Volume 2 Spring 2017

The Quill of the Mind Cygnus Volume 2 Spring 2017 A Message from the Quill of the Mind’s Advisor Table of Contents o have a two-volume literary magazine or creative journal in a Thigh school is rare; I am honored to have worked with the writers Cell 5 who share their works with you in this, Cygnus, the second volume of Summer Greens 5 Two Sides of a Mask 6 Quill of the Mind. The first volume, Orion’s Belt, is also being pub- Poem 7 lished at this time with corrections and edits missed in the rush to meet Operation Cowboy 7 a deadline last December. I am proud to know both volumes, twin con- Feb. 20, 2017 4:19 A.M. Thoughts 8 stellations of student creativity, will be on our web site for the summer. Thoughts on Words 9 Next year as we begin another opportunity to publish student work, I Writing A Poem: A Failed Attempt Number 104 9 hope Quill will be as rich in creative talent as this year’s. Warm Home 9 The Dark Lord 10 Color 10 Nancy Dashcund Amiens 10 Advisor A Play in One Act--The Shakespeare Club 11 Grey 29 Commencement 31 A Literary Take on a Good Meme 32 The Waiting Room--One Act Play 34 An Ordinary Day 38 Ice 38 Collected Poems of Lou Craig 39 The Smell of Death 40 The Weight of the World 40 Under the Lilacs 40 Snowball 40 Verdun 41 Three Seasons 41 Three Smiths 41 Chosen 42 Stardust Man 43 Editorial and Production Team Cell Anonymous “Why, friend, you know what I must do. Here follows a list of the editors and producers who worked on the production of this magazine. This is what the poem has been leading to!” These people have put in hours of their time to be a part of creating this magazine. When two cells come on out to play And with a step, and with a grimace, Without them, this dream wouldn’t have become a reality. And in the silent stream they lay she reached her foot up, and, without a miss… They soon stumble upon a fish, struggling in a Petri dish. She slammed it down! And suddenly… Cell 1 cried for the first time in recent history: Layout Design: Contributing Writers and Poets Kenny Latulippe (Grade 10) The cells held out their hands right then And took the fish back to their den “MY TOE, SIS!” Sylvia Officer (Grade 10) Teebh Al Freihy “Hey, there, thanks!” He grinned in glee. Ashley Chepulis “You’ve helped to make history!” Amanda Clarke Lou Craig Cover Design: “History?” They asked in doubt Summer Greens Skylar DiPietro Maggie Valvano (Grade 9) “Why, yes, indeed! Come on out!” Keddy Duato Rebecca Gosiewski Recolored by Kenny Latulippe (Grade 10) And out walked Thomas Jefferson Jessica gagnon With the Constitution in hand Rebecca Gosiewski Summer days dawn with pale pastels, Henry Jaques sunlight falling over dew-lit lawns. “You guys really proved yourselves! Title: Phoebe Johnson Morning forests waking slowly You stopped my fish from being shelved!” Alina Parsons (Grade 10) Kenny Latulippe After a cool night filled with minty starlight. The cells just stopped and thought a bit Valerie Matarazzo Sunlight filters through the leaves, But decided not to think too much of it Miranda Oveson Turning their undersides translucent Editors: Diana Le Like a green peridot ring Then Thomas Jefferson walked out gleaming in the window of a jewelry shop, Kenny Latulippe (Grade 10) Yvette Pallazola Yelling that he’d bail them out just opened for the day on Main Street. Kat Swenson (Grade 9) Allison Richardson If they ever got in jail Green like the tubes of paint a little girl bought Jessica Gagnon (Grade 9) Zach Robinson “Go on, please, give me a wail!” in the art store next door. Hallie Gagnon (Grade 9) Kat Swenson She brings them home, Henry Jaques (Grade 9) Of course, cells can’t be put in there the bottoms of plastic bags brushing Diana Le (Grade 9) Unless they commit something… bare over blades of grass, Elsie Ronan (Grade 9) Photography And by bare, I mean bare of life shaking away the last of last night’s rain. Diana Le All meaning sliced out with a knife She hurries up to her room, Advisor: Hallie Gagnon scrambles over her oak-framed bed, Nancy Dashcund So of course, killing another cell across emerald covers scattered with paintbrushes Would probably count as well colored with chipped mossy paint, When Cell 1 committed the act settling at the window It was worse than a bear attack! overlooking the farm next door. Tiny fences enclose rolling jade pastures, Of course, since they both were cells filling with horses just freed from sleepy barn stalls. And basically the same as well Farmhands in olive green fleeces They couldn’t discover whose soul was dead Cross the stable yard with fiery chestnuts, so they threw them both in instead! Mahogany bays, And ebony black horses, Cell 2 was quite sad about this, Setting them free into the morning green. and at that moment, made a wish! “In two years, and without a ‘no’, I want to step on my sister’s toe.”

So two years past, and deep in crime, Cell 1 had become a mime! Of course, they could no longer talk, so to Jefferson they couldn’t bawk.

But at that moment, suddenly, the wish had come true! And with glee, our friend Cell 2 comes over here, and shoots Cell 1 a silent leer.

44. 5. Two Sides Of A Mask Stardust Man Rebecca Gosiewski Kenny Latulippe

Who am I? I’m in no rush, I thought, What eyes do I hide behind staring down the street. this mask of shadows and glossy black raven For once, I’m in no rush, Feathers and bared teeth of wild wolves bounding through snow? I have some time to think. But wait…could this dark be not on the outside… You see, the clouds had opened up that day, but inside, on the back of a white mask gleaming and unleashed a mighty downpour. with sparkling diamonds that catch the light around I like the rain, me, reflecting it outward, instead of absorbing it in? I so here I’ll stay, could not, I would not, I can’t! I refuse, and it was would jacketless in the storm. make no difference, the rain pooling inside is too much, too deep, to even try, so why bother? I stood on the street corner, I’m drowning, I can’t swim; there’s no one to throw that uneventful day, Me a life jacket. The storm is growing. I gave myself a moment to feel I need to know. the forgiving summer rain. Who am I? I closed my eyes and opened my heart, I am the sun I let my mind go, I let my doubt rot. on wooden kitchen floors For a moment in time, the rain droplets were stars, Warm and smooth beneath sock-clad The wind was simply the orbit of mars. Feet. The open window letting in the ocean breeze I The pitter-patter of the rain were rockets passing by, can feel it sifting through my hair, blowing away the storm, an endless procession of new things to find. my mask, so my tired eyes can feel its freshness. My body was stardust, my mind was a comet, I am the raucous seagulls. wheeling overhead, my limbs were shooting stars reaching out of their sockets. Free, unbound, soaring above the world. Maybe someone at home would see me soaring, I am the pounding waves on the shore, and the sound maybe someone somewhere else will notice my yearning. of guitars and harps and jaded saxophones under starry skies, and the smell of grilling food by a campfire surrounded by friends My eyes snapped open that sweet summer day, and maybe a dog or two. I am a classic car roaring down I was grounded on Earth and that’s where I’d stay. an empty highway, laughing into the wind, With a sigh I quickened my pace to make it back home, dust trailing out behind me. I can’t wander forever, This is who No matter how much I wish to roam. I am.

