I Remember the Day, Creative Essay Example

Text

Mom:  I need you to come home son.

Me: Why?

Mom:  Just come home.

Me:  What’s up?

Mom:  Your dad & I need to talk to you.

Me:  Why?

Mom:  Just stop asking questions and come!

Me:  Not until u tell me why.

Mom:  Fine.

Mom:  Your dad and I are getting a divorce.

Me:  What?!  Im coming.

Recipe

1 mother

1 father

2 sons

1 daughter

1 affair

Combine all of the above into one house.  Bake the mixture for two years.  Wait until all the ingredients have combined and are inseparable.  Remove from the oven and smash into a million pieces.  Serve on a platter as if nothing happened.

One Act Play

A kitchen table alone on stage except for an oven and cabinet located at the rear of the stage.  Seated are a son, aged 14, Leonard, son, aged 18, Jonathan, and daughter, aged 10, Sarah.  Mother, wearing an apron, is at a stove to the rear of the stage.  Father enters and sits at the table.

Mother:  Here is the meatloaf.

Father:  It looks delicious.  I love your meatloaf.

Mother rolls eyes

Leonard (who knows that his father has had an affair):  So, Mom.  Why did I have to rush home from Mark’s house for dinner?

Jonathan (feigning ignorance): Yeah, Mom.  Why the big rush?

Mother:  Your father and I have something to discuss with all of you.

Father looks up, clearly confused.

Mother:  He just doesn’t know it yet.

Mother goes over to a cabinet beside the stove and grabs a pile of dishes.  She places one in front of everyone.  The last plate she sets is Father’s.  On the dish is a picture that Father picks up.  Father stares at it.  Mother takes her seat.

Mother:  Does it still look delicious?

Father:  We don’t need to talk about this in front of the kids.

Mother:  I disagree.

Leonard:  Don’t do this.

Sarah:  Who is that?

Jonathan:  Yeah.  Who is that a picture of?  Why is Dad kissing her?

Mother goes back to the oven, takes a cake off of the warming shelf, and brings it to the table.  Father drops the picture onto his plate.  He pushes his chair back and approaches Mother. 

Father (in a whisper):  Listen.  She didn’t mean anything to me.  It has been over for months.

Mother:  You’re right.  It has been.

Father:  That’s not what I mean.

Mother:  Just go sit down.

Jonathan:  Mom, why did you write that on top of this cake?

Sarah:  It says you are leaving.  Where are you going?  Are you visiting someone?

Leonard:  Shhhh, Sarah.

Father sits at the table.  He takes his fist and smashes the cake into a million pieces.  Mother goes back to the oven and pulls out a packed suitcase and exits the stage.  The stage goes dark.

Advertisement

Journal Entry

Today has been the worst day of my life.  Turns out that Mom and Dad are getting a divorce.  Now I get to be like half of my other friends and enjoy a broken home.  Life sucks.  I don’t even know what else to write.

I’m probably most angry because Sarah can’t understand.  She was sitting there in total shock when Mom walked out.  How can a 10 year old understand divorce?  I want to protect her, but what can I do?  She is always going to think that it is her fault.  I’m old enough to know that it has nothing to do with me.

Leonard can understand.  He’s 14.  But, he still cannot help but blame himself.  He will always think that if he had made different decisions, had done something else, had been someone else, this wouldn’t have happened.  I’m sure he will lean on his girlfriend for support.  But, she comes from a stable home.  How will this affect them?

I still can’t believe that Dad cheated on Mom.  Who did he do it with?  Someone from church?  Someone from the office?  I know that Mom figured it out.  But, she will never tell me.  Am I doomed to do the same thing?  I’m sure Mom is going to torture herself imagining what about her Dad didn’t find attractive.  I’m so glad that I’m not a woman.

Will I cheat?  I mean, if Dad could fall into temptation, what could stop me?  I don’t want to cheat on Jennifer, but what happens if I do?  We have been dating for 6 months, but I catch myself looking at other girls.  In P.E., I can’t help but notice Carley’s short shorts.  I would never cheat on Jennifer.  Would I?

Who is going to get custody of Sarah?  She is still too young to make her own decision.  Am I going to be separated from my brother and sister?  Who am I going to live with?  This just totally sucks.  I’m glad that I’m going to Duke next year.