A Thing Called Love

Blocking - Part 1

POV RICKY

DAY 12 OF REHEARSALS

- Hey, shouldn't you be at rehearsal? - my dad asks. - What are you looking for?

- Scene seven, I took the page out to memorize and now I'm thinking Big Red used it as a napkin.

Then I notice something at the kitchen table.

- Is that a hot wing?

- I started to clean up but then your mom said she wanted to meet us at the restaurant.

- Straight from the airport? Why isn't she coming home first?

- I guess she figured she would be hungry.

- Screw it. I'll borrow a script.

- You'll be done by 7:00, right? I mean, give yourself enough time to get to the restaurant.

- The restaurant is like 10 minutes from school. I'll be there.

Coincidentally, my mom arrives.

- Mom!

- Hey, you! - she greets me.

- God, I have missed you.

- Come here. Wait, is that a hot wing?

- I thought we were meeting at the restaurant. - I say.

- Well, I caught an earlier flight.

- But we agreed we would do this at the restaurant. - Dad says.

- Agreed to do what? - I ask.

But soon it becomes a discussion, like always.

- Can we do whatever we're doing at dinner now? - I ask again.

- We'll have dinner here. I'll order in. - Dad says.

- No, we can go out. The Thai place delivers...

- You like the spring rolls, not the veggie ones...

- Guys, talk to me! - I say, almost shouting. - Are we moving to Chicago?

- No. - Mom finally answers, almost sadly. - I am.

They... They're divorcing?

- Sweetheart, we have decided to legally separate. - she continues.

- I thought you were coming back to see some counselor to make things right!

- Can we sit down?

- I don't want to sit down, Dad! The last thing you guys told me...

- We did see somebody... - Mom starts, but I interrupt her.

- While you were in different cities? How is that supposed to help?

- Ricky, this isn't your fault, you're... You're actually the one thing that has held your dad and I together these past few years.

- We're quoting the counselor. - Dad says, almost joking.

Some people say that I'm like my Dad when I hide my emotions: I try to crack a little joke or hide myself in an imaginary hole on the ground.

- You don't agree? - he asks. - What do you want to say?

- I don't know. I thought I had two more hours. - I sadly remark. - You know what? I have got a rehearsal.

- Honey, I'm sorry. We'll pick this up at dinner.

- I'm not sure when I get out. It's a musical, lots of scenes, could be tomorrow. I'll call you.