I MISS DAD
BY
AZUCENA J.
CHARACTERS: SHINY the STAR, female, 15 years old
SHY the MOON, female, 65 years old, Shiny’s mother
SETTING: In the atmosphere between the dark night and the morning, there is a fresh smell of the animals and plants; between the planets with sprinkles of Rain. The Star and the Moon place close to each other and reflect their light on the Water.
TIME: 4-5am; sprinkling night
AT RISE: SHINY is running to SHY, really nervous to talk with her mom. She is getting herself ready for the Quinceanera. SHY is reflecting her light on the Water, thinking about her relationship with Water.
SHINY
(Screaming)
Moooom!
SHY
(Surprised)
What!
SHINY
I have to talk to you, please!
SHY
No Shiny, this is not the time! You have to get ready for the Quinceanera and I have a lot of things to do.
SHINY
No Mom, I need to talk to you RIGHT NOW! And I will not accept a no for an answer, Mom, it’s an emergency.
SHY
Please Shiny, this is not the day to talk about Dad, just forget him, okay!
SHINY
No Mom, this is my special day and I want to have my Dad. Because I want to have my family complete.
SHY
You play too much Shiny! You have to stop this and just go and have your hair and dress ready. I will have a surprise for you!
SHINY
What???
SHY
Yes, you don’t need the big Earth planet, you have me and someone special is going to be with you!
SHINY
Wait a minute Mom; you are playing with me, right?
SHY
Shiny, stop you fancy “shiny” and go get ready. Trust me daughter, its going to be a great day.
SHINY
Wow! Mom you don’t understand what I am saying right? Dad has to be with me, I don’t want anyone else with me…
SHY
Shiny, Shiny you don’t change right? Why you are always on me trying to know about that big planet called Earth?
SHINY
I have been asking you about him because you know I want him. You and my sister don’t love Dad but I do, okay!
SHY
Aaaah! Yes Shiny, you want him but he don’t want to be with you. Can you understand that!
SHINY
(Frustrated)
This is all Mom! I love you and I love my Dad. You want me to understand you but how if you never tell me the truth!
(Mom turns away)
I have a question…why you were so close to the Cloud? He have something with you? Now you’re always reflecting your light on the Water, you like him? That is why you don’t want Dad back?
SHY
(Gets mad)
That is something you don’t have to care about. I make my choice and you have to respect it.
SHINY
(Crying/mad)
That is all Mom! I just got five minutes left for you to make a choice for me!
SHY
Stop Shiny, you are going over, really!
SHINY
Mom, I am going to ask you for the last time…why you don’t want to talk about Dad? Mom, if you don’t tell me, I am going to discover it and just don’t get mad then, because Dad is going to be with me tomorrow!
SHY
Shiny, let’s calm down and talk! You are coming to be a big star. Please let’s act like a big star and let’s talk.
SHINY
Okay Mom, I want to continue to be your right hand but these last days, you have been so far from me and I feel lonely!
SHY
Yes Shiny, I know and I am sorry but I am an adult and I have things that you may not agree with.
SHINY
Mom but you changed, because before you always told me everything! Who changed you? It’s because you don’t love me anymore?
SHY
Look Shiny! I’m always going to love you no matter what happens. You are always going to be my daughter, but you have to understand that at some point I have to leave you or you are going to leave me! With the years, you know that you are going to become a part of the Sun and maybe I would disappear!
SHINY
Aww! Mom but I don’t want to leave you! And you would not disappear because if you are not by my side, I would be lost and lonely! Mom, this is all about you and me and no one else, because for me, you are first; and I hope I am first for you!
SHY
Shiny I am old, and I feel lonely too. Your father left 15 years ago and over all this time I was alone just caring about you and your sister, and I try my best to be a mother and father for you! I feel happy to have you because you always are going to be my little shiny star!
SHINY
(Big smile)
Mommy! You are the best mom and you have taught me so much and I feel fortunate to have you, but Mom, why is my family not like other families, with mom, dad and sisters?
SHY
This is all!
SHINY
I just want to know about him!
SHY
(Upset)
Why?
SHINY
Because…
SHY
I feel frustrated with this. Please just stop!
SHINY
But you told me that we were going to talk!
SHY
Yes Shiny, I told you that we were going to talk but about you and me, not Dad! But okay, you want to know the truth?
SHINY
Yes Mom. That is all I want to know, the truth – because in five minutes the Sun is going to come out!
SHY
Wait a minute! Why you care so much about the Sun?
SHINY
Because Mom…
SHY
Nooo! Shiny you are not planning to run again, right?
SHINY
I promise this would be the last time!
SHY
Don’t you remember what happened the last time you went?
