My Dad Was in the Cold War - Scene 2

Scene 2

Parents bedroom. Dad is half-dressed, and appears mildly hurried or late or both. He wears briefs, maybe red; no shirt and blue socks, a gold chain sits around his neck. He moves around the room, getting clothes and grooming products in order. He glances at himself in the mirror each time he passes a mirror. Actions may include--brushing/smoothing his hair, with one eye closed, and trying on and off shirts. Yellow shag carpets the floor, non-descript dresser with various nick-knacks (a vase, money jar, an ashtray) is the only & a relatively large mirror. (though could be alluded to—perhaps audience is mirror) P some faint music plays—maybe Harry Belafonte, which dad occasionally sings with in a most committed manner

Dad yells

--Joyce! Where’s my .. mother fucker….? (begins to sing) But I’ve been from Maine to Mexico, oh I’m sad to say I’m on my. Joyce, where the fuck.. looks at self in mirror---begins to smooth hair. Puts on shirt takes it off.

I enter.

Because my dad was so often naked, or lightly clothed, I never really studied, his body, his curves, his skin, his shape. And being that I was seven, my interest was not in male body (and certainly not my dad's), but the Barbie body.

Yet this time, somehow was different. Maybe it was the beginning or the end of my aesthetic innocence, the end of a Switzerland lead life where neutrality reigned and bodies were bodies regardless if they were bruised, bend, broken….

Dad starts putting on pants. Sings

And I left a little girl in ‘Kingston town. Hello darlin’..mmh.. is your father good lookin'?

---what are those holes .. in your stomach…bullets? (awestruck) Bullet holes?

Maybe I just seen an episode of Emergency or Batman-ZAP, BAM, POW

---We’re you shot?

Dad takes a drag of cigarette

---That’s right, shot, sugar..

Where was I? Was it when I stayed late at Brownies? Or when Papa had to pick me up from Gymnastics? Maybe it was the day I had to stay after school because I couldn’t do long division:
---Jessica carry the one, carry the one.
--- I can’t carry …I can’t do it. I don't believe in it.
Maybe it someone at Turnstyle shot him? He was always making a scene.

Dad accosts a cashier.

---So.. you learn how to run that cash register in school? Slow class? Because let me tell you – maybe it’s just that you’re a retard, you know what they do to retards in China..? -Kill them -bang!

---Three times. Bang. Bang. Bang.

--Was it the army?

Dad continues to get dressed

---Were you in a war?

Yeah.. yeah.
---What war?
Cold War, Jess.
--You were in the cold war?
You betcha.
--Against who?
The Soviets, Russians
--But aren’t we Russians?
We’re Russians Jews—which makes us Jews not Russians
Don't’ trust the Soviets, the Germans, Niggers, Spics –any of them.
--Gentiles?
No. for sure not them.

--------------------
During the time I dated the only German and black boy in high school, and according to my mother caused my grandmother’s heart attack (not the Echrich Bologna she passed off as kosher) I was in the state-mandated US history class. Somehow I was not in the Advanced Place class and was supremely annoyed and frustrated at my geographically challenged classmates

A boy next me—raising hand-I can’t find the state of Los Angeles on the map.
Are you fucking kidding me?
A girl – You think the slaves know they were from Africa?

A lot of people my age were vaccinated with thalidomide before they realized it caused permanent birth defects.

We were studying the US in the 1950’s .. McCarthyisim, Korean War, Soviets.
The Cold War.
Here was my chance to show these illiterate mainstreamed mutants what an AP’er was, I raised my hand.

---Mrs., Kelly, yeah.. um.. My dad (dramatic pause here) was in the Cold War. He was shot, too. Three times. Three times, in the stomach (point to my own stomach).

Silence.

--You’re dad was in the cold war?

I cautiously smile. I am the shit.
--Yes

---The .. VERBAL war .. between the United States and the Soviet Union?

---Verbal.. war?

That mother fucker..

---Verbal war?

A boy next me— raises hand
--- So, did people get colds or were they just cold?