28 June 2015

PROMPT:  Swimming pool

Rebecca Beegle, writer/storyteller

Carla, 42, sits on the sofa.  Pete, 44, sweating comes in.
PETE
The pool right?
CARLA
The city pool at the top of the block.
PETE
Kenemer?  On the high school property.
CARLA
(slightly annoyed)
Yes.
PETE
Did she go with friends?
CARLA
No.  She’s only been here a week.  She doesn’t know anybody yet.  I think she was hoping to meet somebody.
PETE
Maybe she met somebody.
CARLA
She wasn’t there?
PETE
Nope.
CARLA
You looked around.
PETE
It closed at five.  I talked to the lifeguard.  They said she was there a couple of hours ago, but then she left shortly after she arrived.
CARLA
With somebody?
PETE
Not that they saw.  Lifeguard said their weren’t any kids her age there.  Mostly just little kids and mothers.
CARLA
She ran away.
PETE
We don’t know that.
Carla takes out her cell phone.
PETE
I tried to call several times.  No answer.  I sent texts.  No response.
Silence.  Carla punches buttons on her phone and listens.  Finally, she hangs up.
PETE
What did she take with her?
CARLA
She was wearing her suit, a pair of shorts, flip-flops.  She took a towel.
PETE
Her phone?
CARLA
She said she was leaving it.
PETE
She left her phone?  She sleeps with her phone.
Carla nods.
CARLA
She said she was worried it might get wet.
Silence.
PETE
We need to call CPS.
Silence.
CARLA
Yea.
Carla hits buttons on her phone.
End of play.