Sienna is a lot of things but there are two jobs that she loves most, she is an elementary school teacher, and a loving mother to her son Joey. It is the first day of school and she makes their lunches as she shares her memories of Joey when he was younger. She talks about how things have changed now because they will be in the same building and Joey has made some rules she must follow so that he can be a “cool kid.” The list was simple, written with care and all items were simple and Sienna gladly made a pink swear to because you can’t break a pinky swear. Off to school, the day begins, all is perfect, and then in a flash the sound of gunshots shifts Sienna into “save my kids” mode. Unfortunately, in this moment she kept her kids save but she also had to find her son Joey. She made her way to his classroom but on the door she saw blood… the blood of a child’s small hand- what will she find on the other side of that door? This is a story that reminds us that elementary students should not be expected to render aid to their classmates, like a doctor. Teachers should not be expected to put the injured on their back and carry them to safety, like the military. The education system deserves better. A story of the love a mother and teacher has for kids and her own son. A reminder that, it would be wonderful if kids could just be kids, if they could come to school and not have to practice active shooter drills, because a pinky swear that a parent makes to their child should never be broken. We all deserve better.
Pink Swear
(Scene opens with Sienna Webb, a woman in her late 20s. She stands in the kitchen pulling items out of the refrigerator as she makes two separate lunches. One for her and one for her son. She finishes with hers, zips, then picks up a pen and notepad, beat.)
(Writes) Joey Bear, I hope you have a great first day of the first grade. Mommy loves you. (beat, smile) PS: I won’t call you Joey Bear in front of your friends. (laughs, folds the paper and puts it in the lunchbox. To audience.) Don't laugh at me, Joey laughs at me all the time. Sometimes it's good laughter because we're playing kickball in the backyard and I completely missed the ball or bad laughter because I've done something “weird.” (Jokes) “Mom, don’t be weird.” He tells me all the time in his six-year-old way how hard it is to have a mom that is a teacher. He said it's going to be even harder this year because it's our first year in the same building. But, my little boy is quite the genius. He made me promise, pinky promise so that he knew it was real, that I would follow the list of rules he created for us in order for him to make it through elementary school with his mom and not make “him the weirdo kid.” (she searches through her bag and pulls out an envelope, laughs as she reads) “I, Sienna Webb promise to Joey Webb that I will not do stuff (aside) spelled with only one “f” (smiles, continues to read) “stuff that is on this paper. I will sign and pinky swear to it. 1.) I will not speak to Joey in the hall. 2.) I will not bring Joey his lunch. 3.) If #2 happens I will send lunch money to class with a hall monitor. 4.) No kisses, ever. 5.) No hugs, ever. 6.) No playing together at recess. 7.) Just for you mom, if you do this for me, I will give you a big kiss on our way home each day. (beat, smile) …when we are out of the parking lot and no one can see us.” (Laughs as she folds it back up, puts it back in the envelope and into her purse. To audience.) Fine, fine, I’ll do it. (she holds out her pinky) Pinky swear.
