For this one, you must talk you father down from unleashing his telekinetic powers.
JAPAN (any gender, mid teens through late fifties)
Dad, look at me. It's me. We're in the U.S. and we're at home. You're not at war anymore.
Just un-flex your mind for a minute, okay? I can feel my bones... they're swelling. I've see what you can do to other people... they've talked about the same feeling.
Do you remember what happens afterward dad? You don't defeat the enemy. You don't let off a bomb... even though there is an explosion. You murder innocent people, dad. I know you don't mean to. You've got what they call PTSD... the old term was "shell shock", right?
But you've also got a gift, dad. Two gifts. The first gift is your ability to make things happen with your mind. I'm not sure what happened to you in Japan but that's when it seems to have started, that's what your buddies tell me. And dad, the second gift is that you're SAFE NOW.
Even when you flex your mind, the government seems to be able to swoop in at just the right time and clean everything up. Dad: You are powerful. You are safe.
And you are hurting me right now. In a few seconds, I think my body is going to be pulverized. I can feel it. Can you feel it, dad? Can you feel ME? Feel, dad.
Open your eyes for me.
Copyright 2016 by Matt Haynes.
If you would like to use this piece, please credit: "Courtesy of Matt Haynes and The Pulp Stage"