AND THEN WE FEEL UNEXPECTED BY JEFFREY LO
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GREGORY, 12, and BRENDAN, also 12, in a classroom.
The rest of the class is out at recess.
GREGORY is eating a PB&J sandwich quietly.
BRENDAN is reading a book quietly.
They are both quite quiet.
GREGORY: Hey. Brendan right?
BRENDAN: Huh? Oh, yeah. I’m Brendan.
GREGORY: Cool.
BRENDAN: I’m sorry. I don’t know your –
GREGORY: Gregory.
BRENDAN: Gregory. Cool.
GREGORY: Yeah.
BRENDAN: Sorry I didn’t –
GREGORY: No it’s cool.
BRENDAN: Cool.
GREGORY: You’re new here, right?
BRENDAN: Yeah.
GREGORY: So how would you know my name?
BRENDAN: Right.
GREGORY goes back to eating.
BRENDAN thinks.
…
BRENDAN: But you knew my name.
GREGORY: Huh?
BRENDAN: You knew my name even though I’m new. Shouldn’t I know your name.
GREGORY: Nah.
BRENDAN: How come?
GREGORY: There’s lots of new names for you. For me, it’s just you.
BRENDAN: Huh.
GREGROY: Yeah.
BRENDAN: That makes sense.
GREGORY: Yeah. But you should know my name now.
BRENDAN: Right.
Pause.
BRENDAN: Umm… Actually…
GREGORY: What?
BRENDAN: I forgot it.
GREGORY: Already?
BRENDAN: Yeah, sorry.
GREGORY: It’s all good. Gregory.
BRENDAN: Gregory.
GREGORY: Don’t forget it now.
BRENDAN: I won’t this time.
GREGORY: Good.
Beat.
BRENDAN: Why are you inside?
GREGORY: What do you mean?
BRENDAN: Why are you eating your lunch inside? Most kids like to play outside during recess.
GREGORY: Oh well, it’s Spring and –
BRENDAN: Do you get allergies?
GREGORY: Yeah!
BRENDAN: Me too!
GREGORY: Really?
BRENDAN: Yeah!
GREGORY: Cool!
BRENDAN: I mean, not really. It kinda sucks.
GREGORY: Yeah that’s true. The sneezing sucks and my nose starts to hurt when I rub on it too much..
BRENDAN: Yeah.
Beat.
GREGORY: You hungry?
BRENDAN: Huh?
GREGORY: I noticed you don’t have any food.
BRENDAN: Oh. Right.
GREGORY: Just a book.
BRENDAN: Yeah –
GREGORY: You gonna eat your book?
BRENDAN: Huh?
GREGORY: I’m joking.
BRENDAN: Oh.
GREGORY: But really though –
GREGORY offers half of his sandwich to BRENDAN.
GREGORY: It’s PB&J. Cut diagonals. So it’s fancy. You know?
BRENDAN looks at the sandwich.
He is, in fact, hungry.
GREGORY: You’re not allergic to peanuts are you?
BRENDAN: No.
GREGORY: Oh good. Cause… Well, cause you wouldn’t be able to have any.
Pause.
GREGORY: You can have it.
BRENDAN: You sure?
GREGORY: Yeah, my dad is gonna take me to the ice cream man after school today.
BRENDAN: Oh, cool!
GREGORY moves to sit next to BRENDAN and hands him half his sandwich.
GREGORY: Yeah, Tuesdays.
BRENDAN: Tuesdays?
GREGORY: My dad takes me to the ice cream man on Tuesdays.
BRENDA: Cool.
Beat.
GREGORY: You know sometimes it’s a woman.
BRENDAN: What is?
GREGORY: The ice cream man. Sometimes the ice cream man is a woman.
BRENDAN: Huh…
GREGORY: But we still call her the ice cream man. Isn’t that interesting?
BRENDAN: Is it?
GREGORY: Not really, actually…
The boys laugh.
Pause
….
Silence.
…
Beat.
…
GREGORY: Hey Brendan.
BRENDAN: Yeah?
GREGORY: Can I ask you a question.
BRENDAN: Uh huh.
Pause.
Pause.
GREGORY: Do you remember my name?
BRENDAN: Yes!
GREGORY: You do?
BRENDAN: I do!
GREGORY: I don’t believe you.
BRENDAN: Why not?
GREGORY: Actually, that wasn’t my real question.
BRENDAN: Then what was your question?
Pause.
Pause.
Pause.
GREGORY: Umm… Can I try something?
BRENDAN: Try what?
GREGORY: You might not like it.
BRENDAN: Then why would I let you try it.
GREGORY: But you might like it too! And… I just… I don’t know. Can I try it?
Pause.
BRENDAN: Ok.
Pause.
GREGORY kisses BRENDAN.
Silence.
Beat.
GREGORY: Sorry.
BRENDAN: No, it’s cool.
GREGORY: Was that ok?
BRENDAN: I think so. Maybe?
GREGORY: Ok.
BRENDAN: Who knows?
BRENDAN smiles at GREGORY.
GREGORY smiles back.
BRENDAN shrugs his shoulders.
The two boys laugh.
BRENDAN: Gregory.
Lights fade.
END OF PLAY.