It’s the night of the dye incident. Redd is sitting in his living room, flipping through a magazine when he hears a soft knocking at the door. He peeks out his window and sees Freeya and Rashad standing there.
REDD answering the door: Rashad and Freeya, what are you two doing here? Do your parents know that you’re out at this time . . .
FREEYA rushing Redd for a hug: Mr. Redd, you’re okay! We had to check.
RASHAD also hugging Redd: Thank you for what you did for me at the park. Pauses, looks Redd up and down. Wait a minute. You’re back to being brown!
REDD: Since the day I was born, and, if God and apparently Mayor Ellerby willing, until I die. Come in. Rashad and Freeya step inside the entryway. Redd closes the door. They walk into the living room.
FREEYA: But how? I mean, what happened to the dye? We saw you turn green.
REDD chuckles: Turns out the dye wasn’t permanent. The color started to fade 15 minutes after I was injected. Three hours later it was totally gone, and I was back to my normal shade of sienna.
RASHAD: I bet the Mayor doesn’t know that.
REDD: Not yet but she’ll know it soon. I imagine Ms. Lund will have faded by now too.
As if on cue, Ms. Lund knocks on the door and calls out: Oh, Redd, are you there Redd?
REDD: Speak of the devil. Redd goes to open the door but hesitates. Anyone with you Ms. Lund? How about that lover boy of yours Dr. Morel?
Freeya and Rashad snicker.
MS. LUND: It’s just me. I haven’t seen Dr. Morel since earlier today at the park.
Redd opens the door.
MS. LUND standing in the doorway: Besides, Dr. Morel is notmy, as you say, lover boy. I’ll have you know . . .
FREEYA calling out from the living room: We saw the eyes you were giving the Doc, Ms. Lund.
RASHAD: Yeah, what was all that – If the doctor says it’s safe, it must be safe – crap?
MS. LUND: Ian and I are simply colleagues. I trust his expertise.
Rashad: You trust his expertise in turning people green? Damn, that’s messed up on so many levels. Shakes his head. Freeya giggles.
Ms. Lund moves into the living room where Freeya and Rashad can see her. Freeya and Rashad gasp.
FREEYA: Ms. Lund, you’re still green! But Mr. Redd . . .
MS. LUND: Yes, well, while everyone was distracted, I swiped a few of these. Opens her bag and holds up syringes filled with green liquid. The dye faded after about 3 hours, I injected another.
REDD: But why? Why would you inject yourself with the dye?
MS. LUND: To make sure that it consistently lasts for three hours.
RASHAD: Okaaaay, but?
MS. LUND sighs: I have to explain everything. Remember our plan to surveil the mayor?
RASHAD: I sure do. We surveil then we blackmail. My Freeya here came up with the idea remember? Freeya beams.
MS. LUND: Well, this green dye should help us mask our identities don’t you think? If we are seen, which hopefully we won’t be, people will only be able to tell that it was a light green or dark green person. AND with all the chaos at the park, anyone could have taken these.
REDD: Ms. Lund, I hate to admit it, but I like your style.
FREEYA: Way to go Ms. Lund! Rashad Nods. Ms. Lund blushes.
REDD: How many of those do you have?
MS. LUND: I was only able to swipe six of them.
REDD: Hmm, that’s one each if we include Dorothea and Ralph Watkins.
RASHAD: Mr. Redd you know there is no way Ralph Watkins is going to turn himself green.
REDD: Ha, that’s true. But still, there’s only 6 and they only last for 3 hours. We may need to surveil the Mayor for multiple nights.
FREEYA: I have an idea, Mr. Redd!
RASHAD nodding his head in approval.: My baby always got ideas.
REDD: What is that?
FREEYA: Ms. Lund can convince her colleague-slash-lover boy Dr. Morel to make some more!
RASHAD: Oh, that’s a good idea!
MS. LUND: Now wait a minute! I told you, Dr. Morel and I are only colleagues. How am I supposed to convince him to make more?
REDD: Well, Ms. Lund, why don’t you give him some of your cookies?
FREEYA: Yeah, Ms. Lund! Give him some . . . cookies. Rashad and Freeya burst out laughing.
MS. LUND: I swear you young people these days. How inappropriate.
REDD: Come on Ms. Lund, lighten up. This may work. And because Dr. Morel is, you know, white, you can let him have more than one!
The group dissolves in laughter with Ms. Lund shaking her head in disapproval.
Author’s note: Cookies are a euphemism for, um, you know. I’ve always found it interesting that humans have trouble calling “lady parts” by their actual names. See there? Even I can’t do it and I’m a lady most days. We are, however, very creative in coming up with alternative names for female organs. Some great, some innocent (like cookies), some outright terrible. I wonder if it’s a result of sexism or prudeness or both?
The World We Live In Now 