Polo .
ARBOR , RIO , & ZEPHYR ( out of the corner of their mouths )
KAIA Well , today ’ s the day . Headed to the big city . ( pause ) It ’ s going to be so different . No towering forests . No winding rivers . No clean air on those cramped subways , that ’ s for sure . I am really going to miss living here . Maybe I ’ ll come back and visit . But … nothing ’ s really up to me at the moment . Mom said we have to pack light . Not much room in our one-bedroom loft , so I … I guess it ’ s time I give these back .
( KAIA holds out the shoebox .)
No !
Not her collection .
All the stuff we gave her .
All of her memories .
Our memories .
ARBOR , RIO , & ZEPHYR
RIO
ZEPHYR
RIO
ARBOR
( KAIA moves downstage center , kneels down , gently puts the shoebox on the ground and opens it . She pulls out a dried leaf and stands back up . She holds the leaf toward ARBOR , who smiles .)
KAIA Arbor , I want to thank you for always having a strong branch for me to climb . A pile of leaves for me to jump in . A sturdy tire swing for Mom and Dad to push me on until I secretly wanted to throw up . ( laughs softly ) You taught me to … to welcome challenges , I guess .
ARBOR Oh , Kaia . You have been a joy in every season . I ’ d do anything for you . Could I give you one last thing ? ( pause ) Kaia ? Can you hear me ?
KAIA This leaf holds a memory of much happier times . I ’ m sure you remember .
How could I forget ?
ARBOR
7