Laurels Literary Magazine Spring 2014 | Page 82

Ramona: Oh my goodness Ma! Come on! Roberta: The word of God says in 1st Thessalonians, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” Now come on down for dinner. Roberta goes back downstairs. Ramona rolls herself out of bed and goes into the restroom and washes her hands. A wave of emotions rushes through her thoughts. Ramona: God, I really need your help. Act II Ramona makes her way home from school. Not knowing what to expect from her parents, she anticipates they may embarrass her in front of her boyfriend and her parents. She goes to her room to tries to complete some homework before Zach and his parents come over. The doorbell rings at about six o’clock. Roberta: I’ll get it baby. (Mom is in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on dinner. Dad is sitting in the living room in his recliner reading his Bible.) William: Ok, Momma, I’ll be in there in a minute. Ramona comes to the top of the stairs and begins eagerly running down. Roberta: Mona, don’t run down the stairs like that, you never want a boy to think you’re desperate for them. Ramona slows down. Roberta opens the door and William comes in just in time to meet Zach and his mother at the door. William: Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise. God bless you, young brother! Ramona’s eye buck as those words flow from her father’s mouth. Roberta: Praise God, how do you do, Mrs . . . Zach’s mother: Ms. Isaac, nice to meet you . . . uh . . . Mrs . . . . Roberta: Douglas. Won’t you come in? Zach shakes Ramona’s father’s hand. William: That’s a firm handshake you have there . . . ummm, is it Zachariah? Zach: Yes, sir. You can call me Zach, though. William: Ah . . . yes . . . but you should be called by your biblical name, Zachariah, meaning ‘Yaweh remembers,’ and Isaac, meaning, ‘he laughs!” Ramona puts her head down in shame. Zach has a look of confusion on his face. His mother plasters a fake smile on her face. Zach and his mother come inside the house and William leads them into the living room. 82