For this one, you must keep your dad from getting himself killed.
ADULTS (any gender, mid to late teens)
Wait, no.
Dad, don't answer it. Nobody's out there.
I mean... SOMEBODY'S out there. Of course. SOMEBODY rang the bell. But I'm sure it's nobody. You know? Just sit back down. Please. Let's finish. I mean...
Are you sure you want this? You want me to stay? I thought you'd already paid. Snooty boarding schools... they don't give full refunds. Do they? You're giving that up?
If I stay, I'm still seeing Shane. That's the deal. You suddenly trust Shane? You suddenly trust ME? I don't know what to say...
NO, don't get up!
I'm telling you: Nobody's out there.
Just let me say... let me say... let me say... thank you? I haven't said that for years. Thank you. I haven't been the best kid, I know. Shane and I did things. We DO things. We even made plans... if you didn't let me stay... and we were so sure you wouldn't.
It's why you shouldn't get up. It's not safe. Shane knows people. People who know people. One of them was going to do us a favor. Tonight. Ha! So stupid. What did I think would happen? Once you were gone? I was really going to be "free"?
Dad, it's who ever opens the door... that's the deal. No going back. No refunds.
So...
[pause]
let me open it.
You really trust me? Let me take responsibility. Let me show you. We respect each other. Our choices.
Adults.
Copyright 2016 by Matt Haynes.
If you would like to use this piece, please credit: "Courtesy of Matt Haynes and The Pulp Stage"