Seven-year-old Vince Luca with dark brown hair and blue eyes, stands outside of Mrs. Metzger, his science teacher’s, classroom. He is in his usual school wear, which is jeans and whatever T-shirt he decided he wanted to wear. Today it is an old shirt from the movie “Jaws” with a string that’s being slightly covered by his jean jacket. He has on a pair of chuck taylors that magically aren’t dirty. Inside, Mrs. Metzger is grading papers on a cluttered desk. The room has pictures obviously drawn by children all over the walls; one corner is full of stuffed animals and toys, another with cubby holes and more artwork. There is one old computer with a sign on it that says, “out of order.” Late in the scene, Tommy will enter. Light covers the stage, coming from a window. Vince can’t decide if he wants to tell Mrs. Metzger about his horrific experience the night before. However, he needs reassurance. Vince takes a breath, and enters the room.
Vince: Mrs. Metzger?
Mrs. Metzger: Oh hello, Vince! Good morning! What can I do for you? (keeps eyes on papers)
Vince: Well, I just had a question. Where do kidney stones come from? (sits on a chair in front of her desk)
Mrs. Metzger: Um. Why? (starts to look up from papers)
Vince: Well, uh, I had a bit of an experience last night. I wanted a drink of water and when I got to the bathroom there was blood-splattered towels in my bathtub! So, I ran to my parents’ room, and their light was on, so I went in, and there was plastic everywhere! My Uncle Carmine was face down on their bed and my dad was on top of him, while my mom dug in his skin with tweezers. I was so scared, Mrs. Metzger!
Mrs. Metzger: (she shoves her papers aside and she looks shocked and afraid. Vince is almost crying, and his face is red. The light brightens a small amount, and voices of children can be heard in the hallway) So why do you need to know where kidney stones come from?
Vince: Oh right! Well, that wasn’t the whole story. My mother pulled something out of his butt cheek, and says “Aha!” and it was so gross. It was covered in blood and skin, and my Uncle Carmine was screaming bloody murder. My dad said if he woke up me and my siblings that he’d put the next one in his head. I thought about how my brother, Tommy, wasn’t awake, but then they realized I was there, and my mom told me it was a kidney stone. Can my dad put a kidney stone in my Uncle Carmine’s head? Can he put them anywhere he wants? (Vince sits, sighs, and looks at the artwork)
Mrs. Metzger: (raises her eyebrow, looks at Vince, and shakes her head) Are you sure it wasn’t all just a dream?
Vince: I’m sure. (nods head)
Mrs. Metzger: (voice sounds exasperated) Well, son, kidney stones don’t come out of your butt cheek, and your dad can’t just put them there. Have they done this before? If this is real I need to inform the principal and the police.
Vince: (face gets serious, voice sounds shaky, and stands up) Um, um, no, never mind. It was just a dream. Sorry about that. (is about to leave room when his older brother, Tommy enters, wearing long jeans and a clearly dirty plain blue shirt, with a black ball cap on. Mrs. Metzger gets up)
Mrs. Metzger: I must go pick up some papers. I’ll be back. Hello, Tommy! (leaves room)
Tommy: Hello, Mrs. Metzger! I heard the last of that conversation. You can’t be telling people that. Dad would be angry.
Vince: (confused and worried look on his face) Why?
Tommy: (looks outside to see if anyone is in the halls) Vince, Dad’s mobbed up. (scene ends, lights dim, and everything goes quiet.)