Getting Tall

[LITTLE GUIDO]
Guido...
Guido...

(Guido rises, looks disgustedly at the ineffective pistol.)

Scraping knees, tying shoes
Starting school, paying dues
Finding there’s no way
We can spend a lifetime playing ball
Part of getting tall

(Little Guido approaches the forlorn figure of Guido.)

Learning more, knowing less
Simple words, tenderness
Part of getting tall

(Little Guido sits with Guido.)

Guido, you’re not crazy; you’re all right
Everyone wants everyone in sight
But knowing you have no one
If you try to have them all
Is part of tying shoes
Part of starting school
Part of scraping knees if we should fall
Part of getting tall

(Little Guido pushes Guido to his feet, gives Guido his baton. Guido looks to the front, as the people in his mind-the Germans, the Italians, Our Lady of the Spa, Necrophorus, La Fleur, Guido’s Mother, Claudia, Carla, the Nun-enter in turn. When they are assembled in their original places, he prepares to “conduct his orchestra," but sees one empty place: Luisa’s.)