What I Needed To Say

We are the game they play.
The old, overplayed game on the top shelf.
Flimsy cardboard unfit for a board game.
Ages ten and up.
Falling apart and dirty.
It’s on the shelf nobody can reach without a struggle.
Standing on your tip-toes on a chair is the only way.

We are the pieces,
Colorful slender and tall minions.
Obedient and stripped of free-will.
We do not understand
Why we do what we do,
Go where we go,
Say what we say.
We cannot rebel against the rules.
We simply cannot manipulate our way,
Cheating and backstabbing,
Until it is complete.
No, we are not cheaters.
Still, it consumes us.
Breaking our once-passionate spirits.
Our spirits that could once demolish the Great Wall of China,
Together.
No loophole can save us now.
The rules are far too precise to make mistakes.

This game is far too complex,
With its many twists and turns.
It’s overflowing with contradictory limitations.
Our chipping paint and slowly breaking bodies show
We are just as worn down as the game itself.
Overused.
Our plastic faces are melting away.
Limb by limb we are
Growing much too exhausted to proceed.
The fun of this game is growing sparse.
No longer can it shatter silence with laughter.
No longer can it peel away a frown.
No longer does it intrigue.
Now it only produces tears.
Frustration.
A game like this is sure to be in next year’s garage sale.
On the fake-oak table,
Two dollars or less if bargained with.
It is far too obsolete to keep.

And yet this game is our fixation.
Our loathed habit.
It’s time to abandon it,
Cold turkey.
It’s time to tell you: I finally quit.

A Time When My World Changed (final version)

I zip my zipper in the back of a red gown.
Its rough red material always gets stuck in the zipper.
I slide on my shimmering white gloves and feel as beautiful as a princess.
I float to your sunroom.
You have a tea party set up.
Me with water.
You with coffee.
We even have those little sandwiches.
Turkey and cheese, my favorite.
All was lost just so I would crack a smile through chapped lips.
These thoughts drown me later as I turn down your dinner invitation.
I am sorry.
I know you understand, you are too forgiving.

Remember when you surprised me Christmas morning that one year?
Daddy was too busy working.
We played that video game until it was shot.
I won every time.
And I remember how crazy I was.
With my obnoxious elephant lion song.
And my never-ending energy supply stored in my soul.
I thank you for putting up with me.
That must have taken so much out of you.

But this was all a few years ago.
I have grown more now.
I'm dating now.
And driving.
I'll even be getting a job soon.

Walking into that building that one day sent my
Stomach plummeting to the floor.
Sure, it seems so inviting with its homey look,
Warm colors, and bright patterns embedded in the furniture.
But it is the one thing that'll flip your world.
I am in my only dress, brown and stiff.
Combined with painful heels, flat and black.
I shuffle my way down the aisle.
Sitting down in the front row.
I glance up at your wedding picture framed on a pedestal.
Salty and sour, liquid escapes my tear ducts,
Down my rosy cheeks.
Slithering its way down until it reaches my dehydrated mouth,
Leaving a dreadful aftertaste I can't swallow away.
Still, it feels unsatisfied
And sends more to finish the job.

So you're asking me when my world changed?
Well, that's easy.
The day I lost my best friend.
My hero.
My grandmother.
Forever.

A Time When My World Changed (version 2)

I was zipping my red gown and sliding on my shimmering gloves,
I float down to the sunroom.
You’ve set up a fancy tea party setting.
You gave me water and set yourself with coffee.
We even had those little snacks.
You really went all out to make me happy.
These thoughts choke me later when I say I don’t want to eat dinner with you.
I’m sorry.
I know you understand, you are too forgiving.
Remember when you surprised me Christmas morning that one year?
We played that video game until it was fried because Daddy was working.
I won every time.
And I remember how crazy I was.
I thank you for putting up with me.
That must have taken a lot out of you.
But this was all a few years ago.
I have grown more now.
I’m dating now.
And driving.
I’ll even be getting a job soon.
You wouldn’t believe what I found a few weeks ago!
A letter you had sent me a long time ago.
When we decided to be pen pals, even though we lived only a few blocks away.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
You always know how to make me smile.
But walking into the building sent my stomach plummeting to the floor.
I was in my only dress and painful heels.
I suffered through all that just for you.
I sat down and looked at your picture.
Then people began talking about you.
And I couldn’t stop the tears from flooding my eyes.
So you’re asking me when my world changed?
Well that’s easy.
The day I lost my best friend.
My hero.
My grandmother.
Forever.



Do you think it has good fluency?
Do you think I worded things well?
I'm a bit worried that I told instead of showed.
Any other comments you want to tell me?
Thank you!

My Play

[BYRON has lived in the city for all his life, but LEXI has always been a country girl until a few years ago. She met BYRON and the two quickly fell for each other. They have been dating for about a year now. BYRON went with LEXI to her family’s big bonfire at her cousin’s farm. BYRON has never been to the country until now.]

LEXI

[sitting on a hay bale in front of the big fire]

I absolutely love going to bonfires.

BYRON

[sitting next to her and putting his arm around her]

Well it’s fun so far so I’m going to agree with you.

LEXI

It’s fun.

BYRON

And your family is awesome too!

LEXI

[playfully hitting his chest]

I told you they’d like you, but nooo-

BYRON

[interrupting her]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

LEXI

[looking up at the stars]

You know, the stars are very pretty tonight.

