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Scene 2

At Rise:

(L-shaped kitchen, with a bar and barstools. Aaron is sitting at one, working on homework. His mother is in the kitchen, making dinner. Aaron is stony faced, and his mother is lecturing him.)

Aaron's Mother

Your silence is unacceptable Aaron, this is serious.

Aaron

I don't want to talk about it.

Aaron's Mother

Do you realize what your life will be like? If you don't change this sick fetish, you'll die poor and alone. You'll be unemployable, and you'll never be able to keep a roommate or friends. Is that what you want?

Aaron

It's not a fetish, it's a lifestyle, and it's who I am.

Aaron's Mother

Your "lifestyle" is incompatible with society. What do I have to do to get you to see that?

Aaron

My friends don't think I'm weird, certainly not freaky or-

Aaron's Mother

Anyone that doesn't say you're a freak is lying, or wants to see you fail.

(Aaron clenches his fist, but keeps his head down.)

I can't believe they brainwashed you like that. But you were always susceptible. Needy. You could never make it on your own. You have to stop this, Aaron.

Aaron

Stop what? Being who I am? I already do that. I act like you want, I never push for what I want or say what I think is right.

Aaron's Mother

What you want is temporary, unimportant in the end. You get bad grades, and are addicted to devices. That anti-gaming program seems to have had no effect.

(Aaron shudders.)

You never listen to me.

Aaron

You never listen to me, either. I tried to explain furriers to you, but as always, you already have your own opinion, and there is no way to change it.

Aaron's Mother

It's not my opinion; it's based on the research I did on the internet. According to some of the articles I've read, it's a depraved and violent sub-culture.

Aaron

Where did you read that, VICE Magazine?

Aaron's Mother

I don't have to justify myself to you. You never listen to me, or agree. That's all I want, for you to agree with my views. I'm trying to help you fix the parts that they ruined. But you're spoiled. When I was a kid...

(Her voice fades, and the kitchen becomes dark. The light focuses on Aaron.)

Aaron

(Aside)

I'm not that different. Sexually, yes, but not otherwise. My grades are better, mostly A's and B's. I read, watch TV, I would go outside if she would let me, I like games, but I'm not an addict. I have friends, I'm likeable. I view myself differently, identify in another way, but I'm still like everyone else, I am compatible. But so few can see past the differences, or forget the stereotypes...

(The lights return to normal, Aaron's mother is audible again, still ranting.)

Aaron's Mother

...they changed you, made you like this. Why couldn't you

like girls the way normal guys do? But oh-no, you had to get hooked up with Dan, or whatever his name is. What has he ever done for you? I don't know what you see in him, you think he loves you? I bet he'd screw his dog.

(Aaron's brow furrows, and his jaw tightens)

But that's what you do isn't it, you sick animal rapists.

(Aaron quickly stands, glares angrily at his mother, and slams his fist on the counter.)

Aaron

(Yells)

His name is Dave, and we are mated, not that I expect you to understand the significance of that statement, especially since you don't seem to care about my identity at all. We are not animal rapists, or sodomites, or whatever else you or "society wants to call us. We are furs, and we aren't the rare freaks you think we are. I may be human on the outside, but just because I view myself as a wolf doesn't mean people have the right to judge me. And also, I'm the only canine Dave will be "screwing", as you so pleasantly put it. I didn't expect agreement, but I did hope for some form of acceptance. This is who I am, and I cannot and will not change.

(He storms out of the room, tears in his eyes, but rare look of triumph as well. His mother looks surprised at the unexpected outburst, but recovers.)

Aaron's Mother

We shall see about that.