SCENE: Mr. Robbins opens the front door and steps inside the entry hall of the Robbins house. He shouts down the hallway.

Mr. Robbins: Hey, Gav, where are you?

Gavril: Hi, Dad. You’re early. I’m in my room, doing my math homework. I’ll be right there.

Mr. Robbins: Don’t hurry. I’ll get myself a beer, but I do need to talk to you when you’re ready.

(Gavril hurries out of his room toward the kitchen, followed by two dogs. A cat that was in the hallway scurries ahead of them.)

Gavril: You look awfully serious, Dad. What’s up?

Mr. Robbins: Sit down. I’ve got something to tell you and a few questions to ask. I haven’t decided whether it’s good news or not, yet.

Gavril: O.K., what’s up?

Mr. Robbins: Well, first of all, you’ve turned fourteen already. It’s hard to believe that you’ve been here for five years. I’ve been watching how much you’ve grown and how quickly you’re turning into a young man. I’m supposed to be checking you regularly to make certain that you haven’t matured enough that the law demands that you be castrated. I’m afraid to check.

Gavril: That’s O.K. I know it’s going to happen. I know I’ll have to be castrated soon. I’m ready when it happens.

Mr. Robbins: It’s just that I never want it to happen, even though I know that law requires it. Your next appointment with Dr. Pyle is in less than a month, and if he decides that you’ve reached that stage, he has to cut off your testicles before you can even leave his office.

Gavril: I’m ready, and I know I’m going to be castrated when I see him. I’ve already marked the date on my calendar. It’s going to happen three weeks from tomorrow. My appointment’s at 11 o’clock. I should be castrated about lunchtime. Dr. Pyle will castrate me then. That’s just the way it has to be.

Mr. Robbins: I’m afraid it is. You know that I’ve already filed all the papers to free you on your eighteenth birthday. I’d do it today if the law allowed it.

Gavril: I know you would, Dad. And, you know I love you and I would stay right here to be with you.

Mr. Robbins: That part I may be able to do something about. I think I’ve found a way to free you right now.

Gavril: That would be great, but I don’t really need for it to happen. What would it change?

Mr. Robbins: Well, you’d be able to go to school with all of your friends, instead of just seeing a tutor a couple of times a week. You’d have a much better social life. You could be on the school tennis team, rather than just playing with Daniel and some of the other guys at the country club on weekends. In two years you’d be able to get a driver’s license, which you can’t do as a houseboy. You can go on to college.

Gavril: And you wouldn’t have to be “Dad’s Taxi Service” once I turn 16. That would be an advantage.

Mr. Robbins: It requires three things, all of which you need to agree to.

Gavril: O.K., what are they?

Mr. Robbins: First, you would need your surgery now, rather than waiting until the last minute when the law requires it. It would need to be voluntary, rather than forced.

Gavril: That’s not a problem. It’s going to happen soon anyway. What’s a couple of weeks early? Today would be O.K. if the vet has time. Dr. Marshall let me watch when she castrated Rusty last month. She knows that I’ll need to be castrated some day and she wanted to show me how simple it was. She said she’s only had to castrate a couple of houseboys, but that it’s not much different than a dog like Rusty. She’s a great vet. She can do me.

Mr. Robbins: I figured you say that. You’ve kept your balls for five years since you knew they’d eventually have to be cut off. That was the easy one. Second requirement is that you be circumcised. Are you willing?

Gavril: What! I know babies are circumcised, but my age?

Mr. Robbins: It would certainly be painful and take a couple of weeks to heal. Healing would be faster than castration, though. Do you understand what’s involved?

Gavril: Of course, Daniel is circumcised.

Mr. Robbins: How do you know that?

Gavril: First, he’s been my best friend for the five years I’ve been here. Second, both you and Mrs. Silver used to drop the two of us in the bathtub whenever we came in covered in mud. I’ve seen him nude often enough. We were both curious about the difference between us. I think you’re even the one who explained it when we asked.

Mr. Robbins: O.K., are you willing to be circumcised as part of getting free four years early?

Gavril: Do you want me to be circumcised?

Mr. Robbins: I hope that you’ll be willing to be.

Gavril: Since they’ll be cutting on me anyway, why not? When do I get it done? It’s probably too late for that much cutting today. Tomorrow? Can an animal vet do that?