BYRON

[looking up also]

City lights ruin everything.

LEXI

Yes.

BYRON

Yeah the country is beautiful, I’ll give it that.

LEXI

The prettiest.

BYRON

You know, I’ve never seen it like this. I mean, yeah, you can see the stars where I live too, but it’s not so clear.

LEXI

[ignoring him]

Oh yeah. I remember always riding the horses on nights like this. We always used to ride in the back trail by the woods. It’s this long trail, the most beautiful scenery you could ever see. And you know me, I love scenery. Anyway, I was a pretty good horse rider too and-

BYRON

[cutting her off]

I’ve never ridden a horse.

LEXI

[ignoring him]

And I was thinking about entering in actual horse competitions too, but that never happened.

BYRON

Why not?

LEXI

I guess I just got busy. I mean my mom started getting involved with the cities around the same time I was thinking of entering. Then things just got chaotic and then the next moment we weren’t up here anymore.

BYRON

I’m sorry.

LEXI

Ah, oh well. It’s not like moving was a horrible thing. I got to meet you, and MILEY. Jason too. Everybody.

BYRON

Why don’t you pursue it now? Your cousin has a farm and horses so it’s not like it’s impossible to do.

LEXI

Nah.

BYRON

May I ask why not?

LEXI

Well I mean I love riding don’t get me wrong, but I guess my priorities just changed I guess.

BYRON

Oh?

LEXI

Makes sense to me and that’s all that matters.

BYRON

No I get it.

LEXI

Okay.

[a silence erupts between the two that lasts for quite a bit before BYRON breaks it]

BYRON

You okay?

LEXI

Yeah?

BYRON

Well you’re just quiet is all.

LEXI

So are you.

BYRON

That is true.

LEXI

Yeah.

[another silence erupts that lasts for a bit longer than the first]

BYRON

You sure you’re fine?

LEXI

Yeah I’m just thinking.

BYRON

Think out loud.

LEXI

It’s just memories I guess. Stuff that I used to do all the time.

BYRON

[holding her tighter]

I’m sorry.

LEXI

No it’s not a bad thing or anything.

BYRON

Okay.

[yet another silence for a few moments]

LEXI

What time is it?

BYRON

[pulling out his cell phone]

About midnight.

LEXI

Alrighty.

BYRON

Why?

LEXI

Just wondering.

BYRON

Are you hinting you want to go home already?

LEXI

No.

BYRON

What time did you want to leave anyway?

LEXI

I don’t really care.

BYRON

Well you just let me know.

LEXI

Why don’t you ever pick anything?

BYRON

What are you talking about?

LEXI

Well like right now for instance. You’re making me pick what time to go home.

BYRON

I’m not making you pick anything.

LEXI

[sarcastically]

Uh, okay.

BYRON

I’m not.

LEXI

And whenever we hang out you usually, well not usually you always make me pick.

BYRON

That’s because I’m a gentlemen. I want you to be happy. [muttering] That and if I don’t, you nag me about it later.

LEXI

Excuse me?

BYRON

Hm?

LEXI

I do not nag.

BYRON

No, you just complain.

LEXI

I do not!

BYRON

[sarcastically]

Of course not, babe.

LEXI

You’re such a jerk!

BYRON

What?

LEXI

[throwing his arm back at him and scooting over]

You heard me.

BYRON

[attempting to pull her back]

I’m sorry... [LEXI ignores him] Oh, come on. You know I didn’t mean it that way. [she continues to ignore him] LEXI, you know I love you. I would never insult you.

LEXI

Yeah, whatever.

BYRON

[pulling her back and putting his arm around her again]

I’m sorry.

LEXI

You should be.

BYRON

I am.

LEXI

Okay.

BYRON

[kissing her cheek]

I don’t want to fight with you.

LEXI

[kissing him]

We’re fine.

BYRON

Alright.

LEXI

I’m getting tired.

BYRON

Agreed.

LEXI

Indeed.

BYRON

[whispering in her ear]

Have you ever heard the tale about the Halloween murderer? The legend has it that every Halloween the murderer comes out and lures children with candy. They follow him into the woods where he murderers them. And he hasn’t been caught-

LEXI

[cutting him off]

It’s not Halloween, dumbass.

BYRON

It’s still a scary story. And we’re around a fire so it fits.

LEXI

That wasn’t even a good scary story. Did you just make that up?

BYRON

I’ve heard it from many people.

LEXI

You lie.

BYRON

Well I tried.

LEXI

[yawning]

What time is it?

BYRON

It’s been about an hour.

LEXI

Should we go?

BYRON

If you want to. [LEXI gives him a warning glare as if it say “this is exactly what we just fought about, be careful.”] Yeah, we should go.

LEXI

I’m going to go say goodbye to my mom quick and then I’ll meet you at the car.

BYRON

Okay.

[LEXI finds her mom]

MOM

Hey, sweetie. I haven’t really talked to you all night.

LEXI

Sorry. I’m just saying goodbye. BYRON and I are getting tired and we’re going to go.

MOM

Oh you’re leaving already? Okay then. I’ll see you back home.

LEXI

Okay, I love you.

MOM

[hugging her daughter]

I love you too. Bye, hun.

LEXI

Bye Mom. [shouting to everybody] Goodbye everybody! I love you! [the family shouts the same back]

[LEXI goes back to the car and BYRON drives her and himself back to her house. BLACKOUT.]