get hurt at all. 55 These people walking on the street are very strange, they all have two faces - one expression when there is someone there, and another expression when no one is there.People will try to put on a happy face in front of others, "Good morning! How are you doing? What a beautiful weather!" They still say this in a very happy and crisp voice.But when he realized that he was alone again, he immediately put away his smile and lowered his face with a sad expression.

I'm even more curious when people make grimaces.Yes, I know it's hard to believe, but it's true of almost everyone.The way it looks, if someone asks them, "How are you? How's it going?" they'll say, "Too bad, it doesn't get any worse than this. It's unbelievable, I don't even know what to say It’s done.” However, once they met colleagues in the company and met acquaintances, they immediately cheered up and were in a very good state.It's like telling someone that the things that make them sad are the things that make them happy. Arthur and I have been walking towards the downtown business district.

On the way, I saw a friend of my mother who was pushing her little son in a stroller with a heavy bag on her arm. "Hello, Auntie!" I called to her. "It's me, Harry." But she walked away without looking back. We're in the business district. Arthur kept his eyes on the computer window.He is particularly interested in computers, although computers are more than 150 years behind him. "Hey," he kept saying, "look, everything is there now. I was born 150 years earlier, and that was my biggest mistake." "My mistake," I told him, "was not that I was born 150 years too early, but that I died 70 years too early."

He gave me a look that said, You were my age when you died. "Harry," he said to me, "a lot of people think they died too soon." Then he looked at the computer window, and after a while, he said, "I wish I had the money to buy this game, 'Game Boy ’, and ‘Age of Empires,’ and ‘DreamWorks’ also looks good.” "Come on, Arthur," I waited impatiently, "I think we should look elsewhere." "Wait a little longer." He was still muttering in a low voice, his eyes still fixed on the computer window, imagining that he could buy the latest video games for himself.

While I was waiting for Arthur, a man walked up to me. It was Norman Teale, Dave Teale's eldest brother.Dave Teal used to be at my school, a grade above me, and we played football together at recess.His older brother, Norman Teal, is out of school and is said to work in a travel agency. I don't want to be stupid and say hello to him again.But I can't control myself, I've always been very popular, I like to talk to everyone I know, I can't control my mouth at all. "Hi Norman," I said, "how have you been?" He didn't pass through me directly like the others, but stopped, stretched out his hand, and said:

"Hi, Harry. How are you doing these days?" "Ha ha--" I laughed hard, I laughed with all my strength.For what I saw—was a ghost, too. "I haven't seen you in years, Harry!" Norman continued. "What happened? I think you must be dead too." "That's right." "Where do you live now?" he asked me. "Live in the grave." I thought about telling him that, but I didn't want to make fun of the ghost, so I didn't say a word. I just stood there, my feet seemed to have taken root, and I didn't know where to go.That sucks, I'm dead and Norman is still talking to me like I'm still alive.