6. 43. Poem Operation Cowboy Ashley Chepulis Rebecca Gosiewski

“He ducked his head, bringing his eyes closer, the ancient gaze pulling me into light and dark, sun and moon, Lin and Gan. I have been walking for awhile, with no clue for how long He was birth and death. He was Hua. But all is still and quiet with not another broken soul in sight The Second World War was starting to wind down He was the Mirror Dragon. The Lost Dragon.” 115 My clothes are worn, wrist marked and I have no destination Yet Podhajsky was pacing the floor with a frown. and all that I can hear is a seagull’s cry and the rushing of water His horses were in trouble Chosen With the Soviets bearing down on the double. Rebecca Gosiewski As I walk on I once again must face the bridge All help cut off and no way out And out of habit, decided to go past the railing to the edge Then he saw it- “Patton!” he called with a shout. Five hundred years without a sound To look at the swelling of the sea and the barren sky A war hero with no more war to fight Lying in wait. Wondering why I am here once again and if I should go His army with no end in sight. Stirred sands in a silent arena Who will be chosen? I have been here many times pondering this question “Patton sir, you must help me, I’ve got a crisis here!” Twelve kneel, Having no rest in so long as I’m haunted by memories “Tell me what you need, man. I’ve got all year.” and That was once so warm and sweet like a mother’s embrace the Rat Dragon descends from his perch, Has turned so cruel as I struggle with the thing called happiness “My country’s horses are in danger!” and in the mirrors, he makes his choice. As I remember sunlight streaming into a painted yellow room “Wait, my men just caught a messenger Eleven have failed, one ascends. And the scent of coffee and cinnamon wafts through the air He had many pictures in his briefcase Until– Fill with hushed whispers and quiet giggling as not to break the Which showed white horses of beauty and grace.” What’s that? peace Before the crowd there stands a dragon; As happiness and I dance to a soundless tune only we would “Dear god, it must be them! his whip-like tail lashes, his delicate nostrils flare, know Please, General, sir, you must go get ‘em!” Crimson scales glow in the setting sun, and the crowd is silent as falling snow. Wings like red lace flutter and fold; he steps forward. But life was jealous of our happiness and soon tragedy began to The general agreed, Who will he choose? follow And sent for Colonel Charles Hancock Reed, There. Him. In the back row, kneeling on crippled legs; The color white that was once seen as pure, innocence and hope His most trusted right-hand man. He will be the Ascendent Mirror Dragoneye. Quickly began to change with each increasing visit it began to “Come here! We’ve gotta make a plan!” Silk tunic soaked in sweat, jaded swords lowered in defeat– make For hours they stood strategizing but now he sits in awe; The color white is nothing but the foretelling sign of death And Patton paced, analyzing, the dragon chose him. Until finally a plan was in place, The boy who failed the sequences in combat, And so with the Soviets began a race The boy who has humiliated his master, As I remember making visits to a sterile hospital room To see who would get to the horses first, The boy who is wrapped in the shadows of masquerade. Talking as soft that I can as not to break the illusions The Americans, or the Soviets with horse-blood thirst. The long lost dragon chose, For I wanted to continue pretending they were healing Now all bow to the miraculous Ascendent, When the truth is I was slowly losing them instead Reed set out with a captured German friend, For after five hundred years of waiting, Whose helping hand he hoped could lend. The Mirror Dragon has chosen. Indeed, the German brought him through the stationed enemy Their glorious harmony shines around them, It’s the color black that I have found my peace in troops as luminescent as the pearl at the dragon’s throat. It shouts and protects me from the harsh reality And then they were on their way to find Lippizan groups. The people sit back in awe, faces upturned, smiling, praising the gods! So as I sit here contemplating my Demise The smell of horses was on the wind The Eleven Dragons- And start to harden my resolve and - BEEP The Americans were first, no horses would be tinned Determined Ox, Save they could escape back Courageous Tiger, with that I begin to fall seeing the headlight of a car To safe haven in Mannsbach. Peace-loving Rabbit, And all I feel is a weightless sensation All in all `Insightful Snake, And with a splash I merge into the sea never to be seen 350 horses stood tall. Passionate Horse, I never got to make my resolution. Arabians and Thoroughbreds and Russian Cossack Kind Goat, All to be saved from the coming attack, Resourceful Monkey, And of course, Podhajsky’s lovely white horses Confident Rooster, Waited proudly in silence among the forces. Honest Dog, Generous Pig, and Ambitious Rat– joined by the Truth Dragon to complete the Compass. Bending and whirling they dance, rejoicing.

42. 7. So Operation Cowboy began: But the cries of clashing forces The herding of horses across the land. Proudly she stands with her black whiskers in the sky, As the bullets flew American vehicles, with Polish, Czech, and Russian Cossack But her sister sighs, ‘Oh, why?’ And the skies clouded with ash Joined the effort as outriders on horseback. Slowly, carefully, the tired herd moved Snowball and her sister never got along, None could withstand the shells Until every last horse was removed For they were so different in unique ways, The infernal bombardment of both sound and metal From the Nazi’s grip, When Snowball and her sister play, And on towards the long trip. They seem to push each other away, And the fields turned to mush One would run, the other stay No force could withstand the shellings The first group came in two days One domestic the other a stray No one could withstand the noise The stallions eager to go their own ways. Not only of war but of change The second group, with mares and foals Snowball regretted this, Took three days, minus two horses that tripped in some holes. It’s time for a change, As the Germans charged out of their trenches Reed breathed a sigh of relief Time to get closer to her sister like they used to be, And the the French screamed “Ils Ne Passeront Pas” And reported to Patton to debrief. The shells covered both sides of the town They called up Podhajsky Snowball knew how to do this, And no force could withstand the shellings For she had to call her mother, Chris, “Do you want to come see? And apologize for blaming her sis, While the Germans pushed through their lines Your horses are here!” And the fires burned down the whole town When Podhajsky heard this, he grinned ear-to-ear. For all the things she did to her, The bodies piled higher and higher The next day he rode over Feb. 20, 2017, 4:19am Thoughts Her sister forgives her, Until a new town was built To identify and check his horses over. I didn’t mean what I did to her, The bricks being bodies and mortar the screams “We’ll send them as soon as we can,” Miranda Ovesen Snowball cried, Reed promised as he shook Podhajsky’s hand. While today bodies are gone Selfish intent will never feed me well. A rich character gives life I’m sorry sister, And the screaming of men burning has faded to those once unable to take a no. Breathe in patience. Humble It was May 25th with no horses in sight, I missed her, One thing will always remain buried below the ground: yourself. Love the air you breathe, even when you don’t see all And Podhajsky was worried. Had they met some terrible plight? I didn’t mean to hurt you or blame you, The shells of the war that fell from above that you think you need or you lust after. Appreciate all in the Just after midnight there came a distant roar. Which one day will burst again moment, at every point on your journey of life. There’s always The sound of trucks coming from the western shore. ‘It’s okay,’ sighs her sister, Not only with noise but the war reborn once more. beauty in a bit of chaos you may believe yourself to be in. When Over the hill came a parade Snowball is forgiven, you have what you’ve always wanted, you’ll see that there’s only Of…German trucks coming to invade? And their trust has since risen, ever more to desire. Look around or even better, close your eyes Then through the air came a call, and appreciate. Feel the beat of your heart which is indeed one Three Seasons One white stallion greeting the repurposed trucks from his stall. Her sister says to snowball we’ll always be close, of the greatest gifts. We are all blessed with this gift yet it is one Above the roar of sixty engines replies No bond can break what a sister has, Phoebe Johnson of the most unappreciated. We see it not in store windows and Two-hundred forty-eight Lipizzan cries. there is no brand stitched into it, yet it sits in our chest, hopefully “Huzzah!” Shout the men, Even though they weren’t blood sisters, Winter: bleak and cold coated in love and protected by a cage, our ribs. The structure of The Americans have delivered victory again! God made them best friends because no mother could Spring: when those sleeping wake up the body is captivating, unique in its very own way, yet we barely handle them. Summer: the blazing heat stop to notice. We only ever wish to dress ourselves up with the And so the lost Lipizzaners came home, newest clothes or makeup produced by animals bleeding. I’m one Finally free on safe turf to roam. As sisters, Three Smiths to say open the cage of your ribs and feed only your soul, but not Except for the occasional show, Even though they were very different, Phoebe Johnson with selfish intent, not with desire if it hurts another, nothing that With each horse bowing down low, Neither one was indifferent, breathes, for breath is the greatest gift, that goes unappreciated. Or too great or too less, Thinking of words ~Miranda Ovesen In tribute to those This made their new friendship the best. I can’t think of any Who were not ordered, but chose I am not a wordsmith To save such a magnificent breed From the terrible German’s greed. Verdun You know of blacksmiths To this day they remember Henry Jacques Have you ever heard of heartsmith? Back to that meeting that sparked the ember Probably not Of the rescue of two-hundred horses The silence of the town By Patton and his loyal forces The victory that had come He can fix what’s broken In the great over-sea ploy The echoes of the past He can turn the tides for you Known as Operation Cowboy. Could not withstand the burning of the future He can help you

