February 9, 2015

FEBRUARY 9, 2015

Two women in their thirties enter. A beautiful child in tow, she holds the hand of the taller, blonder woman. The child bears a striking similar to her. The mother removes her daughter’s coat revealing a magical outfit. A unicorn on the front of the blue shirt, it's surrounded by an iridescent glow. A long, purple taffeta tutu float over the matching leggings. Her long blonde hair hanging down her back in waves, the seven-year-old looks like a princess out of a fairy tale. After the two women buy their lattes, they take a seat at a table.

Little Girl: Is daddy really coming? 

Mother: Yes, I’ve already told you he is. Now sit down and shut up.

Little Girl: Daddy’s coming! Daddy’s coming!

Mother: Didn’t I just say to shut up? *addressing woman* God, she’s so loud. All the time, she just shouts. It’s so annoying.

Little Girl: *in soft tone* Mommy?

Mother: *ignoring daughter* I mean, I get a headache from her every single day. Why can’t children just behave like adults? It’d be so much simpler. *laughter*

Little Girl: *raising volume* Mommy. 

Woman #2: I suppose that would be easier. If they were adults, we could talk about plays—like the one we just saw this weekend.  

Mother: Oh, my, that was good! The acting was superb and the music, well, I quite thought that—

Little Girl: *screaming* Mommy! 

Mother: Oh, dear God! Stop screaming! Now what do you want?

Little Girl: When's daddy coming?

Mother: *glancing at her watch* He should be here. *addressing second woman* He’s always late! Always! If I tell him 5:30, he arrives at 6:00! Todd? Where are you? We’re waiting? *pauses* Well, hurry up. *hangs up phone*

Little Girl: Is he coming?

Mother: I said YES, now shut up! Where was I, oh, the play … well, I think it should win the Tony this year.

Woman #2: I think so, too. It’s undoubtedly the best play I’ve seen and—

Little Girl: *escalating from soft to loud* Mommy? Mommy. MOMMY! 

Mother: Now what?!

Little Girl: Can I have Minerva, please? *mother angrily digs through bag and shoves a stuffed unicorn into her daughter’s arms.

Mother: God, children are so annoying. I can’t wait until she’s in college! *more laughter*

Little Girl: Daddy! *she screams as she jumps up and runs to the tall, handsome, suited man entering* *she flings out her arms to give him a hug and be picked up* *he puts hands on hips and scrutinizes her instead*

Father: What the hell do you have on?

Little Girl: *looks down at shirt* *tugs on it and smiles* My magical shirt! See! It’s got sequins!

Father: Those are pajamas! PAJAMAS! You look ridiculous!

Little Girl: *smile goes away* *looks down at floor* *becomes uncomfortable*

Father: Who dressed you? Who put that on you?

Little Girl: *whispers* I did, Daddy. I picked it out—for you. I thought it was pretty.

Father: I think it’s stupid and you look like a jerk, that’s what I think! Your mother said it was okay for you to wear that out? *daughter is silent* We’ll see about this. *grabs her by her hand and marches her to her mother’s table* What the hell? You let her wear pajamas out? She looks like a clown! A fool! What kind of mother lets there child wear pajamas outside?

Mother: She said she wanted to wear them.

Father: Well, she looks stupid! *kneels down, his hands smother his child’s small shoulders* You want to look stupid, is that it? Well, you do! *laughs* What a clown! *sits down at table* *addresses mother* Well, at least you two look nice. Did you lose a little weight?

Mother: Why, yes, I did. I’ve been going to the gym and—

Little Girl: Daddy. Daddy? DADDY!

Father: Stop screaming in my ear.

Mother: I’ve told her to stop doing that. Maybe she’ll listen when she’s twenty-one. I’ll just have to endure it until then.

Little Girl: *in normal tone* Daddy?

Father: What? What do you want?

Little Girl: *takes paper out of pocket* I wanted to show you something I made in school. It’s a drawing and—

Father: I don’t want to look at a drawing—I want to talk to your mother. *father and mother continue conversation about going to gym*

Little Girl: *turns to second woman* Aunt Jane, can I show you?

Woman #2: *smiles broadly* Sure, you can show me. Now let’s go to another table so we can talk. *little girl smiles* *dances around as she’s led to empty table* *they engage in animated conversation about picture*as divorced couple begin to bicker