Zoe and Marcy are outside the house loading luggage into the back of the car. Zoe is upset and Marcy grows frustrated with her daughter’s arguing.

Zoe: This is so unfair!

Marcy: Zoe, it’s a weekend with your family.

Zoe: A long weekend—

Marcy: It’s not a prison sentence.

Zoe: Then may I please state my case before the court?

Marcy: Zoe, stop being cheeky.

Zoe: Aggggh! Why do I have to go too?

Marcy: Zoe, we’ve discussed this already.

Zoe: But Mom—

Johnny walks in carrying a large suitcase.

Johnny: No buts. Unless it’s yours in the car.

Zoe: Why do we have to go to Grandma’s for the long weekend? It’s not Easter or Christmas. I wanted to go to the beach with my friends and Ashley was going to have a slumber party on Saturday.

Johnny: It’s important to spend time with family.

Zoe: Yeah, that’s why we do it on designated holidays.

Johnny: Your friends will be there when you get back on Tuesday.

Zoe: And Grandma won’t?

Marcy: Zoe!

Zoe: What? Is this all ‘cause of grandma, ‘cause she’s getting, you know…?

Johnny: Yes, your grandmother is getting on in her years. She may not be around for much longer so it’s important you spend time with her while you can.

Zoe: Why is it always about me spending time with her when you don’t?

Johnny tenses and Marcy interjects.

Marcy: Sweetheart, you also get to spend time with your cousins.

Zoe: Oh yippee, the Wild Williams clan.

Johnny: I thought you liked spending time with Uncle Marcus’s kids.

Zoe: The Scooby bunch?

Marcy laughs.

Marcy: Don’t let them hear you say that. Especially Uncle Marcus.

Zoe: He named his kids Wilma, Daphne, Fred, and Shane.

Johnny: I’m just glad his ex-wife was able to talk him out of naming the last one Shaggy.

Marcy: Oh, he was never going to name Shane ‘Shaggy’. Stop teasing.

Johnny: Ruh-roh, rorry honey.

Zoe laughs but Marcy gives her a warning look.

Marcy: And can we please call her Grace and not ‘ex-wife’?

Johnny: They were married, now they’re not. What should I call her then? The recently departed Mrs Williams?

Marcy: John!

Johnny: Oh, she was a pain. I don’t know what Marcus saw in her. The two should have never—

Marcy: That’s not our place. You talk like that this weekend, and you and Marcus will be arguing before we pull into the driveway. Every time, I barely have time to switch off the engine before you two are at each other’s throats.

Zoe: You’re so judgy.

Johnny: I heard that.

Marcy: Just try to play nice this weekend, please, for your mom’s sake.

Johnny: Yes, we would hate to make Mom upset.

Silence.

Marcy: Look, we have a long drive ahead, let’s just go.

Johnny gets into the car. Zoe turns to her mom.

Zoe: Dad doesn’t even seem to like his family. Why is he forcing us to go all the way out to Grayville if he doesn’t even wanna go?

Marcy: Honey, it’s complicated. Please just be supportive of your dad. Things may be a bit tense this weekend.

Zoe: Why?

Marcy: Just ‘cause…grown-up stuff. Best behaviour, OK?

Zoe: Fine.

They get into the car and drive off.

Tell us: Have you ever been reluctant to visit your relatives? How did your other family members respond?