The sketch that said 1000 words…

MEMORY:  Age 6

MUM and DAD have purchased two budgies.  They’re VERONICA’s first pet.  One is green and the other is blue.  She names them Adam and Katie, after her friends from the old neighbourhood in Coldstream.  She’s excited to have them, and feeds them seeds and makes sure they have plenty of water.  She watches them all afternoon and evening right up to her bed time.

5 days after they get the budgies, VERONICA wakes up to find the cage empty and her DAD sitting at the kitchen table with his hands folded and his brow furrowed.

VERONICA: Where are Adam and Katie?

DAD: They died.

VERONICA: (confused) What?  Why?  What happened?

NB: To this day I have no idea how the birds died, but I will always remember what my dad did in a bid to explain death and dying to his child.

DAD: Sometimes, people, and even pets, die.

VERONICA: Why?

DAD: For many reasons, sometimes they’re sick, sometimes they’re hurt very badly, and sometimes they just die because they’re too old to live on.

VERONICA: But Adam and Katie weren’t old, or sick, or hurt.  Where they?

DAD: I don’t know.  Sometimes people and pets die for no reason that we know of.

VERONICA is quiet.  She’s not really sad, and she’s not at all scared.  She’s just trying to process what’s going on.

VERONICA: Do you think they were scared, when they died?

DAD: I don’t think so, no.  When you die, you get to go to heaven, and nothing in heaven hurts.

VERONICA: Did you see them?  Did you see them go to heaven?

DAD: They didn’t physically go to heaven, but their spirit did.

VERONICA: Spirit?

DAD: Like a ghost.

VERONICA: Oh.

DAD: I buried their bodies in the back yard.  I marked it with a little cross.  You can go outside to say good-bye.

VERONICA: Do you think they’ll hear me?

DAD: You can hear everything from heaven.

VERONICA: How do you know?

DAD: It’s something that you grow to believe in.  And it helps to make everything better.  You don’t miss people and pets as much when you know that they can see and hear you from heaven, even if you can’t always see and hear them.

VERONICA goes out to the backyard and looks at the small pile of dug up dirt.  She’s not quite sure what to make of it all.   She knows that in the ground are two birds that used to be her pets, and she’s wondering if she’ll ever get new ones.  She wonders what happened to the budgies in the first place, and how her father knows so much about heaven.  After getting bored of just standing there looking at a little pile of dirt she goes back into the house.

DAD is still at the kitchen table, this time he’s sketching on a napkin.

VERONICA: (sitting next to him) What are you drawing?

DAD: Something to help you understand.

The napkin held a sketch of a wide staircase with a tiny door at the top, and two tiny little birds climbing the stairs towards it.

Although VERONICA doesn’t know what to make of death and dying, but she likes the picture all the same, and thanks her dad for trying anyway.

 

THE END.

Shopping with Dad

Memory: MARTA is 9

MARTA: Dad, I need new shoes.

DAD: What’s wrong with the ones you have now?

MARTA: They’re getting too small and the soles are tearing.

DAD: Can’t you get them fixed?

MARTA: Well, they can fix the sole, but it doesn’t stop my feet from growing.

DAD: Hmm.

MARTA: Please dad, my feet are hurting and the shoes look ugly.

DAD: Why are you so worried about appearances?

MARTA: I’m not! I just need new shoes, can we please go and get some?

DAD: Why didn’t you ask me to get you new shoes earlier?  I could have gotten you some for Christmas.

MARTA: I didn’t need them then, I need them now.  Dad, please, can we go and get new shoes?

DAD: Alright then, let’s go.

MARTA: Finally!

At the shops, MARTA finds a pair of shoes she likes and that fit well and DAD goes to pay for them.

MARTA: Thanks dad.  Can we sit on the bench so I can put them on now?

DAD: (taking the shoes) No, this will be your birthday present.  You can get them then.

NB:  They bought the shoes on Boxing Day, my sister’s birthday is in February.

THE END.

Girl, you’ll be a woman soon

Memory

VERONICA and DAD are in the car, DAD is driving.

DAD: So, you’re doing your honors.

VERONICA: Yup.

DAD: What are you majoring in?

VERONICA: Drama.

DAD: Really?  You can do an honors in Drama?

VERONICA: Yep.

DAD: How does that work?

VERONICA: I have to do an artistic component, back it up with a theoretical component and do a couple of subjects.

DAD: What is your artistic component?

VERONICA: I’m writing a play.

DAD: And what is the theory behind it?

VERONICA: I’m looking into feminist theatre.

Pause.

DAD: Why?

VERONICA: Because it interests me.

Pause.

DAD: Are you going to burn your bra?

VERONICA: What?

DAD: That’s what feminists do isn’t it?

VERONICA: You need to read a book, dad.

Pause.

DAD: I never understood why they did it.

VERONICA: Burn their bra’s?

DAD: Yes.

VERONICA: They wanted to make a statement.

DAD: About what?

VERONICA: Never mind.

Pause

DAD: Isn’t there something else you could do?

VERONICA: Probably.

DAD: But you want to do this?

VERONICA: Yup.

DAD: Well, I will be interested to see what you come up with.

VERONICA sighs.

DAD: What?

VERONICA: I just find it strange that you have this attitude.

DAD: Well, I suppose this is all a bit beyond me.

VERONICA: But when I was younger you were pushing me to be a strong and independent person.  In fact, you told me that you wanted me to be, and I quote: “A strong, educated, independent woman.”

