Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Written by
Sean Hood
MS. DABCHICK
2.
MS. DABCHICK
A present? What... for?
NIGEL
Its-just-that-that-it-its-justthat-its-just-that-that...
MS. DABCHICK
Nigel. Breathe.
NIGEL
(deep breath)
This is my favorite class. I-neverthough-really-that-I-could...
(deep breath)
I never thought I could do math
before, but-the-way-you-teach-it,
its-easy-for-the-first-time...
(deep breath)
I feel smart. Like Im not the dumb
kid in the back row anymore. I
wanted to thank you.
Ms. Dabchick blinks and then sits back. She looks genuinely
touched. She even smiles, despite herself.
MS. DABCHICK
Nigel, I dont know what to say.
Youre more than welcome. And,
youre not dumb at all. Youre one
of my best students this semester.
Nigel breaks into a tentative, hopeful grin. He looks up
eagerly to see his teacher start to unwrap the paper.
NIGEL
You know its crazy. Sometimes I
actually dream about trig.
MS. DABCHICK
(laughing)
Oh come on. You do not.
Ms. Dabchick picks at the wrapping paper but has trouble
finding a place to tear.
NIGEL
No. I do! I dream about periodic
functions and graphing the sine
wave. But then the sine wave
becomes water. Flowing dark water.
Ms. Dabchick lifts up the present. Its surprisingly heavy.
3.
NIGEL (CONTD)
There are variables and radians and
identities-floating-in-the-water
like-a-viscous-mathematical-fluid.
Ms. Dabchick tears open the paper. Something shifts inside
the plane brown box and makes squishy sound.
She touches the lid of the box, but hesitates.
NIGEL (CONTD)
And-I-am-swimming-in-the-numbersswiming-in-the-liquid-and...
(deep breath)
YOURE-there-too-swimming-with-meand-were-so-happy-together...
Abruptly, Ms. Dabchick pushes the box away without opening it.
MS. DABCHICK
Nigel, I cant accept this.
Suddenly, Nigel darkens. Stares back down at his shoes, his
voice now deeper, his words clear and clipped.
Why not?
NIGEL