Challenge #22 - Childhood
[ABBY comes into the kitchen and plops down and put her head on the table. ELLEN comes in after her with a bag of groceries.]
ELLEN
I see you are having a good day.
[starts to put the groceries away]
ABBY
I would like to go back to being a child now, please.
ELLEN
Unfortunately that’s not something scientifically possible. At least, I don’t think it is.
ABBY
Mom!
ELLEN
Okay, tell me what happened.
ABBY
Grandma wants to know my plan for after I graduate.
ELLEN
And?
ABBY
She not so subtly hinted about me moving back home while I pay off my loans and look for a job in my field or at least outside the caffeinated beverage industry.
ELLEN
That sounds like Georgia. But I mean, you knew she would be that way.
ABBY
She also asked when I’m going to start taking starting a family seriously.
ELLEN
[Freezes at this.]
She said what?
ABBY
She said she knows Joe and I have been together for a while and he seems like a very nice fun young man but do I really see him as someone that can support a family.
ELLEN
I see.
ABBY
And I said I love him and we are talking about a future but that’s really conversation him and I are having and I wasn’t looking for input. I tried to change the subject…
ELLEN
Yes?
ABBY
And she said she just wasn’t sure if marrying “someone like him” would be accepted by the church and it would be best to end it before I “gave him the wrong idea.”
ELLEN
What is wrong with that woman? I’m going to give her a call. She shouldn’t be saying that to you. She’s not your mother. Even if she was, that’s just… no wonder your Aunt Veronica avoids family gatherings when she can.
ABBY
No, you can’t tell her I told you.
ELLEN
Why not?
ABBY
She told me not to tell you.
ELLEN
I’m sorry?
ABBY
She said you would “read too much into it” and “go all momma bear” on her when she was just trying to look out for me.
[ELLEN gets her cellphone, ABBY starts to panic.]
Seriously, mom, I don’t want to cause more trouble. I’m just upset and tired and wanted to vent. I don’t want you and grandma fighting.
ELLEN
I’m calling your father.
ABBY
Why?
ELLEN
[to the phone]
Con? Your mother is at it again.
[beat]
No. I can handle her. It’s with our daughter.
[beat]
I can talk to her or you can. It’s up to you.
[beat]
No. She’s completely overstepped. She basically told her to break up with Joe.
[beat]
Because he’s not a “good Christian boy” she can parade around her church friends.
[beat]
Well, I didn’t say it. You did.
[beat]
I’m not letting her in our house when she behaves this way. You can talk to her. I can talk to her. Or no one will talk to her.
[beat]
No, she certainly will not be at the graduation.
[beat]
Because it’s not about her. And frankly at this point I don’t know that I can control myself around this woman. She called me a momma bear, but honestly she has no idea.
[beat]
Yes.
[beat]
Yes.
[beat]
Excellent. I’ll see you when you get home. Love you.
[beat, she hangs up and turns back to ABBY]
There. It’s all settled and Georgia and I won’t have to say a word to each other. And neither will you if you don’t want to.
ABBY
What…?
ELLEN
I just made it clear to your father that if his mother doesn’t respect my children’s choices she doesn’t need to be present for any of their celebrations. We’ll do things without her until she can learn that she doesn’t get to pick the paths other choose.
[beat]
Since we have an extra ticket to your graduation, why don’t you reach out to Aunt Veronica? I’m sure she’d love to come support you.
ABBY
Okay. Mom?
ELLEN
Yes, honey?
ABBY
I love you.
ELLEN
I love you too, darling. More than anything.