Monologues4Kids

Gerrie will write Custom Monologues to order!

An Original Custom Monologue will help you stand out from the crowd.

“Own the Moment”

More information here.

" . . . . . .Daddy is a TERRIBLE mime. But Mommy says we can’t tell him that. It’s our secret.  (Make shhh sound with finger to your lips) That’s when I knew what to wish for. (small pause) To be in this park, blowing dandelions and watching my Mommy and Daddy laugh. This is the perfect wish.  I wish for this. (spread arms wide)" 

"Everyone keeps telling me to be brave.  (Look up)  They say that beautiful Angels are hovering in the air waiting to gather my Mommy in their arms.  They say that today is just a little goodbye and that my Mommy will always be up there with the Angels watching over me.  Then they tell me not to cry.  And I nod and I say it’s okay and I understand and that I won’t. . . . . But I don’t understand.  It’s not okay. . . . . ."

" . . . . . I’m not like Annie.  She’s so brave.  She always stands up to Miss Hannigan.  I wish I could do that.  (tilt head to one side) I can see me now.   Miss Hannigan will be yelling like usual.  (make voice sound mean like Miss Hannigan) . . . . . (Brave, determined face)  I’ll walk right up to Miss Hannigan and say . . . . . and say . . . .(face falls back to scared) “Is there anything else I can clean Miss Hannigan?”  (Big sigh)  I try to be brave.  I really do.  But she’s scary.  . . . . . . "

"In Beauty and the Beast, Belle is not supposed to go into the West Wing.  It’s the only place in the castle she’s not allowed to go.  In my house, I’m not supposed to go into the Blue Room. . .It used to be my favorite room in the house.  I miss it . . .Why did you go to heaven Baby Jamie? We wanted you to come here. We made a beautiful Blue Room for you. You would have liked it. . . . . ."    

" . . . . .  Why don’t Mommy and Daddy understand?  I want to be a Big Sister.  But they keep saying (spread arms) that I’m the only baby they will ever need. (brings arms to chest) I’m the only baby they will ever want.  . . . . . . (Shake head sadly)  I’m all alone.  Mommy and Daddy play with me sometimes but they’re busy too. . . . . . . . "

"Goodnight! (wave goodbye to someone off stage)  Don’t forget to leave the light on. I have to have the light on. Because when the lights go off, I have scary dreams. They don’t start scary.  They start wonderful. . . . . . "

" . . . . .Yesterday we were late because I was finishing my breakfast.  It is the most important meal of the day.  And the day before we were late because I couldn’t my purple shirt.  I was feeling very purple that morning.  Mommy said I have a severe case of Lateitis. . . . . The truth is I want to be late.  I want to get to school after classes start. (look frightened).  There are these older kids . . . . Once they pushed me down and I cut my knee. . . . . So I’m just going to be late for school.  Forever."  

"Yes Auntie Em.  I’ll be right there.  (looks up as if at sky) The sky is so clear today.  No tornados anywhere.  (forced, perky voice and smile)  Which is great!  Good for the crops. I’m really happy about this.   . . . . (face falls, voice saddens) No I’m not. (Big sigh)   The sky is clear, I’ll go to school, I’ll do the chores and I’ll go to bed.  The same thing I did yesterday.  The same thing I’ll do tomorrow.  (voice angers as fists clench at side)  I hate it!  I miss the Land of Oz.  . . . . . ."

"“Hello Sam.  Do you like cookies?” (Shake head and try again in a perky voice) “Surprise!  Cookies!” (Shake head again and then stretch one hand out as if holding a cookie and say fearfully) “Cookie?”  (Big sigh)  I just don’t know how to say it.  There’s a boy in my class named Sam.  And every day he makes someone give him their lunch.  He just walks right up to you and says (sound mean) “Gimme.” (Wide eyes, a little fearful)  He’s very big and very scary. (shrug)  So we always just give him our lunch.   Yesterday he took mine.  I had a PB&J sandwich, apple slices and caramel pudding.  (dreamy) I love caramel pudding.  But Sam said “Gimme” so I did.  (look a little sad)  I was very hungry that afternoon.  Why was Sam always so mean?  . . . "

