Burnt Popcorn

Burnt Popcorn

the smell wafted across the theater seats,
burnt popcorn
not the theatre’s popcorn either,
that overpriced stuff drenched
in fake butter
that clogs your arteries.
No, the homemade stuff that you
sneak into the theatre to
avoid paying the ridiculous
price they want for that ghastly
popcorn drenched in fake butter.
the top most kernels almost
tasted ok, just slightly smoked,
but the inner kernels were black
and I may have even seen
a few whisps of smoke still
rising from the bag.
I suddenly feared a theatre manager
might turn off the movie
and turn up the lights to find
who had the gall to sneak in
a bag of popcorn, burnt popcorn,
or that the smoke alarm
might go off.
In a complete panic now,
I poured the popcorn into
my messenger bag
and slouched down in the
seat to watch the movie.