Iowa Aftermath

A Short Play

Characters:
NESTOR, a man
MICKIE, a woman
WAITRESS, a young woman

Lights up. The Blue Bird Diner in Iowa City, Iowa. It’s afternoon. NESTOR and MICKIE are sitting at a table, just finishing lunch.

NESTOR
…That was good. You’ve been here before?

MICKIE
I used to come here when I was a student.

NESTOR
When did you start going to Iowa? After…?

MICKIE
No, before. Semester before.

NESTOR
Iowa. Funny word. Four letters and three syllables. (MICKIE smiles.) Before I came here I never understood the appeal of the Midwest. Especially, when we had California, which, if you don’t mind me bragging has everything.

MICKIE
I know. He was a Californian. He loved it there.

NESTOR
And yet he came back here with you. Followed you back. Even after you broke up…

MICKIE
Yes. He loved it here too. The change of seasons. The amazing sunsets.