Mr. Robbins: No. Since I figured we could always cancel the appointment, I’ve already scheduled time with Dr. Pyle for next Monday morning. That’ll give you the weekend to masturbate as much as you want. You won’t be able to for at least a couple of weeks after your surgery.

Gavril: (Turning bright red) Masturbate?

Mr. Robbins: Oh, come on. We’ve talked about it. I know you’re a growing boy. Of course you do. At least once a day, and probably more. Especially since you’ve always known that you might have to be castrated some day. Don’t worry about it. It’s perfectly normal for any boy. I’d worry if you didn’t. Now, though, for the third condition. The hardest one.

Gavril: Uh oh. What’s that?

Mr. Robbins: You know that you’re not legally an adult until your eighteenth birthday. That’s why it’s normally impossible to free a slave until that age. You have to be legally adopted so that you have a family to take care of you.

Gavril: Uhhhh. What does that really mean?

Mr. Robbins: It means that you have to agree to let me adopt you so that you’re legally my son.

Gavril: Yes! Yes! I call you dad. I love you as my dad. You already are my dad. Legally? Yes! I love you. (Jumping up and hugging Mr. Robbins)

Mr. Robbins: That’s what I hoped. You’ve been my youngest son almost from the day you arrived here. It’s nice to make it legal. I love you too. (Hugging Gavril)

Gavril: Does all of the family know about this?

Mr. Robbins: They all know that you’re already part of the family. They won’t be surprised that I’m planning to adopt you. They’ll be happy to have you as a new little brother.

Gavril: I hope you’re right.

Mr. Robbins: That does give me an idea, though. Let’s not tell any of them just yet. Ruth and her family will be here for a visit next month. I want to watch when you tell Jarrod that, even though he’s a month older than you, you’re now his uncle!

Gavril: That should be fun…. But, it might be even more fun to watch Aunt Ruth when I tell her that I’m now her baby brother.

(SCENE: Daniel Silver’s bedroom. Daniel is sitting at his desk, staring at a paper and tapping his pencil against it. His brow is furrowed as he shakes his head. The door suddently opens and Gavril bursts into the room.)

Gavril: Hey Daniel, I’ve got great news!

Daniel: Don’t you ever knock?

Gavril: Ahhh, you’re just doing your homework, not jackin’ off….

(Daniel throws his pencil at Gavril, who catches it)

Gavril: You don’t knock at my house either….

Daniel: Yeah, I guess you’re right. I was just in the middle of this math problem and now I’ll have to start all over.

Gavril: Do you want me show you how to do it?

Daniel: No, I can do it. It’s just a nasty one. Mrs. Kennedy is really pushing us.

Gavril: I know, I just finished them as Dad got home.

Daniel: You’re finished!

Gavril: Well, I started as soon as you called to tell me what problems she’d assigned. They took about a half hour.

Daniel: I’ve been at it for nearly an hour and I’m only on number two. Mrs. Kennedy doesn’t do very good at explaining things.

Gavril: Well, maybe I can find out first hand….

Daniel: What do you mean?

Gavril: Dad said he’s found a way to free me before I’m 18 and I’ll be able to go to school with you.

Daniel: Hey! That’s great!

Gavril: Yeah. If I can go to school, maybe I’ll get Mrs. Kennedy too.

Daniel: She’s awfully hard. Maybe you can get someone else.

Gavril: No, I like math. The harder, the better.

Daniel: Hey! If you’re gonna be free, you get to keep your balls! That’s really great news.

Gavril: No, I get my balls cut off on Monday morning. It’s already set. Dad made the appointment today. Dr. Pyle will castrate me then.

Daniel: No…….! You’ve still got time. I’ve saved the money I got from my bar mitzvah. I’ve got a couple thousand to help you escape. I bet that all your friends can come up with another grand or so. You can make it.

Gavril: No, Daniel. I’m not going to try to run away. Dad even told me where he had stashed some money “just in case his plane is delayed” or if something happens to him and he can’t get home for some reason. At least that’s what he said. I know it was just in case I decided to run. He’s shown me where he has almost ten thousand for me to use. But there’s no way I’d ever try. I lost my whole family once. I never want that to happen again. Even if I managed to run away and not get caught, that’d mean that I’d never be able to see Dad again. I’d never see you again. Friends and family are worth a lot more than my balls. I’d like to keep them, but they’d cost too much. They’ll be cut off on Monday.

Daniel: But…. but….

Gavril: No, I’m staying with Dad. I’d never think of anything else. I’ll be castrated on Monday….