Story 640: Last Generation/Next Generation: 1776/1808

 (Originally written as a one-act play in 2021) 

            1776 

(In a farmhouse, there is a living area with a large table to the right side and three wooden chairs, two on the right and one on the left; one door at the left that leads outside and one door at the right that leads to the kitchen.  William is pacing the room, and then abruptly opens the outside door)

William: (Shouts outside) Benjamin, get in here!  (Leaves the door open and sits on one of the chairs on the right)

Benjamin: (Slouches in from outside) Yes, Father?

William: Sit down, Son; I want to speak with you.  (Benjamin closes the door and sits on the chair on the left, slumping in the seat) Now, seeing as you are nearly a man and I have barely said five words to you since your birth, you know that me summoning you here must be of great import.

Benjamin: (Borderline sullen) Yes, Father.

William: (Pauses when sensing the sass, then chooses to ignore it) Hm.  So, I have been observing your behavior these past few months, and I can no longer remain silent whilst you engage in activities that are becoming increasingly destructive, both to yourself and to this family.

Benjamin: I do not know of what you speak, Father.

William: (Reaches beside his chair and holds up a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag) Have any idea from whence this came, then?  Are you concerned of late about the welfare of rattlesnakes, perchance?

Benjamin: (Stands abruptly) Give that back!

William: Mind your tone, insolent pup.  (Benjamin slowly sits again) Whilst you are under my roof, you will fear and tremble before me as any child should before their sire!  Now, what is this – (Shakes the flag at Benjamin, then angrily snaps it back to the floor next to his chair) all about?  Tell me it is anything but you getting yourself mixed up with those… treasonous, rabble-rousing, rebellious anarchists!

Benjamin: They are called Patriots, Father!

William: Patriots, my foot!  If they actually were patriots, they would remain loyal to their King!

Benjamin: But when a king is not loyal to his subjects and treats them little better than serfs, what choice do they have but to fight for their freedom, their rights, their dignity?!  That is patriotism, Father – loyalty to one’s country and to the people in it!

William: (Holds his hands over his ears and rocks back and forth) Treason talk!  Treason talk!  La-la-la-la-la-la!

Benjamin: (Makes a sound of disgust) You just do not understand!  You, with your life of comfort and ease, what would you know what the rest of us suffer?

William: (No longer holding his ears) In what house did you grow up?  You seem to forget that, back in my day, I survived not one but two bouts of smallpox, along with having to serve in the French and Indian War, even though I had no interest in fighting over which country took more of the Native peoples’ lands, but did I complain?  No, I did my duty!  Not to mention that this farm is hardly Buckingham Palace, and every day I labor to keep you fed, and clothed, and sheltered!  As a matter of fact, this is the longest amount of time I have sat in one place in over 25 years!

Benjamin: That is all well and good, but relatively speaking, you live a life of luxury.

William: Ha!  You have a funny way of seeing the world – you get that from your mother.

(A woman enters from the door on the right, wiping her sweaty face with a burned apron)

Mary: (Nearly breathless) You called, William?

William: This does not concern you, Mary – back to the kitchen with ye, and do not show your face again unless it is to say that dinner is served!

Mary: Of course!  (Turns and mutters) Tyrant.  (Labors back in the kitchen)

William: And so, Benjamin, I am not familiar with this luxury in which you believe I reside: do explain.

Benjamin: Think on it, Father: whilst thousands live on the streets or out in the woods, scrambling for scraps, we are able to eat wholesome meals every day, and have two entire rooms to call our own.

William: Well-earned, I thank you.

Benjamin: And all that you say you suffer, you know that would be lessened if the taxes on… everything were not so many nor so high!

William: Heh!  Do not remind me of those – barely make enough to prevent us from living in the woods.

Benjamin: And remember when we had to house those soldiers last winter, in our home, whilst we struggled not to freeze to death in the barn?

William: Like it or nay, that was our duty.

Benjamin: It should not have been!  Practically made a servant, on your own property!  Just one of many Intolerable Acts – (William scoffs) yes, Intolerable, I say!  And not being allowed to have our own town meetings; the port of Boston closed; civilians fired upon!  We must break free from our chains of slavery, Father!

William: (Crooks an eyebrow at him) And whilst you are breaking your supposed chains, will you also be breaking the actual chains currently on the actual enslaved people in this country, hm?

Benjamin: (Fidgets) Uh….

William: Well?

Benjamin: (In a small voice) Baby steps.

William: (Waves him off) Argh, you are all noise.  You whine about trifles and cause a lot of turmoil for everyone, yet have no conception of how to get any of the real work done!  We are fine as we are, Son, and any troubles we face are as temporary as everything else in life, just – leave it be!

