Adolescent Play

I decided to go back to an activity that was large part of my adolescence: Creative Writing. Specifically play writing. In this short story I have depicted the night I was lost an election. For context, in high school I participated in mock government. There were many roles to choose from and in my junior year I was asked to be the clubs’ candidate for “governor” (the conference had a groups of high school students play the roles of state representatives and senators). SPOILOR ALERT! I lost.

The characters of Clay and English are inspired by two of my high school teachers, an English teacher and a history teacher. A big theme of adolescence is control; control of your life and emotions. Adolescents show their emotions in diverse forms. Some keep the emotions and thoughts in their head, and others hide themselves away. My blog post is long (I apologize), I wanted exert to be published as a complete seen. At the end, there will be two links: One the song “My Old Kentucky Home” (we were asked to sing the song every year at this conference), and the other to a scene which inspired me to write this. Please enjoy as my teenage conscience yells at the world.

            MARGRET sits herself at the top of the bed with the blanket up to shoulders. Her hair still wet from the shower, and she stares straight downstage. Her business clothes are laid across the end of the bed. MARGO enters with a large coffee mug, with an M painted on the front. Off stage, the shower turns on. EVAH’s singing is audible (she’s singing Sweet Caroline).

MARGO throws her onto the bed.

MARGO: Why did I run? Clay told me himself “Liam isn’t eligible to run. It’s either you or Ben who can.” It was there! In his words! I was a second choice. The lesser pick! I don’t play soccer! I don’t come from St. Cecilia. I’ve never been loud. How much longer do we have to experience this hell of a state. Everyone’s like animals! It’s some sort of calculus equation: Private school, Catholic school kids plus public-school kids. It equals ciaos. Dogs and cats living together! You don’t belong in this state! Why did I try to get involved in it? (Face plants into the blanket) I need a hug.

            MARGRET throws the blanket off, covering Margo. She grabs a suitcase from under the bed, throws it open and grabs a bag of Twizzlers and begins pacing across the stage. She begins eating. MARGO hears the candy being unwrapped. She emerges from the blankets. EVAH begins singing the National Anthem, off stage.

MARGO: I forgot we brought those. Oh my gosh we’ve almost eaten the whole bag! How’d we do that! (MARGRET tosses the bag on a table, two Twizzlers in her hand. MARGO reaches for the bag.) If you insist. You know, this is why we gained two seconds on the 2 IM last week. (She sits back on the bed, swinging the candy around. MARGRET continues to pace.) I wonder what makes the perfect candidate? Looks? Weight? Height? I’m probably too tall. Is it hair style? I would look for a mind at work. Somebody whose passionate about what they do. Somebody who pined for the role since they were a freshman. Somebody who sang Hamilton as they drove home the day they were awarded the role of candidate. A candidate needs to be somebody (looks for the right words) somebody. Somebody. Somebody!

MARGRET: Somebody who really wanted it.

            MARGO points to the business clothes on the bed.

MARGO: I can’t imagine how I fit into these. What size are they? Pants are a- a large! I’m fat… Let’s throw them! Walk over here! And throw these pants.

MARGRET: (She balls up the clothes and throws them across the stage. She begins to sob and can hardly get her words out.) I wanted it. (The only movement is her chests rising and falling as she breathes.)

            EVAH stops singing and the water is turned off. MARGRET rushes to clear the room. She grabs the candy and clothes, stuffing them into the suitcase.

MARGO: Hide the evidence!

MARGRET pushes the suitcase under the bed. She gets back into bed and hides herself under the sheets, pretending to be asleep. MARGO exits stage right. EVAH enters stage left dances on stage humming My Old Kentucky Home. She passes Margret’s bed, and stops. Enter the next roommate, JULIE. She holds a red solo cup.

EVAH: Where were you?

JULIE: Ms. English’s room, with Adam. He’s upset.

EVAH: He doesn’t want to speak?

JULIE: Yep. He said speaking in front of a crowd is only fun it isn’t about law or process. He wants to do something like Margo. Give a fun speech. (Leans over MARGRET) She asleep? (EVAH nods.) Don’t tell Margo I said this, but Adam should’ve run.

EVAH: I know! (JULIE hushes her.) Right. He would’ve won. He’s fun.

JULIE: Yeah! (MARGO storms back on stage from the left. She holds a bottle of whiskey in one hand and her M mug in the other.)

MARGO: (Pouring herself a drink) I’m not asleep! I can hear you! You’re not suitable. As I remember, both of you helped me! You were excited for me! (Drinking) Was that real?

EVAH: I wasn’t a fan of her slogan either. Don’t Regret, Vote Margret. (Grabs a card.) It doesn’t look right on a card either.

MARGO: It isn’t me. It doesn’t read Margo. Since when I have been Margret! I’ve never let anyone call me that before! I’m Margo! I’m Margo! I’m Margo! And I can still hear you!

EVAH: She could’ve done better. (JULIE nods in agreement.) I saw her running from chamber to chamber today. At one point she tripped! She tripped in the Kentucky State Capital. Heels are not for her.

MARGO: I should’ve broken my wrist. I would’ve gotten the sympathy vote. Or pretended to have dead parents. That’s a hundred percent guaranteed ticket to round two.

EVAH: Did you see her cry? All losing candidates cry when they don’t move on. Right?

JULIE: I saw no tears.

MARGO: Anger is an increasingly powerful emotion. TEARS ARE FOR THE WEAK!

JULIE: I didn’t understand why she got chosen. She isn’t staying in Kentucky for school. Where’s she going?

EVAH: Last time she talked about it, which is often, she wants to leave us for DC.

JULIE: Who’d want to go there?

EVAH: I’ve asked her that before.

MARGO: (Jumps onto the bed) To hell with you! There! There’s my Two Cathedrals, yelling at God in Latin speech! I can hear you! I can always here you! I lost! I admit it! I lost! Is that you want to here! (Falls to feet and covers to face) To hell with you! Have I displeased you?  (MARGRET shifts and a single sob is heard. The girls stop speaking. They stare at her.)

EVAH: Margo? Margo you awake? Do you want to talk? (She says nothing.)

            All go quiet. EVAH and JULIE back away. The only figure left in the light is MARGO. She stands and looks downstage.

MARGO: All merry. All Happy and Bright. Weep no more today.

-Megan Ackley