17 July 2015

PROMPT:  Accident

Rebecca Beegle, writer/storyteller

Barbara, 27, comes on stage in shock.  Ted, 27, sits at the table reading the paper.
BARBARA
(quietly)
Ted, it’s been two weeks.
TED
(no comprehension, not looking up from the paper)
Two weeks. Good.
BARBARA
(more urgency)
Two weeks.
Ted looks up at Barbara.
TED
Two weeks.  Two weeks what?
BARBARA
Men are so stupid.
TED
I can’t speak for all men, but, yes, I am stupid... Two weeks?
BARBARA
Since I was supposed to start my period.
TED
(taking an interest)
You’re two weeks late?
BARBARA
That’s what I’m saying.
TED
Well... It’s been kind of stressful around here.  You just started a new job, and we were only married a six weeks ago.  You’re mother still hasn’t talked to you since we eloped.
BARBARA
Two weeks.
TED
Stop saying that!  We’ve been using birth control.
BARBARA
Well...
TED
You haven’t been using the diaphragm?  You can’t pin this on me.  I ask every time before we make love...
BARBARA
I’ve been using it.
TED
Have you checked it for holes?
BARBARA
Just now I looked.
TED
And?!
BARBARA
No holes.
TED
And you’ve been using the spermicide?
BARBARA
A nice thick layer.
Silence.
TED
It’s probably just stress then.
Silence.
BARBARA
I peed on a stick.
TED
It’s not stress.
Barbara shakes her head.
BARBARA
It’s not stress.
TED
How did this happen?!
BARBARA
Well...
Silence.
TED
Barbara?  Do you have something you need to tell me?
BARBARA
You know I quit taking the pill about six months before we got married.
TED
Sure.  We talked about it.  You were worried about possible weight gain and side effects.
BARBARA
Right, and I knew that some day we were going to want to have children.
TED
Someday!  Not today!
BARBARA
I know!
Ted takes a big breath.
TED
I’m sorry.  I’m... this just such...
BARBARA
I know.  I don’t blame you.
TED
(visibly calming himself)
What happened?
BARBARA
That first time...
TED
After we eloped.
BARBARA
Our wedding night.  I put in the diaphragm with plenty of jelly...
TED
Good.
BARBARA
But I hadn’t read the instructions.
TED
(growing visibly more agitated)
And...
BARBARA
And, after we were done, it was uncomfortable and felt... funny.
TED
(more agitated)
And...
BARBARA
(quickly)
And I went to the bathroom right after we finished and I took it out.
Silence.
TED
Aren’t you supposed to leave it in?
BARBARA
For eight hours.
TED
And you left it in...?
BARBARA
Five minutes.
Ted nods and sighs.
TED
It’s alright, Barbara.
Ted goes to Barbara and hugs her.
TED
It’s alright.
BARBARA
(starting to cry)
Do you... do you want me to have an abortion?
TED
No!  Of course not!
(he puts a hand on her belly)
This is our baby!
BARBARA
(hugging Ted tight)
Oh, Ted, I love you.
TED
(takes a deep breath)
I love you too, Barbara.
They hug and kiss.
End of play.