I was fourteen. For some reason, my gui...

I was fourteen. For some reason, my guidance counselor took an interest in me. Who knows what she saw in me – wearing Barry’s hand-me-down rugby shirts... But she entered me in a local beauty pageant. Bought me a nice dress, and some makeup and everything. Got me all dolled up....

(Beat)

It’s a silly story. (Pax tells her to "go on")

(Beat)

Well, the night of the pageant came – and she tried to get my dad there. But of course he wouldn’t... And then...I won. I won. I couldn’t believe it. And they gave me this tiara. I remember getting home and being so proud – and there was Dad, sitting on his Lazy-Boy, watching something funny on TV, 'cause he was laughing – just really in a good mood. Well, I just waited, patiently, until the commercial. Then I walked up to him, tapped him on the shoulder, ever so lightly, and showed him my tiara – my crown.

(Beat)

And this part, I’ll never forget, he actually smiled at me – he touched my face – and he said “Are you my Miss America? Are you my little Miss Universe?” At that moment, I had his attention. He was looking right at me. And I remember, thinking it was really weird, because I’d never noticed how blue his eyes were before.

Sourced from the author's website Monologue Genie