The hills were set ablaze But for the Heartsmith Not only with the shells There is a larger cost now Pieces of his own gone

8. 41. The Smell of Death Thoughts on Words Teebh Al-Freihy Kenny Latulippe In the now, My lips a pale pink I’m trying to sharpen my pencil as fast as I can allow The smell of death is many things. Yours a deep red I want to create words myself to go. It is the smell of the sea. We watch the sky fade from blue to gray That will never wear. Before it could meet with the paper The smell of a baby bird fallen out of its nest, No matter how many times they’re repeated, To create something that’s worth saving. Face first on the grass, It’s beginning to rain They’ll always be there. Cooking in the summer sun. To your white Jeep we go In retrospect, The smell of death is the smell of blood, As we sit in the car “I love you”s used to soar from glowing hearts of men, What we had was worth saving, well, Innocent blood that has been splattered on the streets of Your eyes how they sparkle and now shatter on the ground, used time and time again. At least I would hope so. Aleppo. Deep emeralds they are. Expressions of awe, excitement, and joy, After meeting you The smell of death is the smell of the smog in eastern stir nothing in the heads of any girls or any boys. I wanted to sharpen my mind as fast as you allowed China. I am wrapped in a blanket while sitting in your car Soft terms of endearment passed from the lips of yourself to walk away. Death is the smell of all those whales, We stare at the clear rain that lingers over the deep blue forgotten loves Washed up on the beach. sea are shot by sarcastic mouths, falling as easily as doves. The smell of death is the smell of war, I love you and you love me Hyperbole is to blame, but I still want to know a revolution Why my words dissolve as quickly as the first flake of Warm Home Brewing forevermore. Six years flew by it’s our wedding day snow. Yvette Pallazola But most of all, Purple flowers The smell of death is the smell of burning bodies in a White dresses I want to write the things The icy path rolled on and on, concentration camp. Black Tuxedos that will touch someone’s soul. Snow glittered, -Teebh Al-Freihy Cheers to the newlyweds they all say I want to whisper things Covered, It all started under the lilac tree. that will make someone whole Caressed, Words that no matter how much you read it, The icy path, which rolled on and on, will never fall apart, The Weight of the World Snowball ones that will strike someone Henry Jaques Valerie Matarazzo with the conciseness of a dart. The path was now a blanket of snow, A mountain for the small tiny mouse, How does it feel to carry the weight of the world? There once was a cat, I want to learn, Who twitched his nose, and borrowed deep in Do our bones quickly crack and shrink? Who was quite fat, but it’s something that can’t be taught, Overgrown dirt and skeletons. Do our muscles tense and then tear? A funny looking cat, so I fear my heartfelt words To the mouse, Maybe our skin just wears and wears. She was a brat. will be left to rot. All of it felt like home. Do our hearts just disappear? Or are we killed by waves of fear? White and fuzzy with black whiskers, Until I am buried underground, far and low, In the morning, he sauntered on, briefly skidding on She did not look like her sister, I will keep trying to discover glazed ice. Brown with a thin silhouette, How deep a word can go. If he could think, Under the Lilacs Snowball was so out of her depth, He’d think about the skeleton bones, – K.L. The blood stained bushes. Skylar DiPietro Snowball is very unique though, Swish swish. Snowball got her name from snow, Whoosh woosh Trees of green The cold frost in the air, Seas of blue Children run in it with no care, Writing a poem Further up the path, a silver and grey structure, Under the lilacs A failed attempt: The mouse skidded to a stop, I see you Jumping and gliding throughout the air, Number 104 Sniffed at the top, Into piles of snow. Oh, what fun. A skull, red like the bushes, Your face a nervous shade of red Diana Le Green in the eyes. Mine a pale shade of white The flashback to this scene is how she got her name, The mouse slipped under Your walking closer on the green grass It brings her no shame, Looking up from the new, Gnawed and gnawed You come over under the lilac bush that is full of purple. Jumping high through the cold crisp air blank piece of paper Gnawed and gnawed This cat seemed to run free, not scared. with the same old pencil ready in my hand Until there was a little mouse sized hole in the skull I see that it’s already 12:02 in the morning. You are here to introduce yourself A stray abandoned, with no home around Enough for him to go back and forth

Your name is Adam Snowball in winter rolled down into town Back and forth Mine, Kate And found by the children playing so free Looking at all that has happened to me within just 365 days, This is our first date Snowball was different, all would agree Until one day the skull was just as worn as the grass. I still want to believe that there’s something new about We walk to the yellow sand And the mouse was asleep me, but I see And sit on a red and white picnic blanket Indefinitely. I’m still the same old person as I was before.

