Tags:
Drama,
Canada,
Marriage,
Canadian,
Children,
Parenthood,
affairs,
Career women,
parent-teacher,
Jordi Mand,
female playwrights
it.
TERESA
Itâs north. Itâs a smaller school.
MARION
And how long were you there for?
TERESA
Two years.
MARION
Why did you move here?
TERESA
I had wanted to teach here since I graduated.
MARION
And you managed to sneak your way in?
TERESA
I didnât sneak my way into anything. Itâs quite difficult to find a position at a school like this.
MARION
Iâm sure there are all kinds of positions out there forâ
TERESA
There arenât. I know people whoâve been on a waiting list for years⦠and thatâs just to supply. Some of my classmates are serving tables just toâ
MARION
Well, youâre young. Iâm sureâ
TERESA
Iâm not that young.
MARION
No? You look it.
TERESA accidentally knocks her pencil off the desk. She begins to search for it. As she does, MARION reaches to the floor and grabs it.
MARION looks at TERESA and extends her arm to offer the pencil. TERESA takes it from her.
TERESA
Thanks.
They look at one another for a moment.
Mrs. Siller, do youâ¦
MARION
Do Iâ¦
Beat.
TERESA
Do you have any more questions? About Alex, perhaps⦠about his report card?
MARION looks at her.
MARION
No. No, I think Iâve taken up enough of your time.
MARION stands and places her binder on the desk. She puts her glasses back in the case. She walks to the back of the room to collect her things.
I appreciate you sneaking me in, Miss Stewart. I know itâs been a long day.
TERESA
Itâs my pleasure.
MARION
Iâm sure.
TERESA notices MARIONâs binder on her desk.
TERESA
You forgot yourâ
MARION
Itâs funny thoughâ¦
Beat.
You seemed surprised to see me.
Beat.
TERESA
Surprised?
Beat.
MARION
Yes. When I first walked in. You seemed⦠surprised.
TERESA
I just wasnât expecting you.
MARION
Why? Because we didnât have a time slot?
TERESA
You had a time slot.
MARION
No, I donât think we did. Thatâs why I tried to catch you at the end of the day.
TERESA
Everyone received a time slot.
MARION
Iâm telling youâ
TERESA
I was told you wouldnât be coming.
MARION
You were?
TERESA
Yes. That neither you or your husband would be coming this term.
MARION
And⦠who told you that?
TERESA
Alex.
MARION
How would Alex know whether we were coming or not? Thatâs not something we would discuss with him.
TERESA
Sometimes the only way I know if parents are coming is if their child lets me know.
MARION
You should have checked with one of us.
TERESA
I did.
MARION
You didnât check with me.
TERESA
No. I checked with your husband.
MARION
With my husband?
TERESA
Yes. He was picking Alex up one afternoon so I asked him to confirm⦠he said that the two of you knew about the interviews but wouldnât be coming.
MARION
You said Alex told you.
TERESA
Alex told me initially but I checkedâ
MARION
With my husband. Yes and⦠when was this?
TERESA
When?
MARION
Yes. When did you check with him?
TERESA
About a week ago.
MARION
So⦠last week?
TERESA
I believe so, yes.
Beat.
MARION
Tell me⦠why is it that my husband seems to be the only one receiving information from you?
TERESA
I donât believe thatâs true.
MARION
No? You said that my husband knew about the interviews. Why wasnât I informed?
TERESA
I donât know.
MARION
You donât. You donât have any idea?
TERESA
I left a message on your house line.
MARION
I never received any message from you.
TERESA
Well, I left one. School policy is that we phone parents⦠all parents⦠to let them know about these types of events. Iâ
TERESA walks back to her desk. She rifles through the pages in Alexâs folder.
932-7674. Is that your home number?
MARION
Yes.
TERESA
I left a message on that line.
MARION
This isnât the first time that this has happened. My husband knew about the museum trip last month that he