Benjamin: (Stands in a passion) Never!  Not whilst we live in oppression under a tyrant!

William: (Also stands) And what exactly do you plan to do with your newfound freedom?  Go toss some more perfectly good tea into the harbor?  (Gasps in horror) You were not part of that shameful display those ridiculous Sons of Liberty partook in, were you?!

Benjamin: (Sits) Only because I missed the planning meeting, to my eternal regret.

William: (Buries his head in his hands while sinking back into his chair) Oh, that I should live to see the day when a son of mine became a common rebel!  Woe is me, that I must be confronted with his wrongheaded behavior, insensible to all reason – (Benjamin rolls his eyes, takes a knife and a stick out of his pockets, and starts whittling) not a single ounce of respect for his aged father, no gratitude, no – (Lowers his hands and sees Benjamin whittling) Are – are you – dare you whittle whilst I am speaking to you?!

Benjamin: (Stands again) Yes, Father, I dare: I dare to stand up for what I believe in, to fight for what is right, for myself and for my fellow Americans –

William: (Clutches his chest in horror) Ah!

Benjamin: – and if that means defying you and everything you represent, then so be it!  (Pockets the knife and stick, stalks to the outside door, opens it, and turns back) I hold no anger in my heart toward you, Father: only pity.  I just hope one day you fully understand how wrong you have been.  (Exits, leaving the door open)

William: And I just hope one day you have a son JUST LIKE YOU! 

1808 

(In a farmhouse, there is a living area with a large table to the right side and three wooden chairs, two on the right and one on the left; one door at the left that leads outside and one door at the right that leads to the kitchen.  Benjamin, older and looking very much like William, is pacing the room, and then abruptly opens the outside door)

Benjamin: (Shouts outside) Thomas, get in here! (Leaves the door open and sits on one of the chairs on the right)

            Thomas: (Slouches in from outside) Yes, Father?

Benjamin: Sit down, Son; I want to speak with you.  (Thomas closes the door and sits on the chair on the left, slumping in the seat) Now, seeing as you are nearly a man and I have barely said five words to you since your birth, you know that me summoning you here must be of great import.

            Thomas: (Borderline sullen) Yes, Father.

Benjamin: (Pauses when sensing the sass, then chooses to ignore it) Hm.  So, I have been observing your behavior these past few months, and I can no longer remain silent whilst you engage in activities that are becoming increasingly destructive, both to yourself and to this family.

            Thomas: I do not know of what you speak, Father.

Benjamin: (Reaches besides his chair and holds up a “No Embargo!” sign) I know a rebel when I see one.

Thomas: (Slumps further) Oh Father, what would you know about tyranny and oppression?                                                                

Benjamin: (Drops the sign, flabbergasted) I – you – I would have you know that I risked my life to make this country free; I was fighting the rule of dictators before you were even born; and I will eat my hat if a son of mine claims to know more about tyranny and oppression than I do!

Thomas: Yes, Father, we know all about you risking everything so that Mother and I would be safe from tyranny and oppression.

(A woman enters from the door on the right, wiping her sweaty face with a burned apron)                        

Martha : (Nearly breathless) You called, Thomas?

            Benjamin: This does not concern you, Martha – back in the kitchen with ye, and do not show your face again unless it is to say that dinner is served!

            Martha: Of course!  (Turns and mutters) Tyrant.  (Labors back in the kitchen))

Thomas: But Father, do you not see that this Embargo Act closing our ports is destroying our economy and crushing our freedoms just as much as those Intolerable Acts did in your youth?

Benjamin: The two hardly can be compared.

Thomas: Well then, what about the Alien and Sedition Acts, directed against our own citizens, hardly 10 years ago!  Were they not the same as those acts that you fought against as tyranny?  And if our own presumably democratic government did it once, it could easily do it again!

Benjamin: And rightfully so, those treasonous, rabble-rousing, rebellious anarchists!  They do not know how lucky they have it!  (Thomas rolls his eyes, takes a knife and a stick out of his pockets, and starts whittling; Benjamin speaks to the middle distance and does not notice what Thomas is doing) You young people today have no idea what it is to suffer under actual oppression!  You should be grateful for what my generation sacrificed so that you could live the life of luxury you do now!  Why, back in my day….

Story 501: Never Turn Down a Free Cruise

NOVEMBER

 Friend 1: (On the phone) Hi, I’m in the middle of the supermarket checkout line and everyone’s glaring at me, what’s up?

Friend 2: (On the phone) You… could’ve just let it go to voicemail and called me back later.

Friend 1: I could’ve but now I’m in too deep, so what’s up?