" . . . . . I don’t want things to change. I want to stay here, in my house, with my tree. (Hopelessly) But no one ever listens to what little kids want. My Mom is so happy.  She keeps singing silly songs as she packs.  And I’m glad this move will make my Mom happy but . . . . . I’m scared. (Suddenly blurting this out as if telling a secret)   I’m not going to know anyone there.  What if no one likes me? What if I can’t make any new friends and I have to sit all alone at lunch every day? . . . . . "

"I skipped school today.  I like school but I’m scared to go right now because my skin isn’t the right color.  (confused)  I don’t know why the color of my skin matters.  It didn’t use to matter.  It was just my skin.  But now it does. . . . . . "

"I think there’s something wrong with me. Yesterday we played a prank on the pirates. (voice gets sneaky and full of excitement) . . . It’s a little known fact that Pirates are afraid of frogs. We let them loose on the ship and then waited for the Pirates to wake up. “Oy, what’s on me arm?  It’s a frog! (Terrified, jumping around, rubbing arm as if there is a frog on there)  Get it off, get if off!!” . . . . . (confused) But afterwards, I felt strange.. . . . . ."

Dreams

Do you ever wonder what you are going to be when you grow up? I do. I think about this all the time.

In fact, I have so many dreams that sometimes it feels like my brain is going to explode from all my choices ...

"Me? No, Mrs. Spencer I don’t have my homework.  But there’s a very good reason.  I was sitting at my desk and then all of a sudden I was flying over the town.  And I knew I wasn’t me anymore.  I was a Phoenix.  And this was my one day to live . . . . . . . I helped a dragon save our town from an evil house dropping wizard and I danced in the sky with fireflies. .  . . . . . . "

" . . . . . . How can anyone deserve to be shot? I go to Sunday school every week and they’re always talking about love your neighbor.  So I stood up right in the middle of church and asked Pastor Joe if Jesus was love, why would he want people to be shot?  I never heard the answer because my ma and pa grabbed me and hustled me out the door.  And when we got home they told me to git in your room and think about what you just said.. . . . . "

" . . . . . I want to scream and yell and hit things. I want to run and run until I reach the land of yesterday and he’s still here. (passionately) I want so many things. (look down and then look back up) The movies have it all wrong.  I don’t think the sun will come out tomorrow. (sad, bleak expression)  And I don’t want to be an orphan anymore." 

"Noooooooo!  (Sinks to knees, looks down and then look back up pleading desperately) Please, please God no. (Bite lip, steadying voice) Lilly is dead. My perfect, beautiful, wonderful kitten is dead. (Look sadly into the distance) Pastor Jim says that sometimes bad things happen and we won’t ever understand why and we just have to accept them. (Stand up, voice hardening in anger) Accept them?  I don’t want to accept them. Why are they always telling little kids things like that? . . . . . "

"I hate being a Goblin.  Nobody likes me.  No one talks to me when they see me.  They just run away.  It’s not fair.  I was born a Goblin but I’m so much more that. (pleading)   Why can’t anyone see me?  My Granny says people are afraid of Goblins because we have magic.  But I only use my powers when I have to.  Last week I turned one of Cinderella’s Stepsisters into a frog.  I had to.  She was being very mean to Cinderella. (tilt head thinking) And I did turn the Big Bad Wolf into a pig.  (shrug)  Act like a pig, become a pig.  He got what he deserved . . . . "

" . . . . I am spunky, I am strong.  I am spunky, I am strong. That's my mantra. My Daddy says ya gotta have a mantra. If not, (shrug shoulders) you'll jist drift along in life. Following all the sheep people; doing stupid things. (look around nervously again)  I'm guessin he might say this was a stupid sheep thing but (spread hands sheepishly) it seemed like a good idea at the time . . . . . . "

" .. . . .My older brother doesn’t live with us.  He lives in a home for people who are mentally challenged. But when I was little, I didn’t know that.  he only thing I knew was that he lived in a magical home.  A home filled with people who always wanted to play. . . . . .  But my favorite person was the Professor.  He had an invisible time machine and we would travel everywhere . . . . ."

