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Iowa Writes ERIN MARSHALL ROBERT Dad, you wanted to see me.
This isn't an appointment, Robert.
I guess. (He sighs.) How are you feeling?
Better. I'm slowly recovering. ROBERT It's only been a few hours. DAD Since what? ROBERT Since you got out of the hospital, Dad. DAD Yes. ROBERT You need to be careful. DAD I'm fine, son. ROBERT The doctors told you to take it easy. DAD Oh, hell if they know.
I think they do, actually. DAD I'm not going to let them control my life. ROBERT No one said you have to. DAD Your mother insinuated it. ROBERT Hmmph. (Pause.)
Why'd you call me in here again? DAD I wanted to talk to you about something. ROBERT What's that? DAD Mom told me football isn't going well. (Pause.)
It's not the best, no. DAD Why's that? ROBERT I don't know. I just don't love it. DAD You just don't love it. ROBERT That's right. (Beat.)
That's not what I heard. ROBERT What'd you hear? DAD I heard that it's not that you don't like football. It's not that you "just don't love it." It's that football doesn't love you. ROBERT Well—
Everyone on the team doesn't love you. ROBERT Now Dad— DAD Your mother told me what Coach Calvin saw. ROBERT Dad, that's—that's nothing. DAD Three guys beating you up is nothing? ROBERT Really, that's the first time it's ever happened. DAD I don't believe that, Robert. I thought this ended a long time ago. ROBERT Well, so did I, but the guys on the team, they . . .
I'm not going to let this go on any longer. ROBERT This isn't like last time. It's not as bad as it used to be. DAD I just don't know. I don't know who to believe. ROBERT Well . . . what are you gonna do? DAD What am I going to do? I can't do anything. But I need you to do one thing. ROBERT What's that? DAD You're going to stop being afraid of everything. (Beat.)
But . . . I'm—I'm not. DAD You need to stand up to those guys. Don't let them tell you what to do. (Beat.)
(Nervously)
DAD That's my boy. |
About Iowa Writes Since 2006, Iowa Writes has featured the work of Iowa-identified writers (whether they have Iowa roots or live here now) and work published by Iowa journals and publishers on The Daily Palette. Iowa Writes features poetry, fiction, or nonfiction twice a week on the Palette. In November of 2008, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Iowa City, Iowa, the world's third City of Literature, making the community part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Iowa City has joined Edinburgh, Scotland and Melbourne, Australia as UNESCO Cities of Literature. Find out more about submitting by contacting iowa-writes@uiowa.edu ERIN MARSHALL Erin Marshall is an intern at The Iowa Review and studies creative writing at The University of Iowa. |
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