Posted on March 31, 2014 at 6:47 pm

State Road 21

The midway of the Iowa State Fair, 9:30am. A fiddle band is playing for the amusement of a few patrons, some of whom are dancing and clapping along while they eat their corn dogs or fried dough or whatnot.

A GIRL SINGER leads the fiddle band, encouraging band members to take solos and audience members to sing along.

GIRL SINGER
Come on, children, and climb in the back seat!
Come on, children, it’s time for some fun!
Get inside, we’re gonna take a ride
On State Road 21!

Come on, children, I filled up the gas tank.
Long way to go before we get done.
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
On State Road 21!

GIRL SINGER AND COMPANY
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
On State Road 21!

Fiddle solo!

MICHAEL is mucking out the stall, dyspeptically, while he complains to the STABLE BOY the next stall over.

MICHAEL
Since 9 p.m., I been sittin’ here,
Just keeping’ my eye on some stupid steer.
That’s how I’m spending’ my Junior year!
But I swear I’m gettin’ wise.

It’s my last time here, I guarantee!
I got other places I’m s’posed to be.
I won’t have my old man ridin’ me
‘Til the day he up and dies.

Oh, oh, what does he know
When his head’s been buried in the ground so low?
Oh, oh, what does he know
About life in the real world?
I said, Oh, oh, what does he know?
My fuse is lit and I’m gonna blow,
‘Cause Oh, oh, I gotta know
About life in the real world.

CAROLYN enters with BUD. She is in a state of near-hysterical anxiety. He regards her longly but warily.

CAROLYN
I got a ringin’ in my ears
And my hands keep shakin’.
I ate seven corn dogs
And I think I might die.
Five more hours
‘Til the final judging.
I can hold it all together
And I will not cry.

Oh God! Do I have a fever?
Oh God, things are startin’ to swirl.
Oh God, I was doin’ so well,
Now they’re all gonna think I’m just a dumb little girl.

Well, oh, oh, what do they know
About what it takes to make a bull calf grow?
Oh, oh, what do they know
About life in the real world?

CAROLYN AND MICHAEL
Oh, oh, what do they know?

CAROLYN
Prob’ly came over from Ohio.

CAROLYN AND MICHAEL
And oh, oh, what do they know
About life in the real world?

GIRL SINGER
Let’s go, baby, and roll by the river
Feel the heat comin’ down from the sun –
Oh oh oh oh
On State Road 21!
Ev’rybody:

The COMPANY joins in the song, including CAROLYN and MICHAEL, both filled with an inchoate longing.

GIRL SINGER AND COMPANY
Oh oh oh oh!
Oh oh oh!
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh!