twenty-three
23. (10/6/2009)
Uncle Norman is putting together an electric football game on the floor.
BILL
I’m afraid I think far too much about women’s underthings Uncle Norman.
NORMAN
Well that’s natural.
BILL
Is it?
NORMAN
There were days, when I was a youngster, that I wouldn’t leave my bedroom because all I could seem to think about were women’s underthings.
BILL
oh.
…
but not sexy underthings Uncle Norman.
NORMAN
Excuse me?
BILL
I don’t think about lingerie
Teddies.
Crotchless panties or
Sexy bras.
NORMAN
I’m not sure I follow, Billie.
Uncle Norman Looks up.
BILL
Well…
I think of a woman,
and she’s doing laundry,
or,
by now,
she’s completing the process of doing laundry,
And she’ kneeling by her bed,
And she’s pulling out stacks of laundry and
Folding
A pair of cotton panties,
Once light pink
But now they’re beginning to fade. Beginning to get whiter. Beginning to become the thing she didn’t want them to be.
Dull.
NORMAN
Is that all?
BILL
Not in the least.
When she’s done, she picks the stack up
One hand on the bottom
One hand on the top
And she places them into the top of a beautiful oak dresser.
NORMAN
and then.
BILL
sometimes
She’ll sniff the top pair
And make a remark at how sweet they smell.
NORMAN
And?
BILL
and that’s usually it.
NORMAN
that’ where it stops?
BILL
oh no.
That’s where everything starts up again.
She goes back to finishing up laundry and folding faded panties and sniffing them and remarking at how sweet they always seem to smell.
Uncle Norman is concerned.
NORMAN
I think it’s only natural to think about these things when one has lost his parents.
BILL
Oh.
NORMAN
Why don’t you come help me set this up?
BILL
what is it?
NORMAN
an electric football game.
BILL
okay.
NORMAN
Now. Keep your eyes on the pieces.