40. 9. Collected Poems What is blue? The Dark Lord What do you do after you make the mistake? It’s the nuthatch as it stalks you Lou Craig Anonymous Now that’s what matters. it’s the blue jay as it flies through the sky What differences would you make in your daily life? It’s the flowers growing along the path Raindrop Sometimes his lips are parted, How would you alter what you do to not make the same mistake? as I feel his eyes stare into my soul. It’s the dragon-flies A You can make a difference in your life. His stares sends shivers down my spine, Drop Eyes that make me feel cold. What is red, what is orange? Of rain is Look around you. His friends also seem to stare, It’s the coat of the fox as it crosses the path Like a sudden Who do you see? His laughter rings in my ears, taunting me, It’s the leaves as they change in the fall Unexpected hello. Friends, family, mentors? As I walk down the hall. It’s the cardinals, and the red squirrel Unexpected yet welcome. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I feel his eyes on me, It’s the hill covered in red pine needles It can brighten your bad day. Especially when you need it most. As I walk down the hall. It’s the red tail hawk It can also make you annoyed, They are here to help and watch you succeed. Oh look, It’s the azaleas and the other flowers reaching for the But that’s if you’re having sad day. So use them. There he is, warmth of the sun Whenever a raindrop is moving fast There is nowhere to turn. It’s the sun as it dies. Or slow, it can really get your attention. Through life you don’t lose friends, His hair resembles the top of a pineapple, The drop of rain can be warm or cold. You figure out who your real ones are. It makes me cringe. It can make you wet and drowsy. He’s a flirt, a man whore Amiens Raindrops are never silent. He is The Dark Lord of stares. Henry Jacques They come out at the His eyes are the color of the Atlantic Ocean, Worst times. Bright and aware, Kaiserschlacht was coming to an end Where is Everything? They sparkle with mischief, And so was the clutch of the German army I Remember Where’s my boots? His lips curled up in a smirk, Noted by a soldier by the name of William Fend Where’s my sweater? What did I do? Where’s my shoes? -Anonymous (9) He wore armor concealing his face A Small I don’t need a hat. Protecting him from most bullets and gear Oh, yes you do! But nothing could protect him from his greatest threat Flickering Of Light What a to-do! The feeling embraced by the German whistles which You’d think it was a shipwreck, struck fear Taking Color Me But as you know, Alison Richardson When you walk in the winter, And as he ran out into the bombarded French town So Very far away Wherever you go, Color is all around us, just look Artillery struck his men to the ground You must put something on. But on his face no one could see a frown From you. The fire is what I What is yellow? Instead a cold metal plate blocked the way As he then took to striking each German down see deep in you. Yellow is the sun setting everything afire I want you to see I Am It’s the light reflecting on the water He followed all the rules he had been taught what I see in you. It’s the yellow finches scavenging I am just a believer, wisher and dreamer. He continued to mow down the enemy mob The light on the table I wonder where I will be in 20 years. Yet then something in the corner of his eye he caught Displays the dancing What is green? I hear the crying voice of a baby. A soldier on the ground whom he had struck down Shadows that remind It’s the leaves on trees and the growing bushes I want to have a lot of land. Had pulled the pin from his grenade he had thought Me of times when this It’s the paint in the door of the carriage house, and the I am just a believer, wisher and dreamer. And so within seconds he started to run Silent room wasn’t empty. coachman’s son’s house I pray the wind stays away for a while I pretend I’m just an average fella. He retreated back not very far So these memories can linger for just a little while longer. What is brown? I feel happy from where I have come from. But something peculiar caught his eye Brown is the dirt and the paths I touch the ring at the counter. The grenade didn’t go off, the ground had no scar It’s the color of deer with their white flags of tails as they I worry about where I will be in the future. After his evasion he was left open from behind What People Are Meant For play I cry about my birth parents. It’s the old forlorn mill rotting away Which an enemy saw as his time to spar I believe people are meant for good. I am just a believer, wisher and dreamer. It’s the bridges over water With his bayonet pointed he charged into William’s back Though William did everything he should, he still died I believe they are born good. Yes they screw up and make mistakes. I understand I was born in another country. What is grey? His final plea, “ End this war!” That’s what makes the earth go ‘round. I say that in a good way. It’s the fog hiding something around the corner People can learn from them. I dream to own my business some day. It’s clouds threatening rain I believe Influences make people bad. I try to succeed in everything I do. It’s the titmouse playing hide and seek I hope I can fulfill my dreams one day. It’s the remains of an ancient water tower I am just a believer, wisher and dreamer. It’s the stone of the hidden bridges 10. 39. An Ordinary Day Looking at the girl taking her away A Play in One Act Ashley Chepulis Looking at me and telling me to get in The Shakespeare Club That they have a few questions It was an ordinary day Interrogating me, a never ending nightmare Rebecca Gosiewski That’s all it was Guess this is how I’m spending my night I wish I’ve never witness this When my life ended Cast As I’m gonna carry it with me forever My last moments Matt Rome—main character Were spent in pain Julia Callaway—main character As blood gushed out Principal McCarthy—the principal of the school And my body grew colder Ms. Haywood—the overseer of the Shakespeare club I never expected this Jillian—Julia’s friend It was an ordinary day I thought we were friends Sam—Matt’s friend No that’s wrong, it’s the day So why did you attack me? Richard-a troublemaker in the Shakespeare Club The day I finally get rid of her But as I rapidly lose feeling STUDENT ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, and NINE- minor characters; students at Claymore High It doesn’t matter why At last I will never have to hear her voice again I hate you, I despise you Listening to her insult and bully others I did not have to die I asked her to meet me, a block away from her home In person of course don’t want the calls to trace back It’s all your fault Act I You’re the one who did this She thought it was a date Do you enjoy this Well maybe a date with death I remember her blood spilling out Why are you laughing ? Scene One It was funny watching the shock on her face It hurts, it hurts so much This scene takes place in Claymore High. The day has just ended, and the final bell has just rung. Students are rushing through What you didn’t expect this And it’s all your fault hallways and the auditorium is filling up with the after-school Shakespeare Club. As you squirm like a worm on the ground I wish you die a painful death (The babble of students quiets as the overseer of the club MS. HAYWOOD steps up onto the stage with an attendance list in hand.) But as I lose feeling Did you not see how much I hated you? what’s with the look All those thoughts go away MS. HAYWOOD Its cute how you’re trying to shout I want to see my parents Everyone quiet down, find a seat, let me see who’s here, then we can get a discussion on how this month’s play is going… I’m actually starting to laugh I want to see my friends (She trails off as her attention is turned to calling out names and marking off the students on her list.) And tell them I love them You don’t you get it, do you? you have no power here Most of all I want to keep living (A spotlight is trained on the right of the room, drawing the audience’s attention to JULIA. She is a dark-haired girl with a small but Sure your family and friends will care We’re my final thoughts bright smile.) And it will be on the news for a day or two But eventually you’ll fade away JULIA And no one will care. (turning to her friend JILLIAN on her right) I’m so glad I joined this club, I thought it would be boring- It was an ordinary day I’ve never expected to be a witness Ice JILLIAN I was only going for a walk Skylar DiPietro (interrupting with a dull expression) I wanted to help I swear I did It is boring. But I froze up, petrified Ice cold I didn’t want to die Your heart is frozen JULIA Her life was rapidly ending Harder than hard can be Why didn’t you do something else, then? And he was laughing Slippery and cold like a winter ice storm Why was he laughing I fall for you though I know your are not good for me. JILLIAN And I heard her crying, screaming Because this was the only club that wasn’t full, and you know it’s required that we join a club. Telling him she hated him Due to your heart being ice That she wanted to live We are arguing JULIA But as time passed We have been down the slippery slope before It’s not required, just recommended. And her body began to cool We need each other but how can I love someone who is ice It ended and he got up and left cold? JILLIAN Like nothing ever happen Whatever. They made it seem required. Do you think everyone here would be doing this if it wasn’t? Going on his phone texting Our relationship is slipping and sliding I waited till he was a safe distance away Cracking at the sight of an argument (JULIA opens her mouth, but her response is cut off by MS. HAYWOOD, who is done taking attendance.) Before I called 911 Like an ice pick taking away all we have Telling them what I saw You put your hands gently on my face They came flashing red and blue They are ice cold But somehow it feels so right. 38. 11. Extra Angel enters from stage left, staring at a clipboard. He looks up. MS. HAYWOOD Alright, everyone. You know how this works by now. Extra Angel: Uh….woah….okay. Well, anyway which one of you is Stella Monroe? (She gives a microphone to each side of the auditorium.) Let everyone speak and give whoever is talking your attention. Okay? Stella: (meekly) That’s...uh...me.

(There is a low mutter of agreement.) Extra Angel: The results are in. Drumroll please...

STUDENT ONE Lucifer is drumming on the desk. Ok, so, um, this month we were doing Romeo and Juliet, which is a romance story, and, um, I liked this one, and I thought it had a good message. Extra Angel: It’s Hell!

STUDENT TWO Stella: Excuse me? (Cries and falls to her knees) (from the other side of the room) Yeah, finally a play with a realistic theme. Extra Angel: Oh, God, yikes. I’m kidding. I’m kidding. It’s Heaven! Yay!

MS. HAYWOOD The End And what was that message?

STUDENT TWO That youth is too quick to switch from one love to another, and their love is shallow, because they don’t know what it means.

STUDENT ONE (frowning) I thought it was a beautiful tragedy about how love is more powerful than hate.

(There are several agreements of “Yeah” and “That’s what I thought” from around the room, while other students laugh scornfully.)

STUDENT TWO No, it’s not. Didn’t you see how fast Romeo moved from being all depressed about Rosaline to liking Juliet? STUDENT ONE Haven’t you ever heard of love at first sight?

STUDENT THREE (grabbing the microphone from STUDENT TWO) That’s stupid. You can’t just fall in love with someone.

STUDENT ONE Yes, you can, and the story isn’t about Rosaline because she wasn’t a Capulet. Since the story is about love conquering hate, one person from each side had to fall in love and break the trend of hate. (She hands off the microphone to someone else)

STUDENT THREE Yeah, but they had just met; it made sense for Juliet to wait and see if she liked Paris, since she didn’t even know him. But then she kissed Romeo without even knowing his name!

RICHARD So? They both felt the attraction. Why shouldn’t they?

STUDENT THREE Because she didn’t know who he was! What if he was a murderer or something bad? She got upset and she kissed a Montague afterwards. What if she had known who he was?

RICHARD Love is blind! It shouldn’t matter who he is if the feelings are real!

12. 37. Gabriel gets to his feet and stares at Lucifer aggressively then grabs him and throws him over the desk. STUDENT FOUR Carol: I put my money on the angel. He’s cute. (shouting without the microphone) She was thirteen! You can’t fall in love at thirteen! Stella: You’re married! JULIA Carol: Till death do us part. (standing up) Why not? Love has no boundaries! Stella: This is madness! (Screaming) STOP! EVERYBODY QUIET, NOW! STUDENT FIVE Lucifer and Gabriel’s heads slowly rise from the other side of the desk. Love should have had a couple more boundaries if they kissed without even knowing each other’s names!