" . . . . . . The vet said my parents should just put him to sleep now so he won’t suffer anymore and I should say goodbye. (anger starts to build)  I hate that vet! He kept looking at me with this (make a sad face) sad, sympathetic look on his face and I just wanted to grab him (hands clench in fists at side) and shake him and say DO SOMETHING!!! FIX HIM!!! He’s a Superhero Puppy.  He can’t die. Superhero Puppies don’t die. . . . . . "

" . . . . . (Hold out photo as anger builds in voice) And it wasn’t funny Claire.  Cancer isn’t funny.   (Drop photo) It killed you Claire and you kept making jokes (stamp on foot on photo) and (hands clench into fists rising up a little as you sink to stage) I wanted to shake you and say (glare at photo from knees)  this isn’t funny.   It’s freaking tragic and (at this point hands are flailing about during the I hate its and at last I hate it actress should be lying flat on the stage) I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.  (next line is said forlornly from stage) And I hate you because you died Claire.  (slowly sit up back on knees) You died and you left me. . . . . . . "

"I’ve looked everywhere and I can’t find him. (sink to knees looking out at audience, tiny sad shake of head) And I don’t know what else to do. (Raise eyes up to sky and say imploringly) Please, someone tell me what to do. (Pause and then say passionately) Rowdy, where are you? (stand, take a breath and compose yourself and in lighter voice say) . . . . Rowdy’s my dog. I got him for Christmas this year. My Mom tried to tell me that Santa brought him, but hello? (Little bit of diva attitude in voice) I’m 10, not 2. He listens to all my secrets and always licks my face when I’m having a bad day. (Pause) And today is the worse day ever. This morning, when I woke up, Rowdy was gone. . . . . . . ."

" . . . .I’m so hungry. I didn’t have anything to eat today. It’s my fault. I dropped Misha’s breakfast bowl this morning and he was so angry. He hit me and for a moment I couldn’t breathe. I tried to say I’m sorry but he wouldn’t listen.  He just took my bowl and said (talk in a sneering tone as if you were Misha) “You’re too little and stupid for food anyway.”   I’m so hungry.  (Take deep breath as lips quiver and then stand up speaking with determination)  But I won’t cry.  . . "

" . . . . .I was so sad.  But then Peter Pan came and brought me here.  And now I fight pirates and Indians and play all day.  Now, if I could just figure out how to fly.  Pizza! Swordfights!  Puppies!  (Actor leaps into the air and then sighs exasperated) Nothing.  But I’ll figure it out someday. (Pause as actor looks up into air and softly says)  I’ll never give up Mom. (Look determined and jump in the air as you say) Ice cream!"

" . . . . Don’t cry. Take deep breaths. Do not cry. I am so tired of trying to fit in. (walk over to the doll) I know I shouldn’t have twirled around in the hallway between classes. But I was thinking about The Sound of Music and the part where Maria twirls in a circle (slow twirl) when she’s singing and I just got carried away. (kneel at the chair by the doll) You understand, don’t you Mary? (stand up) . . . .  I’m talking to a doll. But I don’t have anyone else to talk to." 

"Dear Lucky. I’ve been really sad and my Mom says that sometimes it helps to write everything down when you’re upset. I’ve been staring at this paper for a half hour and I have no idea what to say. You died Lucky. Mom says you lived a good life and I should just be happy I knew you. (very sincerely) And I am. I’m really happy. You were my best friend Lucky. I told you all my secrets and you even let me dress you up for a tea party once. (remembering)  You looked so silly.  How did I ever get that dress on you? . . . "

" . . . . I want to say something cool.  I want to join in. But I can’t find the words.  So I just stand there looking like an idiot as they call me weirdo, freak of nature and Mime boy. (incredulous) Mime boy? I’m not acting things out. I just can’t find the words. But the worse part is the laughing. I hate it when they laugh at me. (voice starts rising in anger, fists clench at side) I just want to grab them and shake them and say “Hey, stop laughing at me. Stop it! STOP LAUGHING!!!!!” . . . . . . " 

" . . . . .It’s so quiet. Like the moon itself is holding it’s breath waiting for the Harvest. (look off into the distance) There’s comes my Da. (look saddened) He looks so shattered. I wish he wouldn’t work so hard. I want to tell him he’s more important than the Harvest. (frustrated)  I want to tell him so many things, but when I try my mouth dries up like a massive gob. Maybe he’ll rest a little after the Harvest.  . . . . ."

" . . . . . . . I can’t go to the hospital anymore. (angrily) I can’t smell the sickness and the sadness anymore. (break down) I can’t paint on a smile anymore. I can’t!  I’m sorry Grandpa, I just can’t.  (pause as you regain your composure) Hospitals also smell like goodbyes. And that’s the worse smell of all."