I really want to go, but he has no intention of leaving.He just stands there, nodding and smiling at you from time to time, like a tired acquaintance.I think I'm going crazy. "I died too," he explained. "You understand? I died suddenly. I was on vacation and my temperature was 104 degrees Fahrenheit. So I went to sleep and never got up. I came back for one last look, a trip down memory lane. Just happened to see you here, I didn't know you were dead too. It's a small world. Well, I gotta go. Good luck? Choose" He is gone at last.He also went around to say a few words to Arthur, who was still looking at the computer window. I waited for Arthur, wondering how he got the "slot machine" to produce a row of strawberries—how he did it. Honestly, what I was thinking in my head was, how can I finish what I didn't finish.I don't want to be like Arthur, running around in the "other world" forever looking for people.I want to feel better, or find peace, and finally go to "the other side of the sky."I have to fulfill my wish, I have to apologize to my sister Yadan, and the only way for me to get in touch with her is to use my mind to control a ballpoint pen and let it write the words I want to write to my sister See, so I can get in touch with her. Yes, that's my plan.But to realize this plan, I must learn Arthur's skills and ask him how he did it. I wish I could control other things the way I make leaves fall and Jeffy's pen fly out of his hand.I wish I could control a pen so that it could write.Wish I could connect with the living.If only I could say all the things in my heart to my sister Yadan... if only, if only. I wish I had the opportunity to bid you all a formal farewell. Maybe Arthur can tell me what to do, maybe it takes practice, a few tries. I turned around to ask him. "Arthur," I said, "you know when you—" But I didn't see Arthur.I didn't see him at all on this street. R The three sat together leisurely, It's as if we're on an extended vacation, killing time. 56 "Harry," Arthur called to me. It turned out that he was on a lamppost.He was sitting on the lampshade, not alone, but a ghost was sitting next to him. The ghost must have been dead for years.He was not wearing clothes of our time, and he had big pockets sewn into his clothes. "Harry," Arthur was still calling to me, "come up!" The ghost also looked down at me. "Yes, come up," he said, "there's still room here." I saw that I had nothing else to do, so I also jumped up. There were three street lamps on the left, middle and right of the lamppost, and each person sat on one.The three of us sat together leisurely, as if we were on a long vacation, killing time.Maybe that's how we are, if you're willing to think of death as a holiday—and that's what a lot of people think. The ghost asked Arthur, "Who is your partner?" "This is Harry," Arthur introduced us. "Harry, this is Stan." We shook hands. "Hello, Harry?" Stan said. "How long have you been dead?" "It seems like years," I told him, "but it's only been a few weeks." Stan nods, as if he understands this feeling in particular. "I see what you mean, my friend," he said, "time doesn't do anyone's work automatically, and you'd wonder how time passes so quickly after you're dead." He turned to Arthur suddenly: "Did you see it?" Yet?" Arthur immediately replied, "No, I'm sorry, Stan, I didn't see it." Stan looked a bit disappointed. I watched him quietly.He was very old, about seventy years old, maybe a little older.Why is he sitting on a lamppost?I don't understand at all.Maybe he has to finish the things he didn't finish, so he can't start from "another world" and rush to "the other side of the sky blue". Arthur seemed to read my mind and explained a little appropriately. "This is Stan's lamppost," said Arthur, "isn't it, Stan?" "That's right!" He nodded. "Stan, you've been on this for years, haven't you?" "right." I didn't know what to say to him, so I just nodded and said, "Is this fun?" I don't know why I said that, I thought it was silly.What I want to say is, why have you stayed on this lamppost for so many years, why don't you go to the cinema, the casino, or the five-star hotel. I think that if a ghost wants to find a place to wander, it should find a place that is more comfortable, should have something to entertain, and should not choose a street light pole. Why did it stay on it for so long?I don't understand at all.Anyway, I wouldn't do that. If I had to choose, I would definitely go to the cinema.In fact, I've been thinking about this for a long time.I like my idea very much.Not far from here is a big movie theater with 12 screening halls, and new movies are released every week.You could stay here for the rest of your life - I mean the ghost could spend his entire afterlife here and not get bored.You can watch all kinds of movies here, watch movies you didn't expect, watch adult movies, and watch all kinds of other movies. I would love to go to the cinema right now.If you go in immediately, you can still catch up with the afternoon session.But then I thought about Yadan, Dad, Mom, and all the things I didn't finish.I don't think it's appropriate to spend all my