What Squirrels Taught Me About Bravery
(ARVIN, a young socially awkward teenage boy, enters with CASSIE, a cute and determined looking young lady about the same age following close behind. They are stagehands for their local high school play.ARVIN and CASSIE are both dressed in all black, wearing headset microphones. A brief pause while he looks over her shoulder.)
ARVIN: (whispering) Because I’ve got less of a spine than a jellyfish.
CASSIE: I thought you were avoiding clichés for National ‘Be Original’ Week.
ARVIN: Fine. Less of a spine than my grandmothers Jell-O, that’s why.
CASSIE: Then say that; just tell her you’ve got a thing-
ARVIN: We’re halfway through intermission, I’ll do it when the shows over. She’s out there in the audience-
CASSIE: Which seat?
ARVIN: 23B, but don’t tell anyone I know that. (CASSIE raises an eyebrow) I’ll tell her after the show.
CASSIE: You’re always too busy. God, I think the only reason you’re not too busy for me is that we practically live together doing all this work backstage.
ARVIN: At least our microphones are working tonight; it’s still weird hearing my voice in the theater.
CASSIE: That’s not the point.
ARVIN: I’m not telling her.
CASSIE: Then I’ll tell her.
ARVIN: If you tell her-
CASSIE: What’ll you do, throw Jell-O at me? [annoyed but half-amused huff] I’m scared now.
ARVIN: It’ll ruin your shirt.
CASSIE: You know, if you didn’t like her….sometimes I wonder about you-
ARVIN: Wonder what?
CASSIE: What the secret ingredient is in the Krabby Patty formula. What do you think I’m talking about?
ARVIN: I do like her though.
CASSIE: Like who?
ARVIN: Lydia, god, you know who I’m talking about.
CASSIE: Say her name.
ARVIN: You’re really messed up sometimes, you know that?
CASSIE: Say it.
ARVIN: Lydia Parker. Screw it, I like Lydia Parker and I don’t have a snowball’s chance in-
CASSIE: Cliché.
ARVIN: Crap, right, I forgot. I don’t have a squirrel’s chance on a freeway of going out with her.
CASSIE: Poor squirrel.
ARVIN: He was too young to die.
CASSIE: Maybe if the squirrel had hitched a ride in Lydia’s Jeep, it wouldn’t have gotten run over.
ARVIN: Shut it.
CASSIE: Don’t act like you don’t think it’s hot she’s into Jeeps and stuff like that. She modeled, you know.
ARVIN: (shouting) Cassie, stop it!
CASSIE: (hushing him) Keep your voice down!
ARVIN: (whispering now) Why? Wait, Cassie, your light is on.
ARVIN: What?
ARVIN: Your microphone was on the whole time.
CASSIE: (grinning) So was yours.
Points: 484
Reviews: 28
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