" . . . . . . And every time the answer was “Thank you.” (Say thank you in dead flat  monotone voice) Not even a “We’ll let you know” or a “We’ll give you a call.”  Just a flat, empty thank you. I hate that thank you!  (Change voice to full of wonderment) But then, I finally got a “Thank you.  Thank you very much.”  And I knew!  I just knew!  That wasn’t a you didn’t get the part thank you.  It was a yes! . . . . .? 

" . . . . . . .  I have to make this team  . . . . . so far my sporting life has been a disaster. I spent the entire Pee Wee soccer season running up and down the soccer field and never got close enough to kick the ball.  Not even once.  . . . . .  my Dad got sick.  (slightly angry tone) Dads aren’t supposed to get sick.  Especially my Dad who is probably one of the healthiest people on the planet.  I mean he runs a bazillion miles every single day.  How can someone like that get sick? ). . . . . . .For once, in my disastrous sporting life I didn’t mess up.  I caught the ball.  And look, my Dad is smiling.. . . . .  After all, my Dad is Mr. Sports and I’m just like him."    

" . . . . . They’re coming back. This is it. The last member of the competition team is (a slight pause with eyes hopeful). Her. (sigh) Now they’re reading the list of rules. Rehearsal time, new jazz shoes. I wish it were me. (look up shocked) She’s turning the spot down? But why? She beat me. (slowly look down at jazz shoes and then look up) Oh. (I get it expression on face.  Look determined and then wave hand a little as if talking to someone and say) . . . . . . "    

"I can still remember the day my parents told me I was getting a little sister. . . . . . Yesterday Lily got sick.  She has a fever and it keeps getting higher.  Mom and Dad took her to the hospital. They told me they would call when Lily was better. They haven’t called yet. . . . . She has to get better. She has to. Because Lily was the best present my parents ever gave me. . . . . . "

“Good evening Sir.” (Curtsy)  “Thank you sir.” (Curtsy) “How may I help you Ma’am?” (Curtsy and then frustrated, anger beneath the surface)  Oh, I’m so very tired of curtsying and being polite.  Smiling (fake smile) at everyone even though I long to just scream at them to (raise voice and tighten fists)  “GO AWAY!”  But I can’t do that.  Proper young ladies control their feelings.  Proper young ladies curtsy. So, I push my feelings down deep inside of me and just hope no one can tell. . . . . . "

" . . . I guess everyone has bought their wand. Why is the Teacher calling me over? (listen and then say confusedly) Pick out my wand? I’m not getting one. I don’t have any money. (listen and then have eyes bug out incredulously) It’s paid for. But those wands cost 47 dollars!  What?  How? (big smile of sheer joy) It’s really mine?  Maybe there is magic in the air after all.  I’ll choose (look and point) that one!"  

"I don’t think my Daddy likes me anymore. Last week he got remarried. I was really happy for him because he’s been a single Dad for a long time. His new wife has a daughter about my age and he kept telling me “You’re getting a new sister. Isn’t it wonderful? You two will be best friends.” (Smiling) I have to admit I did get excited. I kept picturing the day my new sister moved in. We would look at each other and know we would be best friends forever. (smile drops and a deadness enters voice) But it didn’t work out that way......."

" . . . . The truth is I’m not okay.  I’m angry.  I should have said what’s wrong with being weird?  I like weird.  I should have said being normal like you is boring.  Pippa, yesterday I walked away.  But not today.  Today I am going to speak up for you and me and all the weird girls.  Today I’ll tell them you can’t put me in your “Popular Girl” box. . . . . "

" . . . . And now being friends is hard.  Some of my friends refuse to wear a mask.  They say . . . .well they say a lot of stuff.  Angry stuff.  But some of my friends do wear a mask.  They’re scared of getting the virus.  They say a lot of stuff too. (frustrated)  Everyone is saying so much stuff! . . . ."