DAD: It’s important to have goals.

VERONICA: You sat me down and made me read history books and biographies of Elizabeth I and Marie Curie–

DAD: You needed to extend your knowledge.

VERONICA: I thought you would be happy that I’m continuing to extend my knowledge, and becoming “a strong, educated, independent woman.”

DAD: When you are young, it’s important to develop your mind and learn as much as you can.  I’m very proud of you Veronica.  You’ve kept your mind free of distraction, and you’ve achieved a lot, but just don’t neglect your responsibilities as you get older.

VERONICA: Responsibilities?

DAD: You’re a woman now, and you may want to get married.  Don’t get too carried away.

VERONICA switches on the radio and turns up the volume.

THE END.

Dad’s back…

MARTA sits in the living room filling in her Sudoku notebook when the doorbell rings.  She opens the door to find DAD standing on the other side.

DAD: I’m back.

MARTA: (Not letting him in) I can see that, welcome back. How was your trip?

DAD: It was very good.  But I’m very tired, and it doesn’t help that I am back at work.

MARTA: Hmmm, yeah that’s not good.

DAD: But what can I do?

MARTA: That’s right.

pause.

DAD: Well, I’m here because I bought you guys presents on my trip, of course. (Hands MARTA two packages) One is for Veronica, and one is for you.  The one that has ‘Veronica’ written on it is for Veronica, obviously.

MARTA: I’ll try to remember that.

DAD: And I’ve come to drop off this (hands over envelope).

MARTA: What’s this?

DAD: It’s the money you earned house sitting for me while I was away.

MARTA: Oh right!  Thanks.

DAD: I had to adjust the amount.

MARTA: Oh.  (opens the envelope to see what’s inside) Ok.

DAD: It’s a little less than what I had originally said I would give you.  I told you $200, based on the savings I would make not putting the cat in a kennel and not keeping my mail at the post office, but I had to deduct the $150 you owe me from when you travelled to London, and I noticed that a pot plant was broken–

MARTA: What plant?

DAD: Well, when I came home one of the pots had a crack, and there was dirt on the floor.

MARTA: I don’t know anything about that, it was pretty windy a couple of nights ago so maybe that’s what did it, or maybe the cat might have knocked it over.

DAD: Nevertheless, I’m going to have to replace it, and so I’m deducting that from the $200, and so the grand total that should be in there is $32.00

MARTA looks in the envelope again.

DAD: Well, at the moment there’s $30 in there because I don’t have any coins, but the next time I see you I’ll be sure to give you the $2.00.

MARTA: Don’t worry about it.

DAD: Oh, well that’s rather kind of you.

MARTA: I’m going to go now.

DAD: Alright then, I’ll call you tomorrow to see how you are.

MARTA: Looking forward to it.

She closes the door before DAD can say anything else.

END.

Awkward Moments 2

VERONICA sits in the study reading over her notes when the phone rings.

VERONICA: (answering the phone) Hello.

Long pause.

VERONICA: (louder) Hello?

DAD: Errrrrrr, yes.  (pause) Hello?

VERONICA: Yes, hi dad.

DAD: Veronica? Is that you?

VERONICA: Yes, it’s me.

DAD: Ah good.

silence.

VERONICA: What’s going on dad?

DAD: What? Oh nothing.  Just calling to see how you were.

VERONICA: I’m fine.

DAD: You’re fine?

VERONICA: Yes dad, I’m fine.

DAD: You’re not sick?

VERONICA: No dad.

DAD: You’re not in pain?

VERONICA: No dad, I’m fine.

DAD: You’re not working too hard?

VERONICA: If I have a choice.

DAD: What? What does that mean?

VERONICA: It means– don’t worry, it means nothing.  I’m not working too hard.

DAD: You sure?

VERONICA: Yeah.

silence.

VERONICA: Dad, is there another reason you called?

DAD: No, just seeing how you are.

VERONICA: Ok.  Well, as you know, I’m doing well–

DAD: When are you due for a pap-smear?

VERONICA: I’m sorry?

DAD: There’s a commercial on the TV reminding you to have your pap- smear.  You have to have them regularly you know?

long pause

VERONICA: I’m aware of that dad.

DAD: When was the last time you had one?

VERONICA: Er, well, I’m not too sure–

DAD: Well, make sure you book one soon, if you want I can do it for—

VERONICA: That’s not necessary dad, I don’t think you know what doctor I go to.

DAD: Have you had the shots?

VERONICA: What shots?

DAD: The cervical cancer ones.

VERONICA: Oh those, yeah I had those ages ago.

DAD: They were free right?

VERONICA: Yes.

DAD: But you still need to—

VERONICA: Yes dad, I’m aware of what I need to do.

DAD: Don’t get snappy, I’m only reminding you.

VERONICA: Well, seeing as I’m the one with the vagina, I don’t think I need anymore reminding thanks.

DAD: There’s no need to speak like that, Veronica.

VERONICA: There’s no need to speak at all. (hangs up)

Marta comes in from her bedroom.

MARTA: What was all that about?

VERONICA: Nothing, just dad.

MARTA: What did he want?

VERONICA: Ugh, nothing.

MARTA: Forget I asked. (leaves)

VERONICA tries to go back to her notes, but is distracted by her thoughts.  Irritated, she gets up to leave.

VERONICA: (calling out to MARTA) You wouldn’t know where the number for the clinic is would you?  I need to make an appointment.

END.