time in the cinema right now, watching the latest entertainment.Better to go somewhere else now. However, a lamppost!I mean, why are you here for so long?At least something interesting has to be found here, or why does Stan have to stay here? Stan puts his hands over his eyes to shade the sun, trying to see what's in front of him more clearly. "Is that it? Arthur!" he said. "Is it? Look, your eyes are better than mine, and ask your companion if he can see clearly. Is it? Arthur? Is it coming?" He pointed ahead, and I saw a little mongrel dog, who might have looked like an unowned dog, sniffing around with his little nose. "Is that it, Arthur?" Stan asked. "Is it that?" But Arthur looked at old Stan like he was looking at a psychopath. "It must be dead by now, Stan," said Arthur, "and it must be. Dogs don't live as long as humans. You've been a ghost for fifty years, and it must have been. You should be in the ghost look for it in the dog." But Stan doesn't seem to believe Arthur's words at all. "Not necessarily," he said, "he was a very healthy dog, always romping around. He might still be alive. He was six years old when I died, so he's only fifty-six now. That's an age for a dog." Say, nothing, really. I guarantee there will be plenty of dogs of that age." "Unless it's a toy dog," said Arthur.This statement is a bit cruel, but it is true. Stan stands up from the lampshade so he can see ahead better. "Be careful!" I saw him standing in the howling autumn wind. "You'll make us all fall! All fall—" I don't know how to go on.Stan didn't listen to me at all. "It's it, Arthur!" Stan yelled, feeling extra excited for the moment. "It's it, I'm sure it's it! My old dog! It's Winston, and I've found him at last!" But just as he was saying this, a disheveled man came from the corner of the street, still holding a can of beer in his hand, and seemed to be holding something in the other hand.He whistled once, and the puppy ran over.The man sat in the doorway of a shop, took off his hat, and began begging from passers-by. Stan sat down, his face looking sad and disappointed in the sun. "It's not it," he said, "it's not it. It's someone else's dog. It does look a lot like Winston. Now that I'm getting closer, I can see that it's a bit different. But they're really alike. I Almost—well, it doesn't matter." I felt a little sorry for him, and Arthur said everything I wanted to say to him. "Stan," said Arthur, "Harry and I are going back to the other world, will you come with us? Stop looking for your dog, take a break. Give yourself a change, why not?" ? Come with us." However, he does not leave. "Thanks," Stan said, "I'm going to stay here again, maybe it's coming." "But, Stan," said Arthur, "you've been on this light pole for fifty years. Don't you think it's long enough? I mean, if you couldn't find it in fifty years Winston, the chances of finding it..." Yes, Stan knew what the chances were.Who doesn't know?I've been wanting to tell Arthur that for a long time.I have long wanted to say to him: "Arthur, you have been looking for your mother for more than 150 years. If you can't find your mother in 100 years, then your chance of finding her..." Things are always like this, they are very clear about other people's affairs, but when it comes to their own head, they are not so clear. "No, I'll be around a little longer," Stan said. "Thank you guys. But I'll be around a little longer. It'll show up soon." "Okay," said Arthur, "we may come to see you again." "Sure." Stan agreed. "Nice to meet you," I said, "I hope you find your dog." "I thought so too," he said. "Nice to meet you, Harry. Good-bye!" "Goodbye!" "goodbye." S There are so many ghosts here, it means that they all have unfinished business, So you can't leave this world and go to the other side of the sky blue. 57 Arthur and I got off the lamppost and onto the sidewalk.I didn't know where to go, so I had to follow Arthur.I glanced back again to see if Stan was still there.He was still there, sitting on the shade of a street lamp, intently looking for his long-lost dog.He's like on an old ship, the kind of picture you'll see in a lot of books, with the crew looking out at the mast, and it seems like a few minutes later, he'll shout "There!" and the whole business district will "raise anchor. ’, heading towards his long-lost dog. Arthur walked very fast.He's probably always in a hurry to go back to "the other world" to find his mom.I ran as hard as I could, but still fell behind him.I didn't have a chance to ask him how to use mind-controlled slot machines.I was a little annoyed at him for running so fast.But I don't want to tell him to slow down, because I feel embarrassed.But I also don't want to be left behind, because I don't know how to go back to "another world", so I can only follow and run desperately.I think the world of living people is really not a place where ghosts should stay forever. Ghosts should have their own way of life—I mean, ghosts should do what ghosts should do, and stay where ghosts should stay. We ran to an intersection, Arthur rushed over, I stopped and waited for the red light to turn green-safety first, this is