The First

I was very young when that magic burst into my life. I was four years old or maybe five, and though my childhood till then was happy and fulfilling, retrospectively, I just don’t know how I managed to survive all my early years without it. I remember that day in specific details, and every time I look back to that glorious point in my life, my soul fills up with excitement, and my heart gets over-loaded with pure passion.
My mom woke me up on Saturday morning, announcing the great news. “Today is the day”, she said with voice full of joy, and I just jumped on the bed, performing my victory dance. My brother tried to tease me and said he had been there many times, but I just didn’t care because I’d waited for months with great anticipation towards this day. By noon time my mom, dad, sister, brother, and myself were dressed in our finest garments, ready to leave the house.
Sunny at heart, I’d expected much more cheerful weather, but, unfortunately, it was a gray rainy day. We all rushed quickly to the car, running between the raindrops, and trying not to wet our outfits. Finally, safe in the car, we were making our way to the big city of Tel Aviv. At least, it was big then, from that miraculous point of view of a child.
“Is there something wrong?”, my mom asked my dad as he pulled over the side of the road. “I believe we have a flat tire”, my dad answered with obvious disappointment. Dad went out of the car to estimate the damage, while my sister, who was in her teens, was complaining about everything. “I knew I shouldn’t come with you… What’s the big deal of it anyway”. While dad was fixing the car, I asked mom if we’ll be there on time. Mom relaxed me and said that nothing can’t ruin our plans. I believed her.
Back on the road again, we finally made it to the city. As we strolled towards the location, I saw the agitated crowd just in front of me, waiting, congested, under shelters. “You see, we arrived right on time”, my mom tried to appease me. I had never realized there are so many people in the world till I confronted this jam-packed horde. My excitement was beyond any limits, and I stared at the people around me with sheer amount of amazement. I gazed at them and I knew that soon I’ll be mature like them, after all, we’re all going to participate in the same experience.
From all the commotion and the keenness of the crowd around, I found myself, all of a sudden, completely alone, surrounded only by strangers. I looked around me, and there was no sign of my family. I ran madly through the crowd, the way only a young boy who had lost his parents could. The panic was pumping in my veins, and I started to scream, “MOM! DAD!”, but there was no response to my desperate shouts. Lost and miserable, I’d waited until the crowd got in. I cried hysterically for I wanted so much to find my family and go inside with them. The entrance was desolate, and my heart was full of fear and helplessness, but then, the sweet voice of mommy came to my ears, “ Where have you been… I was so worried about you… Oh, my sweet little devil”. She hugged me and we went inside.
It was dark. My heart was beating fast. I could hear myself breathing anxiously. The curtains opened widely. My first movie was about to begin. Captured by those moving images for years to come, I still don’t remember which film it was.