On Washing Cereal Bowls and Other Millennial Matters
A monologue
By Tara Meddaugh
DETAILS
Cast: Female (or male)
Age range: Young adult
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Running time: Approximately 2 minutes
Setting: A kitchen
DESCRIPTION
Amber is in the kitchen of her and her parents’ home, speaking to her mother. She is tired of washing cereal bowls that she is not even using. She reminds her mother that she almost exclusively eats out, thus supporting the economy, and also not creating dirty dishes. She stresses she has matured as a young adult (now out of college and working a full-time job). She has learned the value of using time for what is important and she doesn’t want to squander her time washing dishes.
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AMBER
That is not my cereal bowl, and I’m sorry, but, I don’t want to keep washing dishes that aren’t mine. It’s not because—no, listen, listen, Mom. It’s not because I don’t want to help out. I mean, I would pay you rent, but you said you don’t want me to. It’s just—you keep thinking I’m the one leaving cereal bowls in the sink, and I want you to know, it’s not me. I usually eat out. And that’s a good thing. It’s not a waste of my money, Mom, and I hate when you say that, because, it’s like, you’re not seeing how my generation is trying to fix the economy by supporting it. You know? We have to go to the small businesses to keep them open and give people jobs, and, you know, that could be me owning a restaurant some day, or one of my friends. Actually, Megan just told me she wants to open a gourmet chia seed and oatmeal café. I would totally go there. And you should too, Mom, because it’s so good for you and I’ve never seen you soak chia seeds at home.
(pause)
And you know, the reason I don’t eat cereal here, and create all these dishes that need washing? It’s really because…
(pause)
As I’ve grown up, I think I just kind of realize what’s important in life. And I realize how precious our time is. I know you understand, because this morning you were crying watching that old video of me when I was two and I was watering our tomatoes with the little turquois watering can—END OF EXCERPT
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