Friend 2: Well, long story short, I found out I won an actual, legitimate cruise for two to Alaska for next year and since none of my family are even remotely interested I figured I’d ask you next.

Friend 1: Aw, offering me to be your plus-one on a free cruise, you’re so sweet!  This must be what it feels like to be rich!

Friend 2: A little bit, yeah.  But it’s only the room and main meals that are free – everything else is à la carte.

Friend 1: Naturally.  You know, I’ve never been on a cruise before; I’ll have to think about it first and get back to you.

Shopper 1: (Standing behind Friend 1) What’s to think about; it’s a free cruise!

Shopper 2: (Standing in front of Friend 1; turns around) Where’s it going?

Friend 1: Alaska.

Shopper 2: I’ve always wanted to go there!  Take the free ride!

Shopper 1: If you don’t, I will!

Friend 2: Sounds like the committee voted “Yes.”

Friend 1: (To Friend 2) Yeah, sure, it sounds great, it’s just all so sudden, I have to figure out if I can get time off from work and how we’re gonna get there and back and all the logistics stuff.

Shopper 2: Who cares?!

Friend 1: (To Shopper 2) Clearly I do.

Friend 2: It’ll be in July so it’s plenty of advance notice for work; I’ll book everything and let you know whatever your share is for plane tickets and what-not; this’ll-be-great-thanks-bye!  (Ends the call)

Friend 1: (Puts away the phone and stares into space) “Plane tickets”?

Shopper 2: Who cares?!

Friend 1: But flying’s such an ordeal; can’t the ship just swing by and pick me up?

 JULY

DAY 1

(At a pier in Seattle)

Friend 2: (To Friend 1 after they pay their taxi driver and Haul their suitcases to the line of tourists; points to the docked cruise ship) There it is!  Life size now!

Friend 1: (Looking around) There what is?  A giant apartment building’s blocking the view.

Friend 2: That’s it!  That’s the ship!  Don’t you see the lifeboats and the bow and the portholes?!

Friend 1: (Long blinks and looks at the entire vessel up and down) That’s the ship?!  It’s a floating city!

Friend 2: Pretty much – last I heard the medical bay was expanded into a full-blown hospital this year, complete with a double-decker ambulance.  Didn’t you watch any of the videos I sent you that showed all the stuff on board?

Friend 1: I wanted to manage my expectations.

(Later on the pool deck, Friend 1 and Friend 2 lounge on chairs and watch the kiddies and their parents splash around)

Friend 1: (Eating an ice cream sundae) I’ve noticed that no matter how early in a party it is, there’s always somebody in the pool.

Friend 2: Yep – it’ll probably be too cold for most of the trip once we head north, but there’s a heated pool inside and a few hot tubs we can bake in for about 15 minutes a pop.

Friend 1: Too cold?  It’s the middle of summer!

Friend 2: Yeah, and we’ll be knocking on the door of the Arctic Circle.

Friend 1: Tell that to the now-amphibious polar bears!

Friend 2: (Sips a lemonade and mutters) It’s not that bad there.  Yet.

Friend 1: (Devours the cone) Well, the minute I see palm trees where we’re going, I’ll know the end has come.  (Opens a brochure to Juneau that shows palm trees in the scenery; holds out the picture to Friend 2) KNEW IT!!!

Friend 2: Relax; palm trees can grow there; we’ll still see glaciers and snow.

Friend 1: Before they turn to water!

Friend 2: (Stands) Whatever: I’m going to our skydiving simulator reservation – you still coming?

Friend 1: (Immediately trots to the upper deck) No need to ask.

(In the main dining room at dinner)

Friend 1: (Reading a menu) So I can order every single thing on this, twice, and not get charged for it?

Friend 2: Basically, except for the specials on the bottom that are extra – everything else is included, so go wild.

Friend 1: (Softly, while scanning the dish descriptions) Yesssss….

Server: (Returning after taking drink orders earlier) Hello, ready to order?

Friend 1: Yes: I want one of each, sans the items with dollar signs next to them, and the extras boxed up to bring back to the room, please.

Server: (Writing down “EVERYTHING”) OK, I’ll wheel you out a few trays later.  (To Friend 2) Same for you?

Friend 2: No thanks – just the salad, fish, and key lime pie, please.  (To Friend 1) I actually have some self-control.

Friend 1: Apparently, that attitude is not encouraged here.

Server: (Finishes writing the orders and takes the menus) Great – your food will be out in a few minutes!  There’ll also be a magic show here starting soon that’ll be your entertainment for the evening, so enjoy!  (Leaves to round on 10 other tables)

Friend 1: Wow.  Everyone who works here is super nice – I almost feel guilty.

