Throwaways

The Dreaded Pretend Tea Party

THE PAST

Int. bryan's house/Living room (1997) - day

We see Bryan and his wife preparing for their Christmas Eve Dinner. The house is saturated with assorted decorations, with the color red and green(classic colors for the holiday) dominating the palette. Santa figurines are seen bolted and hung on bolts against the wall. Breathing Christmas lights dangling above their living room and different areas of their houses.

Evelynn

Bryan my love, could you be so kind to fetch our Margo from upstairs.

Bryan reveals a clear frown on his face, a frown already recognized by his wife too well.

Bryan

Is it really my turn?

Evelynn

Well I don't see anyone else willing to take your spot now is there?

Bryan scowled at his wife.

Evelynn (cont'd)

What's the matter?

(laughs)

Bryan

Alright, alright.

Bryan drops the Christmas lights he had been fiddling with and stood upright in anger and defeat. He started marching up the stairs and turns to give one last look to his wife.

Bryan (cont'd)

Fine.

EXT. Margo's room - walking

 Bryan had known what he was about to get into. How he loathed whenever it was his turn to fetch his daughter. The steps he made on the wooden stairs as he made his way up, made a loud and audible thump and continued to do so as he made his way to the hallway. This was perhaps, one of his ways to show objection to the chore his wife gave him. But soon the thumps grew softer as he neared towards Margo's room. He stops, takes in a deep breathe and heaves, before turning the knob and pushing the door.

Int. Margo's room

Bryan (V.O)

My daughter's room, as she had coined it, was like paradise, a soft and wonderful bed covered neatly by a blanket designed with cartoon characters. Walls painted light pink, white-painted baseboard that had little flowers designed on them, and every accessory and furniture you could find, match and complimented the color of the entire room. It was a child's dream room, but it wasn't the room that I dreaded the most, nor was it my lovely daughter, it was the tea party.

Bryan (cont'd)

At the center of the room was the plastic kid's table (colored violet surprisingly), and glass teacups and teapots that I objected to give to an 8 year old kid, but Evelynn insisted that she could handle it. I had hated to be the one to fetch my daughter not because I was a bad father, but because she had wanted someone to join her in her tea party every time before going to dinner.

Margo

Hi father, would you like to join me in my tea party with my stuffed animals?

Bryan

Who could say no to you my sweet little peanut?

It was evident that he had wanted to, but saying no meant hurting Margo's feelings, and being scolded by his wife.