#17 Drawing Pictures. Curiosity Killed the Cat Part 2
My 8-year-old son with uneven development.
For him, as the language barrier is high, drawing pictures has become one of his tools for expression.
Every day, he diligently fills sheets of A4 copy paper with his drawings.
This time, it is the second story in the 'Curiosity Killed the Cat' series.
If you'd like, please also check out the first 'Curiosity Killed the Cat' story about Squid Game below.
It was before winter break.
It was decided that my 8-year-old son would go to the movie theater for the first time in his life with my husband.
My husband was reluctant because he had been planning to enjoy 'Slam Dunk' by himself.
On the contrary,
my son was enthusiastic.
I became suspicious, wondering if it was just curiosity.
There are always things I worry about when it comes to my son's debut experiences.
They are
1. Auditory sensitivity
2. Strong anxiety about new places.
And, I wondered if the content of the movie 'Slam Dunk' would even be enjoyable for my son...
Whether my son's movie theater debut would be a success and
whether my husband's wish to watch until the ending in peace would come true
depended on our preparation.
【Movie Theater Preparation Manual】
1. Auditory sensitivity measures
→ Bring headphones for sound insulation
2. Show him images of the movie theater in advance
→ Mental preparation
3. Confirm several times if he really wants to go
→ Confirm his resolve
4. Seat closest to the exit
→ So we can leave immediately
5. Keep an eye on him during the screening
→ Check if he is frozen in fear.
6. Always go to the bathroom beforehand
7. Tell him the plans after the movie
→ To prevent panic from anxiety
.........................................
The debut, which we prepared for with the utmost care, was...
.........................................
To my surprise,
he seemed to sit quite calmly.
Well, that was a relief.
And then, 3 days passed.
Son: 'Um, December Xth.
Going to the movies! Watching Slam Dunk!'
Me: 'I can't go that day because I have plans.
Let's go on the Xth after winter break starts.'
I suggested that, but
because it was different from his own plans (which he had decided on his own), he started to get angry.
With his face turning bright red, the words he finally shouted were...
'Nooo! I will never give up!!'
Even though he was angry,
the way he spoke like a line from a script
felt like a cut from a commercial,
and I burst out laughing, ignoring my son's seriousness.
Just as he declared,
he never forgot, and every morning on the way to school,
the topic was 'Slam Dunk'.
Having said that...
Son: 'Slam Dunk is scary.'
After saying that, he would get a little unstable for reasons I didn't understand, so I would soothe him.
I thought, 'I guess the movie theater was scary after all, he probably won't go again,' but...
he watched 'Slam Dunk' a second time with me as well.
Then, after we got home.
Son: 'Slam Dunk was scary.
It hurts in the mouth.'
Me: '???'
Son: 'They were fighting and it came out of the mouth, it's scary.'
'It's not a nosebleed, it's the mouth.'
Oh, I see!
◎Kuchiji (Mouth-bleed)
→ Refers to bleeding in the mouth, similar to a nosebleed
So the fighting scene was scary.
He hates seeing real friends fight, so it must have been even scarier on the big screen with loud sound in the theater.
Yet, why did he want to see it again??
The coexistence of conflicting feelings... it's complicated, isn't it?
I imagine it's one of these:
a. Fighting is scary. But I want to go!
b. Fighting is scary. But I want to see the mouth-bleed!
c. Fighting is scary. But I want to see the movie theater bathroom!
In any case.
It seems there was some kind of charm in the movie theater that made him want to go again.
Impressive.
I realized it's a place that is good at entertainment and capturing hearts.
As for my son,
he seems to be waiting for the Mario movie coming out in GW, saying 'I will never give up'♪
Well then.