SHINY
But Mom, its my Quinceanera! I want…
SHY
I say NO Shiny, you see why I don’t want to talk to you, you make decisions without thinking.
SHINY
Mom! Who told you that I already went?
SHY
Shiny, I am your mother not your friend. I saw the burn that the Sun did to you!
SHINY
No Mom! That is not true…
SHY
You want me to tell you the truth but you don’t tell me the truth, this is not going to work!
SHINY
I feel unappreciated because Dad left and I want him just like I want you Mom!
SHY
(Agitated/Sad)
Shiny, I need you to pay attention to what I am going to tell you.
(Looking at Shiny’s eyes)
I don’t want your Dad back because…
SHINY
(Alarmed)
Wait…
SHY
Stop! This is the time for me to talk…I have…I have a relationship with Water!
(She looks scared)
SHINY
(She starts crying)
Tell me that this is not true, you are playing with me right? Mom!
SHY
No Shiny, you tell me to tell you the truth and I just did. But, is another secret…
SHINY
Mom! I can’t believe that you did this to me and to my Dad!
SHY
Let me finish Shiny! My relationship with your Dad was horrible, he didn’t treat me right…and Water is nice and treats me right, I love him.
SHINY
(She tries to walk away)
I don’t wanna hear you!
SHY
STOP!!! You have to hear me…this is more hard for me than for you…
SHINY
Okay whatever is that you have to tell me, just say it!
SHY
(Looking down)
Your Dad left…
SHINY
Tell me why Dad left!
SHY
YOUR DAD LEFT BECAUSE I…I cheated on him! With the Clouds, Shiny you understand me right? You sister did…
SHINY
I feel so disgusted with you!
(Shiny walks away. Shy follows her)
SHY
Stop! Shiny. (crying) You tell me that I should tell you the truth and I did, please don’t go!
SHINY
Stop senora Moon, this is all for me. I am going to get Dad and you have to tell me this again in front of him!
SHY
No Shiny, its dangerous. I don’t want the Sun to burn you again! I don’t want to lose you!
SHINY
You already lost me! You destroyed my feelings and my self!
SHY
I did that because I didn’t love your Dad. Shiny, please understand me! I love Water and I love you!
SHINY
Noo Mom! I am going to get Dad and you are going to say sorry to him!
SHY
We don’t need to do this Shiny, remember it’s your Quinceanera!
SHINY
I don’t care any more about the Quinceanera, now Dad is my objective!
SHY
Lets calm down and make a deal…
SHINY
I have no time for your deals!
SHY
But in the deal is you Dad!
SHINY
Ooh! Now you are making deals because you are losing me!
(Shy holds Shiny’s hand.)
SHY
Look Shiny, look at me please! I don’t want something to happen to you. If the Sun burns you this time, you can die! Shiny, I promise that I am going to help you but…
(Shiny tries to take her hand away)
SHINY
You can help me by letting me go, RIGHT NOW!
SHY
No Shiny, you are not going anywhere. I need you by my side! Your Dad does not love you Shiny!
SHINY
You are being so mean Mom. Why you say that Dad don’t love me? He left because you cheated on him!
SHY
No Shiny, if your Dad really loved you, he could be back at least to see you. But he didn’t. Please Shiny, give Water a chance!
SHINY
Look Mom, I found out that if I go close to Dad and the Sun tries to burn me, Dad is going to help me, and he will be back with me. And if he ignores me, it’s because you are right and he don’t love me and I would not give him another chance, and I would forget him, I promise!
SHY
(Talking to herself)
I feel frustrated that Shiny don’t wanna hear me! And if Dad is back, I don’t know what can happen having him in front of me again! I love Water and I love my daughter. I hope that Shiny thinks every thing and she gives the chance to Water to walk with her and do her first dance at the Quinceanera. This is the chance to show that Water is better.
SHINY
Mom what are you thinking! This is the last minute, make a choice because if not, I am leaving, but I don’t want to hurt you!
(Talking to herself)
I feel so scared! Mom is suffering for me. I should forget Dad and give the chance to Water? But I want to know about Dad! Time goes through fast and in this last minute, I have to leave to complete my dream with Dad or my Quinceanera with Water!
SHY
I am not going to make a choice for you. I just want you to think everything and remember Shiny, I love you so much, and I do not want to lose my little shiny star!
SHINY
(Takes time to think)
Mommy! I already made a choice. You have been with me over all these years that Dad was not with me! I love you more than anything and I want to see you happy!
If your happiness is Water, I have to be with you like always and tomorrow I will give Water the chance…If Dad wanna see me, he knows where to find me! Mommy I love you!
THE END