" . . . It was late and Dad, as usual, had one more drink from his flask before we left the movie theater. . . .  all of a sudden there was this crashy sound and a big bump like we ran over something.  I couldn’t see anything.  Dad said “Think I hit a raccoon.  That poor little dude is toast.”  But he looked funny.  He looked scared. There’s a story on the news about a little boy who was run over last night by a hit and run driver.  I asked Dad if he was sure we hit a raccoon.  All he said “Get ready for school.  But first one more drink before we have to hit the road.”  (Look down)  I don’t know what to do.  . . . "

" . . . . When I started getting a little older, we started reading Shel Silverstein poems.  My favorite poem asked “What do you do, when the light turns blue?”  I used that line for everything.  Mom would say “Go clean your room.”  And I would say “I could clean my room or play outside.  What do you do when the light turns blue?”  And she would laugh and I would always get to play outside.  You have to if the light turns blue.  (tilt head to one side thinking)  Our house was really messy during those years. .  . . . " 

" . . . . . this morning I came down for breakfast and my Mom said:  “Hello. Are you visiting us?  I can’t seem to remember your name.  Silly me. Would you like some breakfast?” (Repeat dazedly) Would I like some breakfast?  (bite lip, holding back tears) My Mom didn’t  remember my name.  This wasn’t funny anymore.  How can my Mom not know me?  I know I have to go back.  My Dad needs me.  Sometimes at night I can hear him crying and I know I have to help him.  But I’m going to watch the waves a little more.  I like to watch the waves.  They never change."  

"But I certainly don’t belong in detention with kids who steal things and beat up other kids. Not that I think any of you do things like that. (listen)  Oh, you did beat someone up? (nervous laugh)  Well there’s nothing wrong with being a little feisty.  (listen again)  And you are here for stealing? (cringe in fear) Please don’t beat me up. . . . . . "

"He’s outside the window again listening to the bedtime story.  I can see his shadow.  Every day he says:  “Come away, come away to the Neverland.”  I want to say yes. (close eyes with dreamy smile) To close my eyes, think happy thoughts and soar up into the air.  (open eyes and sigh with frustration)  But I don’t know. . . . ."

"Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd. That’s what Toby’s says. In fact, that’s all he says because he’s off his head. He’s completely balmy. And all because of that  Sweeney Todd. (glare angrily) I hate Sweeney Todd! Toby just wanted a family, someplace warm to sleep. Sweeney took it all. (angrily pacing) The Sweeneys always take it all. (breathing heavily with frustration, suddenly stop pacing and say)  I’m not going to be a Toby. . . ."

"I can’t believe it. I fell? Maybe if I just lie here long enough everyone will think this is part of my monologue.  (Take one hand and caress the stage) he wood is . . . . . .(pause to try to think of something and then stand up in frustration)    Oh who am I kidding?  The monologue that I spent three months perfecting is ruined. I don’t understand.  (passionately)  I was born to perform . . . . . . "

". . . . . Don’t touch me. Can’t you just go away and leave me alone?  (Pause as Actress pulls knees up and clasp them and lay head down on knees swaying a little whispering) “It’s not on any chart, you must find it in your heart. ... .”(Look up)   It’s a song.  About Never, Neverland.. . . . .  But then Daddy lost his job and everything changed. . . . They locked me in my room and wouldn’t let me go to school anymore.  And Mommy said . . . (voice breaking a little) she said they had to make a sacrifice . . . . . . ."

" . . . .Tonight I wuz reading a book Aunt Charlotte lent me. (face light up with happiness). “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” by Mistuh Jules Verne.  (voice is excited)  It was the most wondrous book I ever seen, about a sea monster and a ship trying to ketch it.  I know Southern Gentlemen don’t read books. Papa says it’s (sound like Papa again and say namby pamby very disdainfully)  namby pamby.  I knew I had to be careful, but it was jist so exciting. (Pause & take a step forward)  Papa caught me reading it. . . . . . . . . " 

" . . . . (Look around with apprehension) I better go home. It’s late and my father is going to be angry. (look afraid)  He doesn’t understand.  I asked him once if he would buy me a ticket to see an opera and he flew into a rage . . . .  I know he doesn’t mean to hurt me. (passionately) I wish I could make him understand how wonderful opera makes me feel. But he won’t listen. . . . I’ll just close my eyes and pretend I’m here, soaring into the sky. . . . . ."   

" . . . . . My Mother says I’m getting too emotional about this but she doesn’t understand. I met Shep while volunteering at the shelter, earning community service credits for my college applications.  I’ve never met anyone like him before. He said he used to travel all over the country on foot. He saw so many amazing things like the World’s Biggest Ball of Twine. Weird but cool. I wanted to ask him more about the places he’s seen, but when I got here today they told me Shep had died. It was below freezing last night and they think his heart just gave out. (Look down and then look up passionately) My family has plenty of money.  We have more food than we can ever eat and my Mother spends all her time shopping. Why do we get so much and he dies shivering in the street?  . . . . . . ."  

