Bearding the Lion, Part Two
Originally posted on August 31, 2008
Kenzo: What did you say to Kaida?
Dolores: You. Spare me the Galahad act. I have nothing to say to you.
Kenzo: Maybe I have something to say to you.
Dolores: Which assumes I would consent to listen.
Kenzo: Or that you even know how to.
Dolores: Don’t get disrespectful with me, young man. I know your kind.
Kenzo: My “kind” …….that’s just plain crazy. You don’t know the first thing about me.
Dolores: I know all I need to know.
Kenzo: Oh, right. I think you enjoy this. You like having everyone keep their distance, tiptoe around you like the world would come to an end if they crossed you. Well, we call that something where I come from – we call it being a bully…..
Kenzo: But guess what? You can’t bully me. You got nothing to threaten me with. I don’t live here, I don’t work here, and I couldn’t care less if you’re happy or mad or gone. You can sit here in your little lion’s den and roar at whoever you want; doesn’t make a lick of difference to me. But when you mess with Kaida, you mess with me.
Dolores: And that would be the problem, wouldn’t it? You’ve got the girl so addlebrained she can’t think for herself. She’s so busy pleasing you, she doesn’t even bother showing up for work.
Kenzo: That’s unfair and you know it. Kaida knows her mind, and she honors her commitments. Bet you didn’t even ask her why she was late today. For your information, she was delayed because she was helping a friend out.
Dolores: By playing in the park? Oh, I’m sure she was being very helpful. “Helping” you enjoy your visit, putting you first all the time. And for what? So you can take off after a few weeks and leave her to pick up the pieces here, try to repair what’s left of the rest of her life when you take yourself back out of it?
Kenzo: Now wait a minute! Just because I can’t be here with her very often doesn’t mean I don’t care what happens to Kaida. If anything, I’m even more concerned when I’m at home.
Dolores: I am sure she swallows that line of malarkey, but I don’t. You’re out for what you can get and damn the consequences. You’re all alike.
Kenzo: *confused* Something tells me we’re not in Kansas anymore. *thinks*….. And this isn’t even about me………….
*Kaida and Jeremiah burst in at this point*
Kaida: Kenzo, can I….I need to talk to Dolores alone.
Kenzo: You sure you really want to?
Kaida: Yes. It’s okay.
Kenzo: I’d feel better if…
Kaida: Now see? That’s why I love you……… I won’t be long. I’ll be back out to talk to you in a few minutes.
Kenzo: OK, but I’m just a shout away.
Jeremiah: Me too.
*Kenzo and Jeremiah exit*
Kaida: I’m not going to work my shift today after all. Just thought I’d let you know that.
Dolores: I expected as much. Believe me, I’m used to such “disappointments.”
Kaida: Last time I made you angry, Asher told me you were likely to quit if I did it again. Well, I’m not going to give you cause to do that to him. They need you here at the theater. If anyone has to go, I will.
Dolores: Makes no difference to me what you do. I leave or stay according to what I think is best. Your little “sacrifice” would be pointless.
Kaida: Then maybe I’ll just stay away from Wardrobe. I learned a lot here, and working with you was actually pretty fun, but I still have plenty more I could learn about how this place operates. There are lots of areas where I can lend a hand. I told you before, if I mess up, I don’t mind doing what has to be done to make up for it, but I’m not going to beat myself up trying to satisfy someone who never is. I’ll try to stay out of your way.
Dolores: That may be for the best; however, I doubt it’s possible. Good day, Miss Sasaki.
Kaida: ‘Bye, Dolores.
To be continued…..