David Kastan

“Hi,” David cleared his throat and looked around the room. “Why am I here again?”

Interviewer: “To answer some questions. Is that okay?”

David: “About what?”

Interviewer: “About you.”

That surprised him.

David: “Why? Did I do something wrong?”

Interviewer smiles.

“No, we are just interested in who you are as a person. I’m writing a story about teenagers and I wanted some insight. Is that okay?”

David: “Sure, but I’m not sure I’m the one to talk to. You should ask Sabrina or Naomi. They like to talk.”

Interviewer: “And you don’t?”

David looks uncomfortable.

“I’m just not sure I’m all that interesting.”

Interviewer: “Well, let’s just see about that. Are you ready?”

David nodded.

“Okay.”

Interviewer: “Great. First question. What do you do for fun? Do you play any sports or do any activities?”

David: “Yeah. I play football and hockey.”

Interviewer: “What position?”

David: “Safety and Goalie. I’m kind of stocky, so I’m not as fast as the other guys.”

Interviewer: “Goalie? Wow. That has to be intimidating.”

David: “Well, I wear a lot of padding, so I’m okay. My mom worries about that. She doesn’t like me stopping pucks with my face. I try to explain to her that if I’m doing it right, I don’t use my face.”

They both laugh.

Interviewer: Do you see yourself playing professional sports?”

David rolled his eyes.

David: “No. I’m really not that good. Besides, we have some real jerks on our hockey team and I think I’m going to switch to a travel league next year. I mean if I make it onto the team.”

Interviewer: “They are jerks?”

David nodded.

David: “Yeah. I don’t really ike them. They only seem to care about things I don’t.”

Interviewer: “I see. Do you want to elaborate?”

David looked up.

David: “No. I grew up with a billion girls all around. I don’t like when people are rude.”

Interviewer: “Got it. So what do you see yourself doing in 10 years?”

He was quiet.

David: “I don’t know. I guess working after college and maybe starting a family.”

Interviewer: “Working at what kind of job?”

He shrugged.

David: “I don’t know. Josie has always wanted to be a Soldier, so I know she’s going to head into the Army. Sabrina will be a doctor or something like her parents. Tess wants to be a veterinarian and I know she’ll be great.”

Interviewer: “You have everyone elses lives planned out. You must have an idea of what you like?”

David: “I’m not really all that good in school. The girls are smarter.”

Interviewer: “Is that right?”

David: “Yeah. I like to read and write, but that’s not really important. I suck at math and science bores me. DOn’t tell my Aunt and Uncle I said that.”

Interviewer: “Don’t worry,” they both smiled.

Interviewer: “What about being a teacher?”

His face lit up and then sank.

David: “I hate school. I don’t think I want to spend my life in one.”

Interviewer: “I think it’s different when you’re the teacher. If you’re passionate about something, then teaching it is the best. passionate teachers inspire students. Like your mom.”

David: “Are you a teacher?”

Interviewer: “Let’s just say one made a big difference in my life.”

David: “I don’t know. Maybe.”

Interviewer: “Let’s move on. What are you most worried about?”

David was quiet.

David: “Well, my family has gone through a lot. Tessa was hurt really badly and my Uncle Jack was shot. My Uncle Tommy is also really sick and he almost died. Wait, is that why you’re taking to me? Are you a shrink?”

Interviewer: “No, I promise. I’m a writer and I’m doing research, that’s all.”

David sighed.

“Okay.”

Interviewer: “So what are you worried about? Aside from what just happened.”

David: “I don’t know. I guess I worry about the girls. I haven’t done the best job protecting them.”

Interviewer: “Is that your job?”

David: “Well I am the only boy. Plus, my dad is like the strongest and bravest man in the world. That’s a lot to live up to.”

Interviewer: “Does he pressure you to be like him?”

David: “No. He never pressures me to do anything except be a good person. My mom, too.”

Interviewer: “So why do you think protecting the girls is your job?”

David: “I don’t know, it just is.”

Interviewer: “Okay. So let’s change the subject a little.”

David: “Okay.”

Interviewer: “If you could go back in time to any point in history, where would you go and what would you do?”

David was quiet for a while.

“That’s hard.”

Interviewer: “Why? Is there a famous person you would like to meet?”

He shook his head.

“No.”

Interviewer: “Okay, so what’s wrong?”

David: “Do you ever wish you could change things but then you think that if you did, the rest of the world would be messed up? Like it was some kind of theory we learned about but I don’t really remember it.”

Interviewer: “What do you mean?”

David: “Well, I would go back in time and save my grandpa David and Grandma Juliana. I would make sure they didn’t get into that car and didn’t die. My mom wouldn’t have had to miss them so much and my Uncle Tommy would have been so different.”

Interviewer: “Different how?”

David: “Mom always says he changed after that. He stopped having fun. He lost that part of himself to raise her.”

Interviewer: “Okay, so what’s wrong with going back to stop that?”

David: “Well, Uncle Jack wouldn’t have become as important as he is to us. He would have been alone and he and my Uncle Tommy might never have become the way they are now. There might have been no Aunt Stephanie and probably no Sabrina. That would suck.”

The interviewer laughs.

“So Sometimes bad things have to happen?”

David: “I don’t know. I would also like to go back and meet my dad’s dad.”

Interviewer: “Oh, tell me about him.”

David: “He was a monster and I would have liked to be sure he never hurt my dad. I don’t know how I would have done that, though. My dad had a terrible childhood and I hate that. I think that’s why he tries so hard to be a good dad.”

Interviewer: “Do you talk to your dad about that?”

David: “Not really. He doesn’t like to discuss it. My grandma is in a nursing home and she can’t recognize any of us. She doesn’t even recognize my dad or Aunt Brittany. I think that must be really hard on them. I can’t imagine my mom not knowing who I am.”

Interviewer: “Does you dad talk about her?”

David: “Sometimes. I think he feels badly about things and doesn’t know how to tell me. I wish he would. I can take it.”

Interviewer: “Maybe you should tell him that?”

David shrugged.

“Maybe.”

Interviewer: “Okay, for the last few questions, just answer the first thing that comes to mind, okay?”

David: “Okay.”

Interviewer: “Favorite color”

David: “Purple.”

Interviewer: “Favorite food”

David: “Pizza.”

Interviewer: “Favorite Band:”

David: “Kings of Leon.”

Interviewer: “Winter or summer?”

David: “Winter”

Interviewer: “Cake or ice cream?”

David: “Both”

Interviewer: “Dog or cat?”

David: “Dog.”

Interviewer: “Baseball or basketball?”

David: “Baseball.”

Interviewer: “Thank you so much. I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to me. I hope everyone in your family feels better really soon.”

David smiled.

“Am I gonna be in a book?”

Interviewer: “Maybe. Would you like that?”

David: “Yeah, that would be cool.”

______________________________________________________________________________________

Who would you like to hear from next?

Any character…any questions…