So Close and Yet, Jafar

When I was in 10th grade I loved (from afar) a boy in 11th grade who worked for the movie theater.

One night I went with a group of friends to see Aladdin. When I approached this handsome, red-headed older man to pay for my ticket, he waved me through and smiled at me.

He knew who I was? He let me into the movie for free? I almost fainted.

The theater was packed. Almost every single seat was taken and I had to sit separately from my group. I found two seats on the aisle near the front. I left the aisle seat open and dreamed up this great fantasy in which my true love came into the theater and sat by me. Like a date. I dreamed and wished and hoped and prayed it. I could feel his invisible presence in my imagination and it was as if he were really there. Sitting by me. Like a date.

Have you ever wished for something so hard that it came true?

He came into the theater just as Jafar made his appearance on the screen (I'll never forget that detail.)

HE SAT BY ME.

LIKE A DATE.

I almost fainted.

He and I never spoke. Not that night and not ever again. To this day, I can't see an image of Jafar without remembering that moment, the most romantic of my entire life.

Pure Romance.