Lucifer: Yeeeees? (This gets much laughter from some students, while others stand up to voice their own opinion.)

Stella: This is horrible. Why are you fighting? We’re all dead! What good is it going to do? MS. HAYWOOD Okay, guys, let’s try to calm down- Gabriel: He started it, lady. (A crumpled up notebook page flies through the air, and the shouting increases as all the students simultaneously try to convince each Stella: I don’t care who started it. I’m finishing it. other that their opinion is correct. More crumpled papers fly through the air, and two students start fighting. The room erupts in utter chaos, and MS. HAYWOOD runs off to get reinforcements to stop the fight while the orchestra picks up a rowdy bar fight tune.) Stella points at Gabriel. JILLIAN Stella: You. You’re an angel. You should be able to handle things like this. How long have you been here? Thousands of years? Come (to JULIA, shouting) on. I love this club!

Lucifer: Aha, she got you. (JULIA ducks to avoid a paper ball as a pencil hits her shoulder.)

Stella points at the Devil. (On the other side of the room, MATT is climbing over a seat while shouting at STUDENT FOUR.)

Stella: And you! You’re literally the worst person I’ve ever meet, EVER. Why don’t you crawl back down to hell and burn in those (Students are yelling and screaming, scrambling over seats to get at each other. Papers, pens, pencils, and calculators have become eternal flames? Nobody would care! airborne, bouncing off arguing students.)

Lucifer: Why, thank you. (JULIA is dodging fighting students; she gets hit with a paper ball and angrily hurls it back into the fray, then trips on a backpack on the floor, stumbling into MATT, who has finally gotten through the seats. MATT catches her without thinking, and as she turns to look Stella: (Yelling) SHUT UP! at him, the students around them, although still arguing, are silent as the lights dim and a remaining spotlight shines over JULIA and MATT. The orchestra quiets except for one soft violin playing a slow love song. MATT helps JULIA to her feet, and they stand for a In the background, Carol is slow clapping, her smile wide. minute, staring at each other.)

Stella: And you! You damn tax collecting lawyer! You killed me! It’s your fault I’m dead. My daughter is at home alone right now (Suddenly, the lights are snapped back on and the violin is overtaken by the orchestra as the arguing crescendos again, and MATT and because of you and your damn God complex! JULIA are separated by the crowd.)

Extra Angel enters from stage left, staring at a clipboard. He looks up. (To the left, MS. HAYWOOD returns with PRINCIPAL MACCARTHY. They run up onto the stage, and PRINCIPAL MACCARTHY grabs a microphone.) Extra Angel: Uh….woah….okay. Well, anyway which one of you is Stella Monroe? PRINCIPAL MACCARTHY Stella: (meekly) That’s...uh...me. (shouting over the noise) Everyone stop! Extra Angel: The results are in. Drumroll please... (The arguing quiets, and fighting students separate as everyone turns to the principal.) Lucifer is drumming on the desk. PRINCIPAL MACCARTHY Extra Angel: It’s Hell! What is the meaning of all this?! I have never in all my thirty years being here ever seen such mayhem. I want every pencil, pen, and piece of paper picked up now. This club is canceled for the rest of the month, and for the rest of the year if I hear about any arguing Stella: Excuse me? (Cries and falls to her knees) from anyone here during that time!

Extra Angel: Oh, God, yikes. I’m kidding. I’m kidding. It’s Heaven! Yay! (JULIA and JILLIAN exchange shocked glances as exclamations of protest break out around them and the lights dim.)

36. 13. Stella: Thank you for that mental image. I really needed that carved into my brain for the rest of my eternal life. Scene Two Lucifer: Just say the word. (It’s the next day at lunch, and the lunch room is buzzing about the Shakespeare club.) Stella: Goodbye. Tell the devil I don’t want anything to do with him or his six pack. STUDENT SIX (to her friend) Lucifer stands, gives her a dark look, and dramatically walks over to reception to speak with Gabriel, the reception clerk. They speak I heard they all got suspended! silently, with quiet improv of a cool discussion.

STUDENT SEVEN Carol gets up from her seat and moves over to sit next to Stella. Carol sits where Lucifer had, and leans towards her. No, I thought they all lost their club! Carol: So what’re you in for? STUDENT EIGHT Well there’s no room for them in any of the clubs, so they don’t have a club anymore. Stella: I didn’t know we were in jail.

STUDENT NINE Carol: That’s not exactly what I meant, but obviously you aren’t cultured enough to understand. Anyway, I slammed some poor sap’s (on the other side of the room, going over to his friends) car. Got ripped in half. It was great. A lawyer’s dream. I bet they wish I lived so they could sue the hell out of me.

Shakespeare Club got turned into Fight Club! Stella: You know, I was in a car crash too.

(They laugh.) Stella and Carol now talk silently, Lucifer and Gabriel step towards the front of the stage and speak loudly projecting their voices.

(MATT walks in with SAM, and a few kids at one of the tables waves them over to join them.) Lucifer: Come on man, you know me. We’re buddies. We picked up those twins at the bar that one time. Remember that? It was a fun night. You know what I mean. Come on. Come on. Tell me. Fill me in, man. Let me know. Come on. MATT So do you know who she is? Gabriel: Shut it. I was drunk, and no, you’re not getting any dirt on her. She’s practically an angel, like me. Go away. Go hang out with that other one, Carol. She’s more your speed. SAM There’s a bazillion girls in this school and you want me to identify one random girl out of all of them? Lucifer: I paid a lot of money that night, man. Come on, it’s the least you can do for your good friend Lucy. I want to change my ways, broaden my horizons, recruit some good souls for Hell. MATT I just want to know who she is, I met her yesterday after school. Gabriel: (turns to him, agitated) You are literally the ruler of Hell! As in H. E. L. L! HELL! Are you stupid or something? Did that fire SAM down there burn off some of your brain cells? (grumpily) Why didn’t you ask her name? Gabriel and Lucifer step back. Still talking. Hand gestures. Silent.

MATT Carol: Well, that’s weird. The car crash, I mean. We were both in a car crash. Imagine that! I didn’t get the chance. Stella: (stiffly) Hardly. Mine happened on Birch Street, in Dallas, Texas. (JULIA enters the lunch room with JILLIAN) Carol: Yikes, well, haha, that was my fault. Oops. Haha. MATT (nudging SAM) Stella stands. She faces Carol, but also in the direction of Lucifer and Gabriel. There, that’s her! Stella: Wait? You’re kidding right? SAM (turning with an eye roll) Carol: Nope -- That one? With the dark hair?

MATT Suddenly, Lucifer punches Gabriel. Stella screams. Gabriel falls over onto the ground. Yeah. Gabriel: (deadpan and sarcastic) Oh no, I’m on the ground. The horror. SAM (squinting for a long moment) Lucifer kicks him and stands over him.

Lucifer: You should have given me the information, you patronizing skank. I’m the King of Hell. You owe me respect, you lowly CLERK.

14. 35. A Play in One Act The Waiting Room MATT So do you know her?

Anonymous SAM Val Matarazzo That’s Julia Callaway. Phoebe Johnson Zach Robinson (MATT looks at her a bit longer, then turns reluctantly, and SAM snickers.)

Cast SAM Angel Gabriel I thought you didn’t believe in love at first sight? Carol--the horrible human being Stella Monroe--the perfect person MATT Lucifer--Satan, the Devil (glaring) Angel I don’t, and I’m not in love, you idiot.

Stage directions: Curtain opens on a semi-dark stage. It looks like a hospital waiting room. At a desk, Gabriel, an angel, dressed (JULIA meanwhile is protesting and clutching at JILLIAN’s arm as her friend stands up.) well in business attire, flips through a stack of papers passively, acting like a doctor’s clerk might, checking the clock on the wall occasionally. The actor should do quite in-character, non-distracting improv. Carol is registering for eternal life. JULIA No, Jillian, please! Center stage, light focused clearly on the two, Carol sits in a row of chairs, side by side with the Devil, Lucifer, leaning over the armrest of her chair. She begins talking at him silently. JILLIAN (smiling innocently) Lights up completely, we see Lucifer, looking annoyed and clearly uninterested. He leans away from her, making the occasional I just want to meet him! grunting sound as if he has even the slightest bit of interest. JULIA Stella and another Angel enter. They had been conversing, and we hear the end of their conversation. You’re embarrassing me!