Friend 2: Why?

Friend 1: Because I’m tempted to start asking for unreasonable things just to see if they’ll do it.

Friend 2: Ew – I thought you were going to say you feel bad that they’re working all the time trying to “please” us and all we have to do is be grateful and tip generously afterward.

Friend 1: That too.  (Glances at watch) I forgot to check – when’s this show getting on the road?

Friend 2: The magic show?

Friend 1: No, the cruise!  I thought we would’ve started sailing ages ago!

Friend 2: We did.  (Gestures to a window) See?  Just the open water now.

Friend 1: (Leans forward to stare, then places hands on the table and stares at it) I don’t even feel anything moving….

Friend 2: I know, right?  Ship stabilizers are great these days!

Friend 1: (Still holding onto the steady table) Most… disconcerting….

(Several hours later)

Friend 1: (To Friend 2 as they leave the main theater with the rest of the audience) I tell ya, that juggler-acrobat-comedian-contortionist-stenographer was great!  Sure don’t get talent like that back home!

Friend 2: We… sure do, all the time; how many shows are in our area that are just like that?

Friend 1: Yeah, but it feels more special when it’s being done on the high seas.  (Stops to peer longingly at a gourmet milkshake shop in the main avenue of the ship as the crowds and scooters whiz by all around them)

Friend 2: That stuff’s part of the extras, you know.

Friend 1: Yet totally worth it.  (Turns to take in everyone around them) Would you look at that: people came from all over the world to this one spot, either to have a good time or to possibly be overworked providing a good time to others.  I wonder if this is the closest the world’ll ever get to utopia?

Friend 2: I doubt it: too expensive, consumerist, and wasteful to be ideal.

Friend 1: (Glances at the plate suddenly in Friend  2’s hands) I noticed that hasn’t stopped you from taking all the free pizza.

Friend 2: (Between bites) When am I ever gonna get the chance again to have 10 different styles of pie and not feel it in my wallet?  I’m at peace with my hypocrisy.

Friend 1: That’s great.  (Takes out phone and scrolls through the ever-expanding itinerary on the cruise app) Well, it’s only midnight; up next is standing on line for an hour for bumper cars – you in?

Friend 2: No thanks; that’s all you.

Friend 1: Oh, it will be once I’m done demolishing my teenage adversaries.  (Skips away to run up 10 flights of stairs rather than wait two minutes for an elevator)

Friend 2: (Also takes out phone to check the app) No way they can fit bumper cars on this thing.  (Sees a picture of the massive sports center) Heh – whaddya know.  (Continues eating with one hand while scrolling with the other and walking toward the casino) Ooh, pickleball at 7 a.m. – trendy.

 DAY 8

(Friend 1 and Friend 2 stand on line with their suitcases to disembark the ship)

Friend 1: I can’t believe we’ve been here more than a week and it’s already over!  I didn’t even get to check out the library yet!

Friend 2: There’s way too much going on to do everything; I’m just glad I got to do all the trivia contests I wanted.  Lost them all, but still.

Friend 1: Speak for yourself – I won a fabulous highlighter that one time.

Friend 2: We were supposed to be working as a team, you know.

Friend 1: Is it my fault you have zero knowledge of 80s music?  I can’t be held back when I’m on a winning streak.

Friend 2: Anyway, those and the shore excursions were what I really wanted to do, and I’m glad they all went well.

Friend 1: Yep, those were great.  Learned so much about the Native American tribes who live there, and the Russian colonists who used to live there, and all the land the latter sold to the U.S. right out from under the former, and how the U.S. was all “Too bad”, and how there’s really nothing you and I can do about it now except appreciate the history and culture and give lots and lots of tourism money.

Friend 2: …Yeah, all that.  And we did get to see the glaciers.

Friend 1: And loads of bald eagles and ravens!  But, disappointed - no whales.

Friend 2: Or dolphins.

Friend 1: Or bears.

Friend 2: Eh – not up close for me.

Friend 1: Or Northern Lights.

Friend 2: Wrong time of year.

Friend 1: Still – lately they’ve been showing up randomly way south of where they should be, it would’ve been nice when we’re actually in their home base if they’d made a guest appearance just once during the 10 p.m. sunsets.

Friend 2: Sure, sure.  Well, at least we got to see the glaciers before they fully melted.

Friend 1: Yeah, that was pretty cool.  (Looks out to the pier and mutters) Pun intended.

Friend 2: Yeah.  (They advance several inches in line) Since you really got to experience glacier melt firsthand.

Friend 1: (Still looking out to the pier) We agreed never to speak of that again….

 TO BE CONTINUED