MICHAEL: Why not?
PETER: When you started to come, the mothers and babysitters hurried my friends away. (Pause) Yesterday Andy and Zack didn’t let me play with them. Today they pushed me around and called me “fairy!”… I want a babysitter like all the other kids.
MICHAEL: I’d better talk to your teacher…
PETER (Beginning to cry): No! No! You can’t go to school… No don’t talk to Mr. Allen
MICHAEL (nervously): Peter, OK… Don’t cry… I only want to help you… Soon your Dad will come and he’ll see your tears… I promise not to go to school…
PETER (Stops crying): I can take care of myself. (Pause) I think your razor is in my room…
(MICHAEL, relieved and smiling, exits. PETER pushes the old drawing aside and starts a new drawing.
MICHAEL (beginning to cry): Peter! I don’t see it!
PETER: Where are you?
MICHAEL: I’m by your table.
PETER: Cold.
MICHAEL: Now I’m standing near your bed…
PETER: Warmer!
MICHAEL: Here it is. It was under your pillow!
(We hear the razor running as PETER concentrates on drawing. MICHAEL returns with the razor running he shouts over the razor noise.)
Up to your old tricks again? I won’t have time to shower… I’ll just change my shirt then I’ll set the table.
(He turns the razor off.)
I have a nice pot roast and in the oven. What do you want for dessert?
PETER: Key lime pie.
(MICHAEL suddenly peers at PETER’s drawing.)
MICHAEl: What’s this?
PETER: It’s you.
MICHAEL: But I shaved off my beard.
PETER: I drew it from memory.
MICHAEL: Why my portrait?
PETER: To take to school and give to Mr. Allen. (PETER is watching Michael with a smile)
MICHAEL: What for?
PETER: I’ll tell him… you are kind of my mother… do you think the teacher will understand me?
MICHAEL: Mr. Alen will understand you, but your friends will not understand.
PETER: I don’t know what to do?
MICHAEL: Don’t cry. I have idea. Your father has black hair, but you are blond. I think you are like your mother. You could paint your face with long hair and say to Mr. Alen that this is your mother.
PETER: This is idea, thank you. And you could take your portrait for the idea.
MICHAEL: Thank you, I will nail it in my room… I love you…
THE END