(JILLIAN waves her off and heads over, introducing herself to MATT and his friends, and they begin talking. Their microphones are turned off so the audience can’t hear what they’re saying.) Stella: When will I know? (She is clearly calm, but she has a nervous tick with her fingers despite this.) (JULIA watches them for a moment, then ducks her head in an attempt to hide her flushed face.) Angel: Soon. Remember, this is the afterlife, and people are dying everyday. Be patient. It’s a virtue. (Leans in) Don’t worry, when there’s a null, I’ll get the paperwork. (JILLIAN returns a moment later, grinning.)

Stella: Oh, (she puts her hand on her heart dramatically) thank you so much. You’re so kind. (She pauses, and then) That’s probably JULIA why you’re an angel, huh? (warily) What? What did you say to him? Angel: (Slowly walks backward off stage left, with finger guns.) JILLIAN Stella looks around the stage, pointedly but softly notices the Devil and Carol, and sits off to the side towards stage right. She picks up Nothing much, just that you were going to the school dance tomorrow. a magazine, looks at it idly. JULIA Lucifer notices Stella and moves to talk to her. Carol glances back at him. But I’m not!

Lucifer: Did you hear? Our lord and holy savior is picking people off at random to kill. Doesn’t seem very heavenly of him, I’d say. JILLIAN Yes you are. Don’t you want to meet him? Stella: (Flips through the magazine slowly, not reading it, and, sarcastically) How interesting. Please do tell me more. I’m a God- fearing woman, you know, so it’s good to finally have a valid reason. JULIA (glancing back at MATT, who is looking at her. They both glance away quickly.) Lucifer: Well, in Hell, we got dental benefits, you know, and those all-you-can-eat buffets up there with the big guy, TOXIC. Is he going?

Stella: Tragic. Too much food. How horrible. JILLIAN Yup. He’s going ‘cause you are. You wouldn’t want him to think you were a liar, would you? Lucifer: (Gets even more excited, begins speaking with his hands) Yeah! And the devil, what a hunk! You know, he has a six pack; he’s shredded. If he wasn’t my boss, you know, I’d totally hit that. (Winks)

34. 15. JULIA (as the lights slowly dim) But I don’t have anything to wear! How am I going to get here? What will I say to him…?

Scene Three It’s nighttime now, and students are pouring into the school; the sound of laughter and chatter nearly drowns out the music coming from the gym, which has been decorated for the dance.

(JULIA walks in with JILLIAN by her side. Both girls have short dresses and smiles, though JILLIAN’s is more excited while JULIA’s is anxious.)

JULIA What if he’s not here?

JILLIAN Then just have fun. C’mon, I see Andrea and Sandra. We can find Romeo later. (She pulls JULIA off into the crowd of talking and dancing kids.)

(A moment later, MATT and SAM walk in; MATT is scanning the crowds, and SAM is joking around with another friend he just spotted. They start to walk away, then SAM goes back to MATT, grabbing his arm and pulling him off with them.)

JULIA I don’t see him-

JILLIAN Stop looking for him; he’ll show up. Let’s go dance. (They head off into the crowd of other students.)

(Meanwhile, MATT, SAM, and some of their friends onto the dance floor. The music swells, and the lights spin around the room as they party.)

(SAM smacks MATT, and MATT turns to him.)

MATT What?

SAM (pointing) Look, there she is.

(MATT spots her and starts heading towards her.)

(The song ends, and JILLIAN sees him coming over. Quickly she touches JULIA’s arm to catch her attention.)

JILLIAN I’m going to say hi to Crissa, okay? I’ll be back in a sec.

(JULIA nods, smiling. She has forgotten her apprehension about seeing MATT.)

JULIA Sure. (She turns back to the dance floor just as MATT walks up.)

16. 33. That kind of support doesn’t come easily. Oftentimes, it comes with jealousy and mistrust and wishes of goodwill that come with a false smile. It hurts the most when it comes from those who one admires—those whose experience and ability is unmatched, MATT and cannot easily be substituted by raw, unpracticed talent. Those who are clearly hiding their own struggles behind their baseless (smiling) facades and can’t will themselves beyond their own longing because luck does not grant success to all who work hard despite an I was hoping I would see you here. unsurmountable lack of talent. The purpose of an idol is to surpass them. This is, thoughtlessly, expected to be the inevitable outcome of one’s endeavors; JULIA for what reason should it not be? Part of admiration is realization of the journey to the top. But in focusing on this it becomes effortless (a shy smile creeping over her face) to forget that this journey never stops, even when victory has been achieved. Were you? In the end, I know that my choice has already been made. MATT (nodding) A Literary Take on a Good Meme Your name is Julia, right? Kenny Latulippe (JULIA nods)

Somewhere, in a household of no particular relevance to the endless churning of space-time, a small portion of the events caught MATT public attention. Immortalized in code, a mere five seconds circulated the web from eye to eye, device to device, site to site, tap to tap. I’m Matt. Would you like to dance? A video, which held no particular relevance to history, created in a place of no particular relevance to history, basked in the warm glory of limelight for a short time before fading back into the backdrop of oblivion. JULIA Sure. It was presumably evening, though no one really knew. It could have been two in the morning, for all the viewers would care to know. In what was (again, presumably,) the kitchen, the lights were on, suggesting a time hours off of midday. The cameraman made no such (They head off into the crowd, and a dim spotlight lights up RICHARD and STUDENT ONE on the edge of the crowd.) setting clear, most likely because it held– get ready for this– no particular relevance to the object of interest being filmed. Perhaps it would take away from the point? Such cinematic arts are something lost to those who’ve decided to pursue other degrees than RICHARD filmmaking. That’s the kid who punched me two days ago.

A short shot, perhaps too short to notice the change between the two clips, depicted... a cookie. The cookie held the shape of a STUDENT ONE gingerbread man, though a culinary buff may comment with an upturn of his nose that it was crudely made. The frosting job was There’s no teachers around. arguably more crude; it was no work of art, no bakery treat to behold– however, it accomplished its task. It was made to resemble a man. No, not just any man– fans would recognize this man as Gerard Way- notorious for being popular amongst people who were (RICHARD makes his way through the crowd towards MATT and JULIA.) typically teens, who typically wore dark clothing, and typically looked very upset while typically claiming to enjoy things only the darkest, most twisted corner of the mind could produce, this man was the leader of a pop punk band that dubbed themselves My RICHARD Chemical Romance. The name itself doesn’t seem to present much meaning, but perhaps it isn’t something for the average person to Hey, you! understand– simply just to experience and accept. (MATT turns, and STUDENT FOUR punches him in the nose. MATT stumbles back, and JULIA puts a hand on his shoulder.) Though far from detailed, the cookie bore his signature traits and style. The sneaking suspicion one may have as to the identity of this cookie would soon be confirmed by the next shot the camera captured.The transition between clips was abrupt and nearly JULIA unnoticeable, as they both closed and ended on the same image. What offset it was an ever-so-slight difference in the placement of the Are you alright? camera. Compared side-by-side as the (lack of) transition forced into being, one’s eyes could not be deceived. MATT Ah, the main event. The punchline of the video, this four-second film of merriment. (making sure his nose isn’t gushing blood) A woman came into the shot, but first, only her hand. One may assume this middle-aged woman was the mother of the filmer. But, Fine. what evidence have we to support this claim? The woman could have been a stepmom, a family friend, a guardian, perhaps even a (He glares at RICHARD, who is smirking.) stranger. For the sake of simplicity, we’ll say she was the cameraman’s mother. Her hand, cloaked in an uninteresting and predictable What’s your problem? caucasian tone, reached forward and closed around the edible effigy of the band member and began taking it away from the camera’s (He steps towards RICHARD, but JULIA pushes back.) eye. As the camera leapt upwards, desperate to follow the hand and capture the scene, we hear this average woman speak. A strenuous, exhausted tone weighted her voice down to one you may expect to hear from a school teacher scolding a particularly troublesome JULIA student. No, don’t. He was at the meeting, and you know what the principal said if there was any more fighting.

