SCENE opens on a family of three, Mr. and Mrs. Valentine (Dale and Gina) and their daughter Becky, in the driveway of their house. To their side a parked ride-share car and its driver wait with the trunk open. The family is going over the final preparations for their daughter's trip. The daughter is dressed to travel, with two suitcases and some travel bags at her feet, and is loading them into the trunk of the car all the while being fussed over by her attentive parents who are insistent on making sure she's prepared. While the father lectures her on travel safety tips, the mother sporadically asks about whether she's remembered to pack this or that. Even after all the bags are packed and the trunk door closed, the chatter continues until the daughter insists that she's going to miss her flight if she doesn't leave soon, and her parents begrudgingly stop fussing over her and let her get moving. 'But not until we get one last hug as a family,' the father insists, and the daughter happily obliges. She's going to miss them over the next two months, she says as she hugs them tight, but she hopes they have a good time with the new exchange student. The couple exchange a knowing glance, unseen by their daughter, and say they're sure they will. The daughter says her final goodbyes, and hops into the passenger seat of the car. She waves to her parents through the window, and they back to her, as the car starts to pull away. 'It's really happening,' the father says discreetly to his wife as he waves, 'it still doesn't feel real.' 'I know,' the mother agrees, and wistfully asks her husband, '...do you think she'll be okay?' The father puts his other hand on his wife's back and rubs it reassuringly. 'We can't think about that now,' he says as he continues to wave, 'what's done is done. She's not our problem to worry about anymore.' With the car turning out of sight, he drops his waving hand and turns to his wife, clasping her hands. 'Now come on, we have a lot to do before our new daughter gets here.' As he says the words 'new daughter', they both look at each other with nervous excitement, the expression of two people about to do something they've never done before but are clearly looking forward to. They turn to head back to the front door together, holding each other at the waist with an excited spring in their step.

October 27, 2024