THE MEETING
©by Eleanor Tylbor
SCENE: a busy suburban street. Lots of heavy equipment involved in repairing road surface
Two women (strangers) walking slowly, one behind the other, holding shopping bags. The one in front stops, turns around and faces other female
FEMALE 1
So much going on here and all that traffic!
FEMALE 2
They're in a fixing mode
FEMALE 1
Have you tried crossing the street?
FEMALE 2
Not today but I have on other occasions
FEMALE 1
You take your life in your hands!
FEMALE 2
Very busy for sure
FEMALE 1
I almost got killed before!
FEMALE 2
Seriously?
FEMALE 1
Seriously. Twice, y'know!
FEMALE 2
I believe you
FEMALE 1
I crossed over there (points with finger) and had to run for my life! My heart is still beating. Here - feel it
FEMALE 2
I'll take your word. Don't we know each other? Your face looks familiar
FEMALE 1
...the cars kept moving and if I didn't know better, I swear they were aiming for me..
FEMALE 2
(laughing)
Do you have a lot of enemies? You don't mind if I walk with you? We'll watch each other's back so to speak
FEMALE 1
...I was really, really scared, let me tell you! Saw my life flash in front of me!
FEMALE 2
Was it interesting? Sorry - just joking. So...like... where do we know each other?
FEMALE 1
What's your name?
FEMALE 2
Betty Ann Baker and you?
FEMALE 1
No...don't know anybody by that name. Lots of people say they know me but they don't. They only think they know me
FEMALE 2
As I mentioned, your face strikes me as familiar. Do you belong to the Ladies Study Group?
FEMALE 1
I do! Are you a member?
FEMALE 2
No but I know lots of people who are. It's none of my business but why don't you cross at the traffic lights?
FEMALE 1
'Cause it's closer to cross here
FEMALE 2
So is death. The traffic lights are a two minute walk. That's what I do
FEMALE 1
Did I mention that I almost got killed twice? The drivers just don't care! Insane!
FEMALE 2
You can't blame them. They have the right of way and you don't
FEMALE 1
What happened to respecting the pedestrian, huh? And human decency? Last week I almost got run over by a cyclist. A cyclist no less and he wasn't even wearing a helmet! I tell you - civility is a thing of the past
FEMALE 2
People are in a rush, I suppose. No time for each other.
FEMALE 1
I've been living in this area 25 years and it was never busy like this back then. Too commercialized now. Too many buildings
FEMALE 2
Can't stop progress
FEMALE 1
The weekly Study Group meets today. Are you going?
FEMALE 2
Like I said, I'm not a member. Once in a while I drop by as a guest if they have an interesting topic that strikes my fancy
FEMALE 1
Don't blame you. Meetings are boring. Used to be interesting but not anymore. A lot of blah-blah-blah about nothing but they serve decent refreshments at the end
FEMALE 2
Do tell
FEMALE 1
They do. Do you know Peggy...Peggy...somebody. She's tall and thin
FEMALE 2
Don't know any Peggys
FEMALE 1
Anyway, she's in charge of the telephone list. Calls all the members to tell them about the next meeting. She always asks everyone, "how are you?" I mean, why does she say that? She doesn't really care
FEMALE 2
Guess she was just being polite and friendly. Sometimes we say things out of habit when we don't know what else to say
FEMALE 1
People make these trivial comments that don't mean a thing. You know, things like, 'nice talking to you' or 'how's your arthritis' Why would I tell her about my physical conditions, anyway? I mean, she's a complete stranger. My doctor told me I need a new knee. Pains me terribly...
FEMALE 2
This is where we part. I go the other way
FEMALE 1
God I was so scared I was going to get hit...
FEMALE 2
But here you are alive and kicking. Bye! Maybe we'll see each other again
FEMALE 1
...I put my hand out to tell the car to stop...thank goodness it did...
FEMALE 2
Take care! See you around sometime! Don't forget to cross at the traffic lights! The life you save could be your own!
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