Which movie have you seen the most times?

[Robin_Starveling]

Without any doubt, "Star Wars". My youngest son figured out how to put the VCR tape into the player and press "PLay". After that, the same movie played in our hoses for hours on end.

This brought back a distant memory...

I was never into Star Wars. I’d seen bits of it a few times but always lost interest after a few minutes.

Back in seventh grade, I once came to the aid of a nerd who was being badly bullied. I even walked him home afterward. He probably thought he’d made a friend, but the truth was, in our neighborhood, it was bad enough if you couldn’t defend yourself, but even worse if someone stepped in for you.

When we reached his house, he looked rather eager as he invited me in, so I agreed. His mother’s face really lit up when we entered. It was probably the first time he’d ever brought a classmate home.

We sat in the living room, and he asked if I’d ever seen Star Wars. When I shook my head, he dashed to the VCR and hit Play. The familiar theme soon started up. I endured about fifteen minutes before I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed my bag and walked out without a word. I never spoke to him again. He could’ve been torn apart by a pack of hyenas, and I couldn’t have cared less.

He wasn’t the only one, of course. There were about five in our class obsessed with Star Wars. But they were the nerds -- the fragile, the awkward. They didn’t play soccer or basketball with us. They didn’t watch The Terminator or The A-Team like the rest of us did.

And here I am now, years later, in what feels like the nerds’ promised land, hearing that damned theme song playing everywhere.