Bone Cage by Catherine Banks Read Free Book Online Page A

get tore up. The men say don’t walk around a section you’ve just clear cut. Earl and them say if it makes you feel bad don’t do it. I can’t just walk away… leave things half-dead and dying.
    CHICKY
    Is that why you’re drinking, causing trouble with Merv?
    JAMIE
    Merv isn’t anything. All that is just… something stupid to do.
    What makes you feel better after a sunny afternoon of stripping the top soil off interval land?
    CHICKY
    I certainly don’t go beating up people.
    JAMIE
    Have you looked at Reg’s wife lately? Carol looks like you’ve given her a bruising more than once.
    CHICKY
    Jesus.
    JAMIE
    And you’re worried about what I’m doing to Merv’s kids?
    CHICKY
    Jesus you’ve got some nerve.
    Well, I’m not being the maid of honour for your funeral.
    JAMIE
    I told her you will.
    CHICKY walks out the door.
    You are right, sis, I have some nerve, but it’s shot to hell.
    Nothing another beer won’t fix.
    JAMIE takes a long drink.
    Lights out.
    Â 

Scene 11
    Thursday, early evening, KRISTA is sitting at the table. A garment bag is draped over the table.
    CHICKY comes in from work and half turns to leave when she sees KRISTA.
    KRISTA
    Hi.
    CHICKY
    Hi.
    KRISTA
    I brought your dress. She did a good job hemming it.
    CHICKY looks at her puzzled.
    Jamie told me you’re still gonna be my maid of honour.
    CHICKY
    He did? Oh what the
(fuck)
. Yeah, yeah.
    KRISTA
    Thanks for, you know, saying you’ll do it.
    I think you were right. I should have gone with black heels not
    white sandals with the fuchsia dress.
    CHICKY
    It doesn’t matter.
(trying again)
It’ll look okay. Good.
    KRISTA
    I’m trying so hard to make everything nice.
    CHICKY fiddles with a smoke but doesn’t light it.
    I was talking to Reg’s wife.
    She said something I thought I should tell you.
    CHICKY
    Why would I want to know what she says?
    You’re thinking like a wife.
    KRISTA
    Carol said that at the beginning when Reg started seeing you, she never stopped him because you was in love with him, and you was only fifteen and she couldn’t bear to see you hurt that bad.
    CHICKY
    What’s that supposed to mean?
    KRISTA
    She was being nice.
    CHICKY
    What are you telling me that for?
    KRISTA
    Don’t you want to know it?
    CHICKY
    I didn’t say I’d be your maid of honour, but I’ll be your maid of
    honour, but don’t you ever talk to me again!
    KRISTA
    Chicky… Chicky.
    We’re doing the groom’s family pictures here at 2:30.
    You can come get ready at my house if you want.
    CHICKY ignores her. KRISTA leaves.
    Lights down.
    Â 

Scene 12
    Late Thursday night. CHICKY is curled up on the couch, asleep. CLARENCE comes in carrying a well-wrapped parcel ready for the mail. He takes an apple from the sideboard and a large jack-knife from his pocket. He cuts the apple with the knife bringing pieces to his mouth on the knife. He watches CHICKY. He goes to the couch and kneels beside her. He leans into her, laying his hand reverently on her belly.
    As soon as his hand touches her, she wakes and pushes him hard onto the floor.
    CHICKY
    Get the fuck away from me.
    CLARENCE
    Chicky, I need to talk to you.
    She sees the knife.
    CHICKY
    Jesus, what are you doing with that knife?
    What you coming at me with a knife for?
    CLARENCE
    Here.
    He gives the knife to her.
    I wasn’t trying to hurt you. I was sitting at the table eating an apple is all, and I got to thinking about you, Chicky.
    CHICKY
    I
don’t
want you thinking about me.
    How would you like it if I came at you with a knife? Uh? Uh? I’m the one who’s got reason to do it, too.
    CLARENCE
    I was eating an apple, Chicky, that’s all.
    CHICKY
    Couldn’t hold me down that time, so you gonna do it with a knife.
    CLARENCE
    I wasn’t touching you like that that time.
    You thought I was touching you like that?
    CHICKY
    You crawled into my bed.
    CLARENCE
    I was