There are Things You Need to Believe; Even if They’re Not Always True

Hadley Shares her Favorite Movie

Mary Rose put down her bowl which had once held a generous serving of popcorn, M&Ms and goldfish crackers. She blew her nose “That is one of the best movies I’ve ever seen,” she sniffed.

“Fantastic symbolism,” Robbie said.

“Damn good story, too,” Marge added.

Hadley nodded and smiled a tender smile, “Secondhand Lions,” she said, repeating the title of the old movie starring Robert Duvall, Michael Caine and a young Haley Joel Osment.

“There they are,” Hadley went on. “Two old brothers, stuck with a barely-teenage boy for a summer, then for life and love.”

Marge smiled. “Five dogs and a pig and a huge house with a tower room where they put young Walter.”

“I think that tower room is really symbolic,” Robbie, the English professor said. “To me it means Walter was actually above it all. This young kid had wisdom and courage and common sense.”

“Then they got the lion,” Mary Rose put in. “An old female who finally got out of her crate and made her home in the cornfield. Then she protected her cub, Walter, and saved him from his ‘no damn good mother’ and her boyfriend.”

“Jasmine the Lion died with her boots on,” Robbie added.

“There were some lines in that movie that we all need to remember, “Hadley said, getting up to pour more cheap champagne into their glasses. “How about when Michael Caine says, “A man’s body may grow old, but his spirit can still be young and restless. That fits us, girls.”

“I loved the part where Robert Duval gave Walter the ‘What Every Man Needs to Know’ speech.’” Marge said. She raised one hand and began to count on her fingers.

“There are some things you need to believe, even if they’re not always true:

People are basically good.

Honor and virtue are more important than money and power.

Good always triumphs over evil.

And true love never dies.”

She shook her head. “And all through the movie, Robert Duval worries about not being needed as he grows old: until that wise little boy, with tears in his eyes, tells him he has to live for him, he has to give him the rest of the “What You Need to Know to be A Man speech.” She looked around. “Do you all feel needed?”

There was silence.

“Not always,” Robbie said. “I don’t have family or old contacts anymore.”

“Seldom” Mary Rose said, “My kids were my life, now they’re pushing middle age and are like beloved strangers.”

Hadley nodded, “If I want to talk to my son, I have to call. I’m never called or invited over or included. They’re always too busy.”

Marge didn’t say anything. Then she brightened. “But we have each other. We have friendship and if we didn’t have each other we’d find other friends, we’d make out own families, like we’re a little family right here.”

“We’re here for each other 24/7,” Hadley said.

“Not me,” Mary Rose smiled. “I’m here 23 and ½ and 7. I have to have time to pee,” and she got up from her chair and hurried toward the bathroom. They watched her.

“Think we should go buy a used lion?” Robbie asked “We need some adventure.”

 

Joy Note: Secondhand Lions is an old movie now, but it’s Marv’s and my favorite – a sweet story line of love and wisdom and relatives you can’t stand. There’s a selfish mother and a lot of greed as everyone want to find the money hidden away by the two old men. Rent it. You’ll love it.

Schedule: If you have friends or relatives in Phoenix, I’ll be there during October with nine BOOB Girl appearances. Email me at joy.johnson@msn.com for times and locations,