Backstage at a quiz show
Background
Oleta is a contestant on a quiz show at the urging of her paralyzed son, Bill.
Ariel Font is conversation, Italics are Oleta’s thoughts and memories, Ariel Black is TV broadcast.
Image via Wikipedia
“Sharita Kuwaite! Follow me out to the stage.”
“Okay, Sam. Okay, you guys. Wish me luck.”
“Good luck, Sharita.”
Sharita’s more nervous than she is letting on. Sam is holding her up. Fred’s stupid mistake unnerved her, too. I wonder where they took Fred. Do they just haul you by the arms out to the back alley and dump your limp, ashamed carcass by the trash? Are they merciful enough to shoot you first?
Was it just three weeks ago that I made that call? Bill grinning from ear to ear listening to me apply.
“Why should I apply for a contestant’s spot? We don’t need the money. Your father left us plenty of life insurance.”
“Mom, please try out. I’d be so proud watching you. I’d tell all the nurses, ”Hey, that’s my mom!”
Oh I wish I weren’t here. I wish the accident had never happened. Why couldn’t I be paralyzed and Bill be here. He worked so hard for this moment. I can’t let him down.
“Okay, Mom. What were the Marx brother’s real names?”
“They wouldn’t ask that. That would require multiple answers.”
“What was Groucho Marx’s real name?”
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“Julius.”
“Wonderful. What was John Garfield’s real first name?”
“Julius. And what was Caesar’s real name?”
“Sidney. But let me ask the questions, Mom. You’re the one who needs to learn this stuff.”
“And then my husband told me. No Sharita, you mustn’t eat the egg. The baby will be egg-shaped.”
Total silence from the audience. Harry’s fake-laughing his head off. Kevin’s doing his astonished stare. I feel so sorry for Sharita. People feel uncomfortable hearing anything about another way of life; another type of humor. They just don’t accept anyone different.
Would Bill be too different for them? What topic would Bill have picked? Not old movie stars. If Bill were able to get up and live a normal life, he wouldn’t be an expert on things like that. If he could only move his hands, he’d be playing video games. If he could get up and walk, I guess he would pick sports as his topic, too.
No. If he could get up and walk, he wouldn’t know anything about a daytime quiz show. A twenty-four year old would be busy with a job and family. He wouldn’t be watching television all day with his mother.
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