" . . . . .I’ll never forget the day we put koolaid in our hair and dyed it pink. We looked ridiculous. But we went to the mall and walked around for hours so that everyone could see our pinkalicious hair. . . . . . . . . Then we had the talk. (voice gets sad and heartbroken) . . . . keep flying little bird. Always Keep Flying.” And then she left. I haven’t seen her since that day. . . . . . .   (Very angry) Do you hear me universe? (shout)  MOMS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO LEAVE!!!! . . . . . ."

" . . . . Please, please let me come home. . . . They told me I had to stay here because I kept forgetting who I was and that sometimes when I do that, I hurt people.  . . .Did I do it again? . . . . . . . . . 

" . . . “Fetch some more water?  Right away sir.” Last week I had to go out in the middle of the night.  I ran as fast as I could and started back towards the inn when all of a sudden something grabbed my ankle.  (Freeze in terror) I stood there shaking until I heard I heard “Bonjour. I seem to be a bit lost.  And for some reason lying on the ground.”  (roll eyes)  It was ONLY Master Fiarry in his cups again. . . . .     (Determined nod)  I’ll just have to be brave.  I’ll pretend I’m a lady like Miss Eponine on her way to a ball. . . . . . "

"I can’t close my eyes.  Every time I do, I see flames everywhere. (bring both hands clenched in fists to head as say in pleading voice)  Make it stop!  Please make it stop. .   

 . . . . I don’t know how I got outside.  All I remember is seeing the flames roaring and eating my house.  And I couldn’t find my Mommy or Daddy anywhere.  Where were they?  They were supposed to be right behind me.  (yell in despair) Why?  Why weren’t you right behind me?  (take deep shuddering breath) And now I can’t close my eyes. Because of the flames." 

" . . . . . And now I can’t stop thinking about it.  Did she save all that change so she could finally buy lunch and then it was ruined? Was she hungry? Are people hungry?  (look at audience pleading and desperate)   Because I didn’t know." 

"Okay, so I’m not super skinny. I don’t look like a stick. That doesn’t give you the right to call me chubby. Chubby? What kind of word is that anyway  (gesture at self) I’m normal. I’m a normal person who weighs a normal weight. I’m sorry I don’t look like a starving child from a third world country, but I like the way I look.  . . . . " 

"(Looks up) No, I don’t want to talk about it.  No, I don’t want anything to drink either.  (Puts head back in hands and then lifts head up again, glaring and frustrated) No, I don’t want to look at a magazine.  (Stands up angrily) Could you just leave me alone until my parents get here?  I just want to be left alone.  (Very sarcastically) THANK YOU.  (Pause a beat as if person is leaving and then slump dejectedly) Not that it will be any better then. . . . . . . . . ."

"What happened to you?  (imploring voice)  We used to be friends.  Don’t you remember third grade?  Sitting in my tree house, reading Nancy Drew novels and swearing that no matter what we’ll always be best friends forever?  And now look at you.  You’re nothing but a bully.  Running around and doing what you’re so called “friends” tell you to do. . . . . . . . . . I know you can make my life even more miserable. . . . . .   So I’ll do what you want.  . . . . "

" . . . . .Why am I here? (Stand)  I was on the plane with my Mom sitting next to me. I remember the plane taking off. (pause, puzzled expression & then start to remember. Actress runs back to chair, grabs seat with both hands). The plane. It started to shake. (Chair shakes as she remembers) It was shaking and everyone was screaming. (Looks around frantically)  Mom! Mom, what’s happening? We were hugging each other and I was screaming and then . . . . . . . . "

** Male version Dad is used in place of Mom.  

"Every morning at breakfast my Mom asks me how I am. I always say (smiling, very cool, emphasize the word fine) “I’m fine Mom.  Everything is Fine”. (Drop smile and eyes become sad and bleak)  I want to say my ribs hurt Mom, because Seth pushed me against my locker. I want to say I can’t wear my new hoodie anymore Mom, because I had to give it to Seth. And (fists clench at side in frustration) I really want to say the reason I dropped soccer Mom is because Seth told me I had to, after I kicked the winning goal instead of him. (shrug hopelessly)  But I never say those things.  I always say (fake smile again) “Everything is fine.” . . . . .  " 