“Put. Gerard. Back.” Her uninteresting brown hair, cut in in an uninteresting normal style, veiled some of her aging face as she put the MATT cookie back, apparently where it was supposed to be, before it made out on its short-lived and illegal escapade with the filmer. He can’t just punch me! w The video ends there, with no context given as to the actions captured by the camera’s detailed eye. Perhaps the simplicity of the video JULIA is what gained a hearty chuckle from its audience. Perhaps the nonsensicalness made it so well-loved. Maybe it isn’t to be interpreted Do you want to lose the club? and understood. It simply is, and though it bears no particular relevance to the endless churning of space time, maybe– just maybe– the smile it brings to the faces of the viewers makes living through the endless void just... that much more bearable. RICHARD (taunting) -KL He wouldn’t hit me!

32. 17. (MATT walks up to RICHARD and punches him in the stomach, then shoves him to the ground.) He searched for the girl and found her big, magenta eyes watching him from the second floor. So he began his ascend up the neglected staircase and brushed away cobwebs resting on the railing without ever disrupting the eye (PRINCIPAL MACCARTHY rushes up and helps RICHARD up, then looks at MATT.) contact between him and the girl.

PRINCIPAL MACCARTHY Her uneven ponytail lead him down an almost narrow hallway. As he passed the open doors of abandoned rooms he could not help but I want you two in my office right now. look in. The first room was a lonely living room. A piano that once played Fur Elise, the ivory keys now chipped and unmaintained. A (He turns, leading the way, and RICHARD limps dramatically after him, shooting MATT a wounded look. MATT glares at dusty vase atop the lonesome instrument, that perhaps once held a bouquet of the most lovely tulips but now holds the ash corpse of a RICHARD, and RICHARD hurries ahead with a yelp.) single rose. Nothing to take from this room but sorrow - this was not what the magenta girl was leading our boy to. He continued to follow her. The next room he peered inside appeared to be a master bedroom. With tears in it’s wallpaper and the smell of mold growing in it’s floorboards. The bed, though unbelievably ancient, was still neatly made, as though it’s sleeper were to Scene Four come back that night for a well-deserved rest. On the edge of the windowsill were the bloody claw marks of a woman in vain. Perhaps she opened the window for a deathly breeze On one side of the stage, there is a classroom full of desks. They are all empty, except for MATT and STUDENT FOUR seated on on a cool autumn night, but fell into the deepest kind of sleep before she could shut it. either side of the room. A door separates the room from a hallway. He continued to follow the girl. She drifted into a room on the right and as he dutifully followed the boy snuck a quick glance towards (MATT rattles his fingers on the desk. He crosses and uncrossed his legs, glances at the clock, then finally slouches in his seat.) the left to notice a small room with faded fuschia walls. The room he now entered obviously had belonged to a boy. A rusty toy robot that was halted mid-step on the floor next to a bed with a rocket ship pattern were residing in the old room.The girl stood and watched (JULIA knocks on the window on the door, and MATT looks up, sees her, and smiles. JULIA crouches down, scribbles something on a the blue boy, allowing him to observe the room. He glanced around it and noticed a suspicious blood stain near the closed door of the paper, then slides the paper under the door. MATT picks it up and reads it aloud for the audience. It’s JULIA’s phone number.) closet, but all he really cared about was the magenta girl. He turned to her and again stared into those beautiful galaxies.

(JULIA turns away, and both she and MATT pull out their phones and begin texting. They say their messages aloud as they write them She stared back at him then progressed to tug at a small slice in the wall. She quickly tugged the wall back to reveal a hidden doorway for the audience.) with a staircase leading up another flight. She leisurely wisped up the stairs in her gentle, uneven ways.And the grey-blue boy was left alone, drenched in a grey-blue shade of lonely. His only option, it seemed, was to follow the magenta girl up the mysterious staircase. JULIA So he did. There was another fight today. The grey-blue boy crouched down and stuck his head into the unknown darkness. He etched his way up the dark stairs, careful not (Behind her, two girls start arguing. One swings a large purse at the other.) to step on the skinny tails of peacefully sleeping rats. He reached the peak of the attic; the peak of the dreadful, black house. And he stared at the magenta girl - who stared behind a box of stored items that had lost their purpose. Then she stared at him with the same JULIA blank expression she always had, except this time there was a hint of something more. A hint of despair. He stared into her desperately Principal MacCarthy broke it up. beautiful, magenta pigmented, galaxy holding eyes. Then he turned his gaze to behind the boxes. And he glanced upon the body of a magenta girl. (Behind her, PRINCIPAL MACCARTHY runs over to tell the two girls off, one hand on his hip, one finger waving in the air as he speaks.)

JULIA Commencement He’s making them go to in school suspension. Jessica Gagnon

(PRINCIPAL MACCARTHY opens the door, pointing inside, and the two girls trudge inside, sitting at two of the desks. PRINCIPAL To give away a good opportunity for no reason other than cowardice is to fail. To take the difficult path and lose a hard-fought MACCARTHY rolls his eyes before shutting the door.) battle is more admirable than taking the easy path and triumphing, as unfortunate as losing may be even under the most casual of circumstances. It is an entirely different matter when success is guaranteed no matter which route you take. It is only then that MATT reservations become personal and decisions increasingly difficult for insufficient reasons. This is getting really out of hand. The people who have granted me this opportunity, who are urging me to make my choice, do not consider themselves as important to me as they really are. This is but a simple case of not taking credit where it is due. The results as they are may have been the same JULIA whether they were a part of my life or not. I would not be, however, the same person I am today. That is a simple, undeniable fact. I I know! If we lose the club, there won’t be anywhere for all of us to go, there’s no room in the other clubs. I wish we could do have brought this upon myself, but the decision to move ahead I must make is not for me alone. But it is one I must make alone. something. To grasp the chance to move on, to meet new people and force oneself to overcome challenges, is a way to embrace individual growth. That’s what I’ve been told by countless people, and it’s something that I’ve been forced to believe myself. I have never once doubted MATT my capabilities, or considered turning down this life-changing opportunity because there has never been and will never be any room Like what? for apprehension. But what of the people one leaves behind? For me, these are the people who I have exceeded in ability, but still remain as my partners. JULIA The first time I encountered a situation such as this, I handled it poorly. The mistake, seemingly complicated, had simple logic: it was I wish we could just tell everyone to behave so we could go back next next month. not solely my own fault. The difference between now and then is the unconditional trust that has been placed in me, whether I am deserving of it or not. Since it has been given to me, it has been demanded of me in turn. Unsurprisingly, this requires that my personal MATT strength is used to benefit the whole. There are only thirty kids in the club. Spread the word. I am treated as though I am one of many instead of as an individual. It’s something they’ve taught me how to do, which I am grateful for even as I struggle for a way to put it into words.

18. 31. She lightly pats the ground and seems instantly to be back on her feet with no sign of pain or discomfort. She stares at him and he JULIA stares back. Then he glances downward to find himself standing on the mulch, directly in front of her. Our grey-blue boy feels drawn You think it could work? to this magenta girl like a moth to a ray of beautiful light. Though he is not afraid. Her eyes search through his as though they are somehow waiting for a response, though he has none. MATT Why not? Are you busy after school today? The magenta girl turns and obscurely walks into the nearby woods. Before entering the treeline she glances back at him out of the corner of her eye. JULIA He almost has no choice but to follow her magenta aurora. No. Why? He enters the treeline, following her through the branches and brushes at a distance, like a puppy to it’s master. He brushes aside the grey leaves and grey branches to get better sight of where she is going. Wherever she was going... he was going, too. MATT Let’s go see a movie after school. She translucently exited the short forest. And the boy peeled back the leafy branches to loyally follow. She had lead him to a row of developed houses. The grey houses were not very large, but they were not very small either. The girl lifted herself over a well- JULIA maintained fence. The fence was only waist-high and she made it look so easy, but when the grey boy attempted to hoist himself over Okay. it he nicked the wood with his grey-blue boot and chipped a small chunk off. Clumsily he looked back at his mistake, but he soon (She smiles happily.) remembered the girl and his attention was drawn back.

