Intended Message

Trust and Honesty

Intended Audience

Anyone

Characters

Simsek Patterson: Goes by Sim. A shy yet newly confident 14 year old girl. 

Aaron Odens: Sim’s newly found friend, a 15 year old kid who lost his home and family to war.

Setting

 On a balcony with two chairs.

Act I, Scene 1

Sim and Aaron enter and walk casually to ledge. 

SIM

(Leaning over ledge)

I feel like I’ve told you so much about me. But you haven’t told me anything about you.

AARON

(Swinging his legs over ledge and sitting down)

But you know everything about me. 

SIM

You lost your home and family to a merciless warlord and now you’re here. That’s all I was told about you. Where did you live? 

AARON

(sighing)

I lived in Zale. 

SIM

That’s like on the other side of the country. 

AARON

I know. 

SIM

So why did you come to this school? There are plenty of other great schools in Zale. Why this one?

AARON

(starts getting defensive)

I don’t know. Who cares? (gets off the ledge and starts to walk away) Just don’t worry about it. 

SIM

(not turning around)

Does it have anything to do with last night? 

AARON

(Stops and turns around)

What did you say?

SIM

This morning, you stormed into the principal’s office and started yelling at the principal about something.  

AARON

There was just something I wanted to ask him. It’s No big deal. (turns back around)

SIM

(Standing up and turning to face Aaron)

Aaron Odens, you were literally screaming at the principal. Asking a “no big deal” question does not involve yelling at the top of your lungs. 

AARON

(Walks back over to Sim)

Listen, there is nothing you need to worry about. Okay?

SIM

So it does have something to do with last night! 

AARON

I never said that!

SIM

But you never denied it! 

AARON

Why do you care so much? 

SIM

I just want to know what’s going on. One minute you’re having the time of your life, not a care in the world. The next you’re acting as if the weight of the world is resting on your shoulders. I’m just trying to figure you out. 

AARON

(aggressively)

Alright fine! You want me to talk about myself? I will. Go ahead!  Ask me all the questions!

SIM

Alright then. Favorite color? 

AARON

Black.

SIM

Favorite food?

AARON

Anything that has meat in it. Come on rapid fire!

SIM

Coolest thing you done, greatest fear, favorite season?

AARON

Coolest thing.. I’ve climbed a volcano, greatest fear is any spider bigger than my hand, and favorite season is summer. 

SIM

Would you ever want to live in a tree house, can you hold your breath for more that 3 minutes, do you like chewing on ice cubes?

AARON

Yes, no, no

SIM

Do you think you could sit still long enough for someone to paint you portrait, do you like eating atomically spicy things, did you yelling at the principal have something to do with last night?

AARON

No, no, yes (quickly covers mouth)

SIM

(Smiles triumphantly)

Now was it that hard to admit the truth? All you had to say was yes. Now that I know the truth, please, tell me all about it. What did happen last night? (Plops into one of the chairs)

AARON

(plops into chair across from Sim)

Wait a second! No! No! No! No! No! This is not how this works! You don’t trick me into admitting something and then expecting me to spill the beans. (abruptly stands up) No! I will not be tricked into spilling beans! ( starts to walk away and then stops) And I am not a coward! (Exits stage)