HOW DO I FEEL LIKE HOME? BY JEFFREY LO
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Lights up on BETHANY in her office at work.
Her cell phone rings.
She answers it.
BETHANY: Kail?
Lights up on her son KAIL.
KAIL: Hey Ma.
BETHANY: How is my boy?
KAIL: Oh, you know. Tired.
BETHANY: You must be working hard.
KAIL: Not too hard.
BETHANY: WHY NOT TOO HARD!? YOU ARE IN COLLEGE NOW!
KAIL: I know, I know. I’m kidding.
BETHANY: You better be doing good.
KAIL: I’m trying!
BETHANY: I’m working extra to pay for your schooling.
KAIL: I know ma, I know…
BETHANY: Good.
They laugh together.
BETHANY: Why did you call, Kail?
KAIL: Oh… I don’t know…
BETHANY: Is everything ok?
KAIL: Yeah! Yeah. Of course.
BETHANY: I don’t believe you.
KAIL: No, I promise. Everything is fine…
BETHANY: Then why did you say it like that?
KAIL: What?
BETHANY (Mocking KAIL):Everything is fine…
KAIL: I do not talk like that.
BETHANY: Kind of.
KAIL laughs.
BETHANY: Are you sure you’re ok?
KAIL: Yeayeah…
BETHANY: Ok…
Silence.
KAIL: I’m just a little homesick… Homesick is all.
BETHANY: Oh… you miss mama?
KAIL: I miss home. Why do you make it all about you?
BETHANY: Mama is a part of home!
KAIL: I know you are! But you’re not all of it.
BETHANY: Oh, ok, I better go then –
KAIL: No! Please. Stay.
Pause.
BETHANY: I miss you too.
KAIL: Yeah…
BETHANY: You haven’t called very much!
KAIL: I know. Sorry…
BETHANY: Why do you feel homesick now?
KAIL: I don’t know, actually. I don’t think anything did it. It just… happened, maybe? I don’t know. I just wish I was home right now…
BETHANY: Do you not like it at school?
KAIL: No, I do… I do…I just… would rather be home at this particular moment.
Pause.
KAIL: Ma.
BETHANY: Yes?
KAIL: How do I feel like home right now? Can you help me feel like I’m home…?
Pause.
BETHANY: Use your imagination, Kail… Imagine your cousins coming over for a party.
KAIL: The food everyone brings…
BETHANY: The TV.
KAIL: The karaoke! The young ones playing Fortnite…
BETHANY: And Mama…
KAIL: Mama…
BETHANY: Mama, hugging you…
Pause.
BETHANY: Just imagine mama hugging you…
END OF PLAY.