my principle. "Come on, Harry," Arthur called to me, "don't wait for it." He keeps running. We ran another block, across a plaza, and just passed a multimedia movie theater. I knew Arthur was anxious to get back to his mother, but I still wanted to go in and see. "Can you wait a minute? Arthur, just two minutes. I'll be out as soon as I go in." He made a face, but stopped and said, "Okay, but you have to hurry." "Come in with me?" I said. "No," he said, "I've been in there before. I'll wait for you here. But it's only two minutes. Don't forget, it's only two minutes!" "I won't, I promise, two minutes is enough." I ran in. There is nothing wrong with this movie theater except for its location.There were two people sitting in the ticket office.Behind the ice cream counter stood a woman.The guy who checked the tickets was standing against the wall and biting his nails. I checked the program before I went in, and the hottest thing right now was Disney's new blockbuster cartoon, which must have been made after my death.I'm going to go in and have a look, just a look, because I've promised Arthur I'll be in the cinema for a maximum of two minutes. The bulletin board said that the film was being played in the 8th auditorium, and it was time to end the show soon.I walked through the door of Auditorium 8, and after entering, it took me a second to get used to the dim light inside.Now the commercial before the official movie is showing.I opened my eyes wide and looked around, thinking that in the matinee, there would be no one watching the movie. But I was wrong.The auditorium was almost packed, and every seat was not empty.The auditorium is full - ghosts.There was no one in the auditorium, it was full of ghosts.Row after row of ghosts, all sitting there waiting for the movie to start.This must scare you.But what I feel is sad.There are so many ghosts here, which means that they all have unfinished business, so they can't leave this world and go to the other side of the sky blue. I don't want to be one of them.I don't, I don't want to be a poor old ghost, go to work on my unfinished business in the morning, and sit with all the other ghosts in the afternoon, waiting for the new movie to come out, and forgetting for a while matter. Not only are they in fear all day long, but they are also sad and sad, and they lie to themselves.I don't want to do this, I want to go straight to Yadan, say goodbye to everyone formally, and then I leave for the "blue sky".I'm never going to be a "poor ghost," never. At this time, the door of the auditorium was opened, and two ladies walked in, with two toddlers and a little girl about 5 years old.At the sound of the door, all the ghosts turned their heads.When they found that a living person came in, they all uttered terrible screams-of course the living people could not hear them, and the ghosts began to complain as if no one was there. "Oh no!" said a big fat phantom sitting in the front row. "People! And children! Nothing could be worse!" "They still have popcorn!" grumbled the second ghost, "and candy, all wrapped in cellophane! I can't stand the sound of tearing paper!" "Those kids keep talking during the movie!" replied another ghost. "They're still going to the bathroom, and there's the sound of drinking water!—Oh! No, they came over and sat on me!" I turned and went out.The two ladies, the three kids, and all the popcorn and candy and hundreds of ghosts and their whining left behind me. "I don't like it here," I said to myself, "I don't like it. I have to go find Arthur." As I stepped out the door of the movie theater, I heard the sound of the movie officially starting, and the man sitting in the front Big Fat Ghost, still complaining loudly about the candy wrappers. "Hey!" he said, "can you please quiet your children! There are so many ghosts watching movies in here, you know? At least you should be a little bit more civic!" The ugly names of "ghost" and "ghost" are all invented by people, so that we are all ashamed to die. 58 I couldn't delay any longer and rushed straight out of the cinema walls.There's a lot to gain when you're dead--you can take a lot of shortcuts.Arthur was looking at his watch outside. "Two minutes have passed," he said dryly. "I'm sorry, Arthur," I said, "I didn't know there were so many ghosts in there." "Always like that," he said, "always like that, so you should know how stupid it is to go there. They think it's the air conditioner that keeps the movie theater cool, but it's not, it's the ghosts. Okay, forget it We're going back now. We're lucky. If we're quick, we'll catch up." "Catch up with what?" I didn't understand what he was saying. "There!" he said, "over there. There was a little thunderstorm just as you entered the theater, and that was the shortest way we could go back to the other world." "Which way are we going, Arthur?" "Over there," he said, "come with me, hurry up, don't miss it." He ran. I can see clearly now.Ahead, less than a hundred meters away, the sun's rays formed a large, blazing circle of light, filled with every color, like the most beautiful kaleidoscope imaginable.That is a beautiful rainbow.