Just Like a Movie.

A Proposal...

"Hi Alice, it's me, give me a ring back when you're free. I have a proposal for you.... clear your diary girl, we're going on a little adventure.  Speak soon!" 

Alice looked at her the photo on the table beside her with the air of a long-suffering martyr.  What was Kenny up to THIS time?  It always seemed to involve something slightly mental, something more than slightly unnerving and her taking more annual leave just to keep him out of trouble.  

It had always been like that.  Kenny getting into trouble, Alice hauling his skinny little ass back out of it.  Even the photo she now cherished had a story, one that involved two of New York's finest Police officers, a horse and carriage and a VERY large hotdog.  Central Park would never be the same again.

Ever since they were little, Alice had tried to keep her little brother out of trouble.  Whether it was hauling him out of the bushes aged 7 when he was spying on the voluptuous next door neighbour doing her yoga in the garden - Mrs Brownlee had been EXTREMELY understanding about that one - or making him take the packet of biscuits back to the corner shop aged 10 when he decided that they wouldn't miss the one that seemed to be full of broken bits.  Mr Morrison had been slightly less forgiving, but the promise of unlimited weekend - and more importantly free- labour from his new "stockroom assistant" had more than made amends.  Ten years later, when he retired, Mr Morrison had gifted the keys of the shop to Kenny as the manager.  He turned it into a mini empire, acquiring another store a year later.  He still worked in the original, now with his very own - paid - stockroom assistant.

Over the years, Kenny had settled into semi-adulthood, even managing to snag a long suffering partner named Camille along the way. Now his entirely legal, if not entirely sane, adventures mainly revolved around travelling the world haunting celebrity meet and greet opportunities. The latest one?  San Diego Comicon.  The Nerd HQ of the world.  More fans and celebrities and meet n greets than you could shake a stick at.  

"Aww come on Al, it'll be GREAT I PROMISE!" he wheedled down the phone at her.  "I've booked us a suite at the Hyatt on the Bay.  We each have a bedroom and there's a living room and a bathroom..." 

"A bathroom! Wow Kenny, you really spoil me!" she snarked grinning into the phone.  "After that  Wondercon episode I did wonder..."

"Aww come on how was I supposed to know that it was a hostel and not a hotel?" he whined.  Alice snorted. 

"MAYBE because it was in the name?" she paused. "Ok, so when's the flight and how much...."

"Awwww Al you know I love you don't you?  SOOOOO much!  The flight's in two days and...."

"TWO DAYS KENNY? WHATTHEHELLAMISUPPOSEDTOORGANISEEVERYTHINGINTWODAYS!" She ranted.  "This is the last time....hey... wait a minute.  Don't the tickets for that thing sell out in seconds, months in advance?"  She smelt a rat.

The rat dissolved into hysterics.  "It's ok, it's not till next July.  I'm entering the ticket sale malarky tomorrow. That's why I needed to ask you.  I'll pay the flights, you pay me for your ticket.  The rest is my treat.  This really is the last time Al, after this one?  I'm done."   His voice dropped a little and suddenly Alice felt there was something he wasn't telling her.

"Kenny?  What's wrong.  You're scaring me now.  Give up your Celeb stalking? " she tried not to make it sound like a big deal, but it was.  It really was.

Kenny paused and she could hear him mumble something at the other end.  He came back on the line. "Alice?  Can you come for dinner tomorrow?  We can both watch that little man  walk across the screen while I buy the tickets and then we can talk.  Don't worry, I'm not dying or anything mildly inconvenient like that, but yes, there's something you need to know."  The tone of his voice suggested he wasn't about to discuss it now, so she let it go.

"Ok, see you about 5?  Tickets then dinner ok?" she smiled, then added "Kenny? You do know I love you don't you. No matter what's wrong.  You're my annoying little brother- where the hell am I going to get another at this late stage?"

"Oh, Asda, in the reduced aisle I don't doubt." he quipped, breaking the unusual tension.  "But Al, I love you too.  I know I never really say it, but I do.  Except for you dobbing me in to Mrs Brownlee.  Never forgive you for that one.  She was HOT!" 

With that he was gone.  Alice looked at her phone as if it would give her answers.  Naturally it just looked back with the air of an inscrutable sentinel.  Sighing , she put it to one side and turned on the tv.  What to watch when your mind just wanted to untangle the Gordian Knot now buried in her brain.  What WAS up with Kenny and HOW would she manage to survive a week in Nerd HQ without going mad.

She flicked through the channels finally settling on one.  Looking around the cosy little room, she smiled to herself.  Her secret was safe, not even Kenny - ESPECIALLY not Kenny - knew.  She pressed the selector button, settled back and waited for the credits to roll.

The Hallmark Channel.... sickly sweet and twice as romantic. The hero was always tall dark and handsome, the heroine strong and feisty but with an air of feminine vulnerability. The story full of angst, the endings full of kisses and happy ever afters. Well, she thought as the screen flickered and she delved into the box beside her for a treat of a chocolate, everyone has their guilty pleasure.  If only real life could be half as good.....