Jenny Steadman
A father’s love
Emma sits on a battered leather armchair in a plain living room. It is early evening.
I really shouldn’t have got out of bed this morning (pause) it’s just been one thing after another today. I was late for school because the alarm never went off so I missed the bus and had to walk (pause) and to top things off a bird thought my head was the ideal spot to relieve itself. I was in such a rush to get to school that I left my homework and the money for the class trip on the kitchen table. “This just isn’t good enough Emma, I expect more from you” Miss Adams said. I mean it wasn’t my fault that the alarm never went off. Naturally I had to stay behind for ten minutes after school; I had to run to the chemist before it shut but I was too late it had already closed. He has to wait until next week for his medication now. To top it all off I left the money for the shopping on the mantle piece so I couldn’t get anything for tea. Dad really wasn’t happy, but it wasn’t my fault.
Fade to black
Emma is washing dishes in an untidy kitchen, she is wearing her pyjamas. It is mid afternoon.
I just can’t please that fella these days; I’ve cooked, cleaned, done the washing, fed him and the dog an’ all he wants to do is sit in front of the telly. He sits there day in day out and doesn’t speak a word to anyone. Take the other day for instance, my brother came round to see him and he wouldn’t make the effort to speak (pause) he’s not seen him in six months. I don’t understand him. He rarely speaks to me, I must have done something to upset him, I said I was sorry about his medication but it really wasn’t my fault, there wasn’t a need for the way he reacted, it was an accident. I’m not like Mum, I don’t wind him up on purpose (pause) I try to avoid it. I’m not a bad person unlike some on this estate. There are girls my age that are pregnant, boys that go out an’ rob cars and others that come in drunk every night, but not me (pause) I don’t go out, I get my head down in school and I always work hard. What does he want? Blood? (pause) Come to think of it where is dad, he’s been gone ages, I don’t like him leaving the house when he’s in one of them moods, he usually gets brought home by the police when he does, I just hope that he’s okay and he hasn’t been up to his usual trick and propped up the bar down the local. He should know by now that alcohol doesn’t agree with him, one of these days he’s going to suprise me and come straight home from work without taking a detour into the pub. Yeah right!