She was walking forward at a constant, wispy pace with her back towards him. As the boy looked around he realized they were in Scene Five someone’s backyard, but the fear of trespassing did not envelope him. All he watched was the girl. There were chopped logs on the ground and one standing vertically with a red rimmed axe nestled in it’s wood. It looked as though whoever resided within that house (Students from Shakespeare club onstage talking, JULIA, MATT, SAM, and JILLIAN make their way through them. Each gathers a was preparing for a cold winter ahead of them. group around them in a huddle and begin telling them the plan.) The girl swayed past the logs and ever so lightly slid her finger across the sharp blade of the malicious axe. She peered back at him as she did so. He watched and followed slowly with his cautious grey eyes. JULIA She continued on in a straight line towards the other side of the lawn. And as he passed the axe our blue boy felt his body stiffen, for Principal MacCarthy said we can’t get our club back if we keep fighting, right? the axe seemed as though if he were to grip it’s venomous handle he would feel warmth. When the magenta girl reached the far fence, she confidently pushed up a loose board and drifted through to the other side. SAM We need the club. If it gets disbanded, there’s no room for us in the other clubs. It is almost as though, our blue boy thought as he crawled under the board, she had been here and done this many a times before. JILLIAN The girl lead our boy onward, for a half a mile through the grey town. He followed her through a side of his town very unfamiliar to So we need you all-even if you still disagree about the whole Romeo and Juliet thing-to keep it quiet for the rest of the month. him. He watched more grey houses pass him as the blue boy walked on and he wondered what kind of people live in those developed grey houses. But as he curiously watched the grey houses, he also watched her. He felt that if he ever, even just for a second, stopped MATT watching the girl with galaxy eyes, she may never come back. We’ll get our club back, but only if we work together.

They eventually reached an old, and very large grey house at the end of a long grey street. The magenta girl stopped and stood with JULIA, SAM, JILLIAN, MATT the boy as she stared at him. But this time he stared at it. Then she too turned her gaze to the enormous grey house. And she easily Can everyone do that? climbed the steps, crossed the porch, and without ringing or knocking pulled open the front door. ALL STUDENTS Though it was much more difficult for our blue boy to follow her this time. Because in this very unfamiliar part of his grey town, one Yeah! thing was familiar. The big grey house was quite familiar to our dear boy. And though he had never been in its presence before, he had heard stories (JULIA, MATT, JILLIAN, and SAM leave the stage, and the students rearrange their groups, talking about what just happened. The of this big, grey house from other children’s conversations in the schoolyard. He had heard the dreadful tales of this particular grey bell rings, and more students flood onto the stage, all talking and yelling across the stage to friends. PRINCIPAL MACCARTHY house. He had heard the stories of a mother inside who had taken her own last, grey breathe. And a murderous father who had taken comes on stage as well, greeting students and stopping to chat with a few groups of students. Whenever he crosses paths with the grey breaths of his own offspring. But as our blue boy gazed upon this dreadful, big, grey house, it did not seem grey at all. In fact a member of the Shakespeare Club, they give an enthusiast greeting and smile brightly before quickly walking away, leaving it seemed quite darker than grey. PRINCIPAL MACCARTHY looking after them, a confused expression on his face.)

Though it has to be grey, he thought, because everything in this town is grey. Scene Six This dreadful house, he decided, is a much darker shade of grey. Perhaps the darkest shade of grey. Our innocently blue boy could not find a word to describe the atrocious, dark grey house. But the word he was searching for, was none It is the end of the month. PRINCIPAL MACCARTHY has declared the Shakespeare Club to be put back in session. The auditorium is other than black. filling up with kids who chatting and settling into the seats.

He creeped up the steps, a squeak in the wood with each step, and carefully made his way past the elderly door that was left wide open PRINCIPAL MACCARTHY just for him. (onstage, holding a microphone) The grey-blue boy walked into the black house and viewed it’s neglected interior. Hello, everyone, and welcome back. I’m impressed with your behavior, and should it continue, the Shakespeare Club is off the hook!

(Students cheer.)

30. 19. (JULIA smiles happily at MATT.) GREY Keddy D. MS. HAYWOOD (taking the microphone from PRINCIPAL MACCARTHY) This month’s discussions will be based on… A short story, written in the style of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper,” inspired by the animated short movie (she pauses, consulting the paper in her hand, which holds the results of the club’s vote) “Missing Halloween,” the motion picture “The Babadook,” “Alice In Wonderland,” “Monster House,” “American Horror Story; Hamlet! Murder House,” and works from director, Tim Burton.

(Students cheer more loudly, and PRINCIPLE MACCARTHY rolls his eyes.) Once, in a town as gloomy as rainfall on a cold February dawn, there was a boy. The boy walked through the partially busy streets of his grey town. The town was grey, the people were grey, the houses were grey, and he was grey. Though he was also blue. Our boy (JULIA and MATT kiss, and the lights fade out.) was a disgusting grey-blue shade of lonely. The mist of a windy rain was light in the sky. And as his lonely self mosied to his grey home he watched the droplets of grey rain tap his nose. THE END And the grey-blue boy walked alone through his dim town where nothing was anything but grey.

Our boy walked on and on. Past the grey trees and past the depressed buildings. Through the gloomy streets and up the miserable hill. He walked fast, but thought slowly. He blinked slow. Closing his eyes for a second and opening them to the sight of a girl. She was much too close to him. Blankly staring at him less than a foot away. Startled, he stepped with one foot back to brace himself.

He watched her. And she watched him. With big, magenta eyes that seemed to hold galaxies in their pupils. The fuchsia in her iris blended with the color of the town. He examined her features. Her blonde ponytail unevenly placed at the top of her head. Her cheeks were rosy and pale.

But those eyes. They stared into his. They stared past his. Those eyes that should be brown, but are magenta. She stared at him as though she was closely focusing on the cement details of a brick wall. And through all this time, he realized, neither had spoken a word.

And then she ran. She ran to the right, across the street, and left him standing in his own blue confusion. He watched and waited. Our blue boy was puzzled. He glared as her beautifully uneven ponytail grew further and further away. His curiosity beckoned him, whispering, “Follow Her.” His curiosity yelled at him, “Follow Her.” And then our grey-blue boy does something very unexpected; He submits to his lonely, blue curiousity.

He followed and followed. Lightly drifting down the path the magenta girl made. Time seems to dissolve as he floats to her. She stops on the mulch of an abandoned playground. She stares at him with those magenta eyes. He stops along the perimeter of the mulch. He dare not step closer to her eerie essence.

The magenta girl then climbs, lightly floating, up the side of the swings. He watches her in awe. She stops above the swings and stands perfectly balanced on the single grey pole. The chains holding the swing’s seat do not dare to sway in the wind at this time. Everything watches her in awe. The girl stares at our grey-blue boy with those deep magenta eyes. Her body perfectly still. She stares for a minute longer then abruptly drops her head. She lets it lifelessly dangle off her shoulders to the left. Our blue boy does not react. He watches in astonishment. With her head drooped, her body remains still. She lifts her arms from her side and ever so slowly places them at an 180 degree angle from her shoulders. Then she swiftly falls. She drops softly from the top of the swing. Her back slowly plummeting towards the mulch. Our boy, still with no reaction except the slightest pinch of befuddlement, watches carefully.

She lightly pats the ground and seems instantly to be back on her feet with no sign of pain or discomfort. She stares at him and he stares back. Then he glances downward to find himself standing on the mulch, directly in front of her. Our grey-blue boy feels drawn to this magenta girl like a moth to a ray of beautiful light. Though he is not afraid. Her eyes search through his as though they are somehow waiting for a response, though he has none.

20. 29.