This play was written by Lisa Sherrin, Transition Year student at Sancta Maria College, Ballyroan as part of the Tenderfoot programme at the Civic Theatre in Tallaght. ‘A Family Affair’ tells the story of Rachel and Lisa. They are cousins and used to be best friends. That is until Rachel returned from Tokyo and enrolled at Lisa’s school. Set between the computer room, Lisa’s bedroom and Mrs. Collins’ art room this story of friendship and betrayal comes to a head at Rachel’s 15th birthday party. Below is an excerpt from ‘A Family Affair’.

Takes place in hallway on the first day back, Friday. A group of three girls are sitting on centerstage left chattering about their holidays. A guy stands reading his timetable on upstage right. Lily enters dressed in jeans and a hoodie from the opposite side and they nod as a greeting to one another. The guy exits where he entered. Lily walks slowly downstage and stands waiting, gazing into space. Enter Anna dressed in skinny jeans and a designer top on upstage right.

Anna: Running over to Lily. Lily, over here, Lily.

Lily: Turns around and runs to embrace her. Oh my God, hey Anna how’s life? 

Anna: I’m great. It’s so good to see you again. 

Lily: How was Mayo? How did you survive in the rainy country for the whole summer?

Anna: Ugh don’t remind me. Eight weeks of hell. 

Lily: It can’t have been that bad. 

Anna: Torrential rain, no signal, no internet and no shops. I think I’ll   have to go see a counselor about this traumatic experience. 

Lily: Laughs. Really?! 

Anna: Total. Boredom. Even better now we have to deal with the teachers going on about the Junior Cert. 

Lily: Aw, stop.

Anna: Well anyway, what about you, any news? 
 
Lily: Nothing much up with me. Dublin didn’t do much while you were gone. Oh, but guess what? My cousin Rachel is moving to this school. I’m so excited, we were best friends until she moved to Tokyo when I was eight. I haven’t talked to her at all since then.

Anna: Was she in registration yesterday? I might have seen her.

Enter Rachel on upstage right dressed in a Ralph Lauren top and jeweled jeans and dubes. She smiles and flirts with the four guys passing.

Lily: No, she wasn’t. I don’t even know if she’ll be in today. Looks behind her to see Rachel. Wait a sec.  Lights up with excitement. I think that’s her over there wearing the pink Roxy bag.

Anna: Wow, she doesn’t even look lost. Ok act normal you don’t want to totally freak her out.

Lily: Hey, Rachel. Lily starts waving frantically and trots over. .

Rachel: O. M. G. You’re all grown up. Slightly sarcastically. I never expected that to happen.

Lily: Laughs.  It’s been so long. I’ve missed you so much. I can’t believe we’re going to be in the same school. But you have to tell me, what’s Tokyo like? Lily throws her arms around Rachel, startling her. Rachel looks less excited and gives a disapproving look at her clothes then turns her attention to Anna. .

Rachel: Says dismissively.  It’s practically the same as Ireland, just filled with Asians and slightly taller buildings. But who’s your friend? I don’t believe we’ve met. I love your top. It’s so cute. .

Anna: Oh thanks. I’m Anna. .

Rachel: Oh I haven’t heard about you, have you been friends for long? .

Lily: We’ve been best friends since we were eight.

Rachel: Oh sorry, I guess Lily just forgot to mention you. Blondes you know. Well, anyway do you know if I’m in your class? .

Anna: No clue. Do you know which class you’re in? We’re in 3A1. We’ve got Mrs. Simmons. Pause.  She looks like a crazy cat lady.

Rachel: Oh yeah, I have her. So I guess I’m in your class then. What are the people like? What clique are you in.

Anna/Lily: Clique?!

Rachel: Looks at them with disbelief and shakes her head. Yeah, you know gangs of certain types of people… you know like…geeks, emos, D4s, queen bees etcetera. Pauses as they stare at her. Do you even know what I’m talking about.

Lily: What the hell?! We know what you mean but like… this isn’t America. It’s not like Mean Girls.

Anna:  Yeah, there’s nothing like that here. We just hang out with the people we’re closest to. But we don’t label each other or anything like that.

Lily: But there are some people that are just best avoided.

Rachel: That’s what I meant. I don’t want people to get the wrong idea, seeing me hanging out with someone who looks like they got dressed in the dark. You know what I mean.

Lily: Right sure. Bell rings, girls start to exit on downstage left.

Anna: Ugh, so the torment begins. Pulls out her timetable.  History first class. Whines. Ugh huh huh, is it possible to actually die of boredom.

Lily: In history it probably is.