📩 “Shayla Receives Court Mail About Kai’s DNA Test😱

Characters:

Shayla – A young woman who’s been raising her son Kai alone.
Kai – Her 5-year-old son (only referenced).
Tasha – Shayla’s best friend.
Derrick – Shayla’s ex and the alleged father of Kai.
Ms. Harris – Shayla’s mom.
Court Clerk (on the phone)

[Scene: Shayla’s Apartment – Early Afternoon. Mail just arrived.]

Shayla (checking the mailbox):
Hmm… electric bill… junk mail…
(Stops suddenly, sees a government envelope marked "Court-Ordered DNA Test Results – Confidential")
What the hell is this?

[She rips it open, eyes widening. Her hands start to shake.]

[Phone Call – Shayla to Tasha]

Shayla (panicked):
Tasha, girl… I just got a letter from the court. It's about Kai. A DNA test.

Tasha (confused):
Wait—what? What do you mean? Did you file anything?

Shayla:
No! I never even got a call. It says "results enclosed" and there's a court date scheduled next week.

Tasha:
Oh my God. So… wait, is Derrick trying to say he ain't the father—AFTER FIVE YEARS?!

Shayla (voice rising):
I don't know! We haven't talked since Kai’s birthday, and even then, he only dropped off that damn toy truck and left!

Tasha:
Girl, you better call the court or Derrick’s dusty ass right now. He’s playing dangerous games.

[Shayla dials the courthouse number from the letter]

Court Clerk (on the phone):
Family Court Records Office, this is Angela speaking.

Shayla:
Hi, um, my name is Shayla Monroe. I just received a letter regarding a DNA test for my son, Kai Monroe. I had no idea there was even a case.

Court Clerk:
Let me pull that up... [typing] Yes. Case #84231-M. Filed by a Mr. Derrick Langston requesting paternity confirmation for Kai Monroe.

Shayla (quietly):
He filed it behind my back?

Court Clerk:
The filing date was two months ago. You were sent a subpoena, but it was marked as "unserved." That happens sometimes when people move or don't answer.

Shayla (frustrated):
I’ve been at the same address for three years. That’s a lie.

Court Clerk:
Well, the results are in. He submitted DNA voluntarily. So did Kai, under court order. Looks like a lab rep collected the sample from school with consent under temporary authorization.

Shayla (shocked):
Wait—he tested my son without telling me?

[Later that evening – Shayla at her mom’s house, venting to Ms. Harris]

Ms. Harris (furious):
He tested that baby without your consent?! I knew Derrick was weak, but this is a whole new level of low.

Shayla:
It’s humiliating. What does that say to Kai? What if he finds out?

Ms. Harris:
You never let that boy feel unwanted. You hear me? Derrick is about to get a rude awakening.

Shayla (reading the letter again):
It says he’s 99.9% the father. As if there was ever a damn question.

[Phone Call – Shayla to Derrick]

Derrick (picks up):
Hello?

Shayla (calm, but cold):
You really filed for a DNA test? After all these years?

Derrick (hesitant):
Shayla… look, I just needed to be sure before I—

Shayla (cutting him off):
Before you what? Try to get out of child support again?

Derrick:
It’s not like that. My new girl—she said some stuff and had me questioning everything. She said Kai doesn’t even look like me.

Shayla:
So your girlfriend opened her mouth and you believed her more than me?

Derrick:
It ain’t about belief—

Shayla (angry):
Don’t. You were there when he was born. You named him, Derrick. And now you're sneaking behind my back, dragging my son into court filings, like I'm some liar?

Derrick (quietly):
I was scared… and I didn’t know how to ask.

Shayla:
Well, now you know. The court knows. Everybody knows. So what now, Derrick? You gonna be a father—or a footnote?

[Later – Shayla texts Tasha]

Shayla: He admitted his girl got in his head.
Tasha: Men are so weak it’s scary 😒
Shayla: Court date next week. Judge wants to “discuss custody and visitation.”
Tasha: After he denied the boy?! Please. Bring receipts.

[Scene closes with Shayla putting Kai to bed, watching him sleep]

Shayla (softly, to herself):
No one’s ever gonna make you feel unwanted. Not while I’m breathing.