Month: June 2014

A Pretty Damn Big Problem

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or… “What Frustrates Teachers the Most” (A Very Short Play)

Scene: A community pool at an overpriced (“luxury”) apartment complex. A large beefcakey man sits on a lounger and is looking at his phone. His daughter, approximately six, is swimming alone and calling for her father to join her as he had “pinky promised” he would.

Girl: Daddy!
Dad: ….
Girl: Dad! (pause) Dad! (a longer pause) DAD!!!!!
Dad: What!? I’m texting your mother!

Another man enters the pool and sits by the girl’s father. They discuss numerous muscles they have overworked during their most recent bro-workout.

Girl: Dad? Is today Tuesday?
Dad’s Friend: It’s Thursday, sweetheart. (Chuckles to self) S’been Thursday all day!
Dad: Yeah, she’s not in school now, so she don’t know nothin’.

ARE YOU SERIOUS???

I know I’ve only been a parent for a little less than two years, but I would hope this is an isolated (and terrible) example of poor parenting and not a common experience for any other children.

Bleh!

Stepping down now…

Review of Dave Eggers’ 2014 novel YOUR FATHERS, WHERE ARE THEY? AND THE PROPHETS, DO THEY LIVE FOREVER?

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WOW! this book is absolutely incredible! While Eggers abandons many fiction writing norms, he in turn has cleared away all the muck and has presented readers with a bare bones announcement (manifesto?) of the New Lost Generation. While exploring the perspectives of various characters under differing levels of stress, he successfully jars readers to pay attention and wake up to this seedy world in which we live. We can no longer just pine for simpler times—we must live in our day and deal with our issues. Comparing the complexity of modern life to the easy-going eras of past generations is an abominable waste of time and energy. Brilliantly executed and a definite must-read for all, especially anyone who is exhausted with the horrendous current state of affairs in this world others have sacrificed so much to create and protect!