Rex Walls: A Short Story

(Rex Walls is in the middle of the stage dressed in worn out jeans and a dirty shirt that has spills of liquor on it. He stands before a putrescent and brunneous couch with armrests covered in small circular burnt spots from the countless cigarettes it put out. Some discarded trash is left around the couch where some dubious flies can be seen. Rex holds a can of beer firmly in his hand to the point where his knuckles become white. He is splenetic and so worn out that he is almost prostrated. His back is rigid, his whole body entirely stiff and his head hangs low. His eyes full of burning fire show the agitation and the torment he is going through. Rex wobbles towards the front of the stage and throws the empty can)

Rex Walls:
(His voice rises as he speaks and he loses his temper …show more content…
How could they? (Pause) How dare they? Accusing my mother like that! The very own woman giving them shelter and food in their bellies. And Lori! The nerve of this girl. I won’t let her keep going on with this attitude. (He returns to a normal volume.) Maybe I should teach her how to respect her elders the hard way since it’s the only way to impose my authority these days. She will get her comeuppance soon to remind her who is in charge. They should all know better. I raised them better than that. Us Walls’s are strong, independent people who don't rely on anybody and take pride in that and we respect our elders no matter what. Nothing should affect them. I can’t believe the kids’ whining. Brian should man up. Does he think he’s the only one to go through it? Does he see me act like a wounded animal? No! We’ve all got it tough. Will I never be able to spread mi wings like a bird and come back to the nest without remorse or hatred from my offspring? Is it too much to ask for me to just get out of Welch for a little bit? Even Atlas wouldn’t be able to bear the burden of taking care of my family. They