"When I was little I loved the movie “The Sound of Music”.  I used to go outside and twirl around in a circle singing “The hills are alive with the Sound of Music”. I was kind of a dork. (tilt head thinking) I haven’t done that in a long time. Everything is so hard now.  School, social media and trying to understand boys. I have no idea how to talk to boys. I don’t think I will ever go on a date.  It’s too hard.  Everything is just too hard. . . . . . "

"I’ve locked and barricaded my bedroom door.  I put salt at the window and I’m wearing a charm bracelet I borrowed from my friend Ashley.  It’s supposed to keep you safe from supernatural things. I figured it couldn’t hurt.  I’ve done everything I could think of. (Look around nervously) But what if it’s not over?  I’m so scared. . . . . . "

" . . . . . I want to argue with someone about which Harry Potter school is the best or whether we should get pineapple on our pizza. I am so tired of floating around in this sea of words every day that doesn’t mean anything. I tried to tell  my Aunt this and she laughed at me and said “Ah, teenage angst.  Worrying over silly things.  You’ll get over it and laugh about this some day.”  I’ll get over it. (sarcastic)  That was helpful. Or maybe I’ll drown . . . . . . "

" . . . . .He was so proud. And then they laughed at him. The kids I thought were so cool laughed at my brother.  (full of anger again and say numbers very deliberately) 8, 9, 10.   (Big cheesy smile, make a gesture on this is my brother) So I said, this is my brother Seth.  He makes the best Hot Pockets in the world but only for cool kids. (drop the cheesy smile and say very deliberately, with suppressed anger) Which you are not.  Now (shout) GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!  (Shrug) At least I counted. . . . . .)  

"Step, step.  Up the stairs.  Keep walking and smile.  Remember to smile. . . . .  It’s my first day back.  Everything looks the same.  The school, my friends.  We’re all the same.  Everything is good. (Look down at jeans) Except my jeans.  My jeans are new.  (look around)  Nobody else’s jeans are new.  (hands should be tensing, retracting, moving as the lines build) Only mine.  I told my Mother I shouldn’t have new jeans.  But she made me get them.  Mine were . . . . dirty.  (panicking) Now I’m not the same.  I want to be the same!  No one notices you if you are the same.  (Drop hands by side.  Close eyes, breathe and then open them again) Keep walking.  Keep smiling. . . . . . "

"My friend died yesterday. She stood on a chair, tied a rope around her neck and stepped off the chair and died. Counselors have been talking to us at school all day.  They keep asking everyone to talk about how they feel.  How do I feel?  I feel angry at her for doing something so stupid.  I feel sad that she’s dead and and her Mom won’t stop crying. But mostly, I feel guilty.  This is all my fault. . . . . "

" . . . . . .(Voice changes to anger and suspicion) You’re staring at me. Stop staring at me. Yes, I have problems. That’s why I’m here in this stupid place stuck here for the rest of my stupid life. (yelling) Which I keep trying to end and no one will let me. (pause and then speak in an menacing, sarcastic tone) Oh no. Did I make you sad? Were you scared? Boo hoo. Better get used to it. This happens a lot in the Land of the Crey Crey."

" . . . . . . . Why are you just staring at me? Aren’t you supposed to be all fake sympathetic right now to get me to trust you? Because I watch TV. I know how these things work. (stare defiantly a moment and looks away) Look even if you are trying to help me, there’s no cure for me in your pile of papers. I’m broken. And I can’t be fixed. But that’s okay.  Sometimes things get broken.  . . . . . " 

"We’re moving. Again. (Build and burst with frustration) And I don’t understand why. I thought we were done. That we were finally normal. That we could finally stay. I had normal once. (Soft, nostalgic smile) My parents had a house in the suburbs. It even had a white picket fence. I loved that fence. I used to pretend to paint it. I think my grand plan at the age of 5 was to become a fence painter. (laugh a little) But when I was 7 years old, my Mom died. And then we started moving . . . . "

" . . . .I don’t know how to do CPR. I  know what you’re supposed to do, so I tried. I held his nose and I breathed into his mouth. I tried to push on his heart. I kept doing it over and over. Breathe! Breathe! Why don’t you breathe? (Stands up, walks a few steps and then sweeps everything off table in anger with his back to the audience.  Breathes and then turns around) It was no use. . . . . "

" . . . . We were spending every moment together.  We were fire; we were stars blazing across the sky. You won’t tell me why.  You just say it’s over.  I want to hate you. . . . . . . I’m still there, burning bright . I don’t know how to stop.  So, I guess . . . . I’ll just keep burning."      

