It was Christmas Eve. Fog stuck to the tarmac at Lindbergh Field. A young girl, no older than six or seven, stood waiting anxiously next to the bridge opening. Her face and hands were pressed against the large window that overlooked the runway. A tattered stuffed bear lay on the carpet next to her, looking out into the gloominess as well. She and her father had been waiting for nearly two hours hoping the plane carrying her mother would return by midnight. Her father sat in one of the many black chairs being occupied by other relatives to the people on the flight as well. His head hung low between his hands. He was tired; they all were. He checked his watch then looked over to his daughter. She was desperately trying to keep her eyes even the slightest bit open. Eventually she sat down, curling up into a little heap on the terminal floor. Her father rose and walked over, picking her up carefully as not to wake her. He brought her over to the seat he had been in a few moments before and gently lowered her down. The time was 11:42 pm. He was worried. He didn't know where the plane was. He checked his watch again. The time was 11:43.  Rubbing his forehead he paced back and forth within the little rows. Nobody bothered to look up. An announcement suddenly came onto the speakers. It said the radio signals were not picking up. The plane had most likely crashed. The teddy bear fell to the ground. Their mother wouldn't be home for Christmas.

Madeline: Single. Lonely. Desperate to the point where she will do anything for a boyfriend.  She has countless failed relationships from the past (all of them abusive and unhealthy), and is hoping her regular attendance at the speed dating service every Wednesday night will eventually land her a date. She has just enough hope left to not end her life.

Andrew: Single. One of Madeline’s ex-boyfriends. Abusive. Alcoholic. Temperamental.

(Lights go up on Madeline sitting at a table by herself. She has a slight frown on her face. She checks her watch and looks off into the distance for a few seconds, then goes back to staring at the tablecloth.)

Manager: Time to switch it up, people!

(Andrew, hood up and head down, stomps over to the table and violently pulls out the chair. He collapses into it, throws off his hood, and throws his arms in front of him, pulling at the tablecloth with his elbows.)

Andrew: Oh, sh*t! Maddie! (Leans back in chair, rubs eyes, leans back forward) What the hell are you doing here?

Maddie: What– what the– uhh–

Andrew: Jesus! Still can’t talk to me, huh? What the hell, it’s been almost eight months!

Maddie: I know, Andrew. I just– (whispering) what are you doing here?

Andrew: I figured I’d give it a try, seeing how everything else hasn’t really worked out for me.

Maddie: What are you talking about?

Andrew: You know. Ever since you and I… it’s been awful, Maddie. I miss you. And I’m not making stuff up this time, I swear. I–

Maddie: Stop.

Andrew: No, Maddie, listen to me–

Maddie: Stop it, Andrew–

Andrew: (Leans forward and grabs Maddie’s wrist forcefully. His tone changes to a harsh whisper) I’m warning you. Maddie. Interrupt me one more time and I swear to God that I will–

Maddie: (Tries to stand up but is yanked back down by Andrew) Help!

Andrew: God, would’ve thought you’d’ve learned after all those other times. Don’t think we’re over, Maddie. Don’t be stupid.

Manager: Alright everybody! Switch it up!

3 Takeaways From Peers:

Lakynne– “A Father’s Love”: I really like the way you set the story up, focusing on the car accident but at the same time the narrator keeps going back to memories. I thought it was cool how the man says “I have cried exactly twice in my life.” I think that really emphasizes how much he loves Clara. I love the way it ends with the short paragraph on how he believes without a doubt that everyone is wrong and that Clara is still alive, even though through the story it shows that she did die in the car accident.

Francesca– “60 Seconds… Or Not…”: I think it’s cool how you keep switching from the quotes from the dentist to your own thoughts, it worked well and got the point of the story across. I liked how you were teasing yourself about how much you brush your teeth but made it funny at the same time. I think incorporating the sarcasm really helped set the tone.

Brittany– “The New Girl”: I thought you did a really good job of making the narrator sound like a completely self-centered mean girl and showed the way she thinks about things. I like how “the new girl” was repeated throughout the story. I think it was very cool that they ended up being friends at the end because she sounded like she really hated her at the beginning.