"I have this dream.  In it, I open my closet door and instead of stepping into Narnia, I step into another universe.  In this universe nobody is born male or female.   They’re just born. When they get old enough they decide if they want to be a boy or a girl. (eyes dreamy and happy before becoming sad and frustrated)  It’s beautiful and perfect and . . . . . . . it’s just a dream.  In my universe I was born a female.  But I wake up every day feeling like a male.  I’m miserable and I’m terrified and I don’t know what to do. . . . . " 

" . . . . . Perhaps we could begin? Begin what? Our slow motion run where we hugged each other? (sarcastically) Pretty sure that wasn’t happening. I opened my mouth to say “Hi Mother. I’ve missed you. I want to know you. Tell me all about you.”  That’s what I wanted to say (angrily) but what came out was “One hour? Okay so tell me why you put me in foster care? You know that’s where I’ve been right? Living with people who were paid to take care of me instead of living with my Mother. People like the woman who only gave us old vegetables to eat and told the socials workers it was part of our healthy diet. But she was a lot better than the woman who kept trying to beat the devil out of us. Lots of fun adventures in foster care. That pretty much covers me. What have you been up to Mother?”  . . . . . . "

" . . . . Quiet.  Everything in this house is quiet.  The people who live here walk around without making a sound.  Sometimes someone will say something.  But it’s always in a hushed tone.  That’s what Aunt Abby told me.  She said “Speak in a hushed tone child.”  (Roll eyes)  Yesterday I went into the pink room and started shouting “Why?” (passionately)  I wasn’t quiet.  I wasn’t hushed.  But as soon as I stopped shouting. the quiet came back.  Surrounding me.  Choking me.  I had to run away again. . . . ."

"On my 10th birthday my Dad talked to me about peer pressure.  He said if anyone ever tries to get me to do something that I know I shouldn’t do, just walk away.  So that’s what I did. When Kyle said:  (Change voice & body language to surfer dude) “Dude, I’ve got cigarettes.  Want a puff?”  I walked away. . . . . I was the King of Walking away. Until last night. . . . ." 
 

" . . . . .(anger starts to build, pace a little) This can’t be part of God’s plan! I’m going to file a protest. My song honors God instead of demanding gifts from Santa. Where do I go to . . . . (suddenly stop pacing as realization dawns) Wait. What am I doing?  I’m acting just like Maria in “The Sound of Music”. She wanted to be a nun but God wanted her to marry Captain Von Trappe. The Reverend Mother said “Whenever God closes a door, he opens a window”. (suddenly gets it) I thought God’s plan for me was to sing but He closed the door.  And now I have to find my window. I wonder what it is. . . . . "

"I think I’ve lost me. And I’m not sure what to do. . . . . . I came to New York because I’ve always known I could act. When I walk onto a stage, (look around) it’s like now I’m alive. (Face becomes alive with expression)   Now I’m breathing. The other stuff, where I walk around and eat and sleep, is just killing time until I’m here.    .  . . . . . . I audition and I know I’m good, I know it!  But it’s never me. Why can’t they see me? (Clench hands into fists at side of body) . . . . . ."

" .. . . . I just turned 16.  My parents asked me to sit down because they wanted to talk to me.  I was sure they were going to give me a new car for my birthday but first they wanted to give me a little speech about wearing my seat belt, driving the speed limit and no texting when driving. So I put my serious face on and sat down. (slight pause)  And then they told me I was old enough to know that I was adopted. Adopted?  I can’t be adopted.  I’m a cheerleader.  I play right wing on the soccer team. I’m a National Honor Society student. I’m normal. I have a normal, wonderful life. And you suddenly tell me I’m adopted? (shouting) THAT IS NOT NORMAL!. . . . .  "

" . . . . . That was intense. Where am I? I was driving home, I got a text and then nothing. I’m blank. (Look straight forward and then eyes widen in shock) Oh my God did I crash the car? Dad is going to kill me. I’m going to be grounded for weeks.  I guess I should call 911. (Pat pockets) Where’s my cell phone? If it’s in the car it’s probably broken. reat.  A new car and a new cell phone? Dad is going to ground me forever. . . . . "