I'm glad I caught you.
The Broken Speaker
Another week. A continued spooky and stressful time.
Because this time feels, let’s say, unique, I decided to take a couple of weeks and do something a little different than my normal fodder with the newsletter: share two very short plays—one more befitting of spooky and the other more befitting of stressful. Last week’s was the spooky (and fun) play. This week’s fits the more stressful bill.
The good news is, the spooky fun play is already there for you to read first or to finish with after this more serious offering.
Before we get to this week’s very short play, I did want to take a moment to share a bit of writing from someone else—Nicole Cardoza from Reimagined. Formerly the Anti-Racism Daily, Reimagined is a newsletter “focused on the powerful solutions to our biggest challenges today.” Her opening for the edition today (Your guide to the election, finding hope beyond the ballot, and tomorrow night's event.) felt like exactly what I needed to read this morning. I encourage you to go read the whole thing, as it is pragmatic with a hopeful hue (my sweet spot) but here’s one of the quotes that stuck out to me:
But since 2008, my hope has been redirected from public office to everyday people like you reading this right now. I've learned that our liberation lies in how we hold one another, how we choose to endure regardless of who's in office.
- Nicole Cardoza
Nicole is so cool, like so cool she’s also a magician. As a Black queer woman running an anti-racism newsletter among many other projects, she’s had to deal with an incredible amount of defensiveness, push-back, and straight up abuse and threats. I highly recommend supporting her work. If nothing else, again, go read the intro to today’s newsletter. In my opinion, it’s beautiful.
On a related note: if you haven’t already, there’s still time to vote.
Okay, now for something…still in the same vein. It’s a spooky and stressful time, what can I say?
This week’s very short play concerns an issue that’s always in play whether it’s on a ballot or not. And, it’s inspired by an experience I had in middle school.
There is a slight CW with this one: it deals with the effects of living with the constant threat of gun violence. There is no actual gun violence in this short play, no guns at all but I include the CW because it’s important to me for people to have the information they need to be able to take care of themselves.
Without any further ado, here we go. And I really appreciate you being here.
(A dimly light teacher’s office. There is a glass window facing out to the classroom. SAM, a 7th grader, is sitting on the floor as far beneath the desk as possible. MS. JONES sits with her back to the door.)
MS. JONES
I think I have Uno in my desk drawer.
SAM
That’s okay.
You don’t have to keep me entertained.
MS. JONES
Oh.
SAM
Thank you for trying Ms. Jones.
It’s nice.
MS. JONES
Sure.
SAM
You are nice.
MS. JONES
Thank you Sam.
(They sit in the quiet for a bit.)
MS. JONES
It’s very quiet.
SAM
I know.
Where are your kids?
MS. JONES
I have my planning period now.
SAM
That’s probably a good thing.
Right now.
MS. JONES
Probably.
I’m glad I caught you.
SAM
I go to the bathroom the same time every morning.
MS. JONES
The same time?
SAM
I’m always worried I’m going to have to ask to go in the middle of class.
I try and time it as close to the bell as I can.
MS. JONES
Everyone has to leave class sometimes.
SAM
It’s embarrassing.
MS. JONES
Okay.
(They are quiet for a moment. Then MS. JONES thinks she hears a noise and perks up a bit. She peers out the window. SAM tries to come out from under the desk a bit but MS. JONES shoos her back. The moment passes.)
SAM
How long do you think…?
MS. JONES
I don’t know.
SAM
It feels like we’ve been here forever.
MS. JONES
I know.
But
I think
it’s been about 15 minutes.
SAM
Oh.
I thought it was longer.
MS. JONES
Me too.
What class do you have now?
SAM
History.
MS. JONES
With?
SAM
Mr. Grantham.
MS. JONES
Oh, he’s a nice man.
SAM
Yeah. A pretty good teacher, I guess.
MS. JONES
I bet he’s worried about you.
SAM
I don’t know.
MS. JONES
I should give him a call.
Let him know you are safe.
SAM
Won’t that make too much noise?
MS. JONES
Oh. Yes.
It might.
I’ll walk you over after
(The outside door to MS. JONES’ classroom opens. MS. JONES stands up with her hand on the door knob, and reaches around her desk for a heavy object. SAM gets as far away from the door as possible.
There are footsteps. The footsteps seem to be taking forever.
SAM has started to cry a little bit, trying to be as quiet as possible.
MS. JONES keeps her eyes on the dark classroom but whispers.)
MS. JONES
It’s okay Sam.
I’m here.
I’m going to do everything I can to protect you.
(SAM whimpers a little. The footsteps get closer. They stop.
After a moment, they hear:)
MAN’S VOICE
Ms. Jones?
MS. JONES
...
MAN'S VOICE
Ms. Jones?
Are you in there?
It's Mr. Lin.
MS. JONES
Oh!
Mr. Lin.
Yes, I'm
Yes, I'm here.
MR. LIN
Is your speaker still broken?
MS. JONES
I guess it is.
MR. LIN
You weren't accounted for
so I thought that might be the case.
MS. JONES
I should get that looked at.
MR. LIN
Well, you can come out now.
The lockdown is over.
It’s been over for a bit.
False alarm.
MS. JONES
Thank you, Mr. Lin.
I’m happy to hear that.
I have a student in here with me so I’ll
MR. LIN
Oh! Sure.
See you at lunch.
MS. JONES
Yes. See you later.
(They hear him retreat. After a moment, MRS. JONES turns on the light. SAM is crying hard under the desk. MS. JONES leans down.)
MS. JONES
Sam?
SAM
I didn’t want to die.
MS. JONES
Oh, I know.
I know Sam.
(MS. JONES gathers SAM into her arms and they sit like that for a while.
MS. JONES reaches up and grabs the phone and pulls the whole thing down with her. She holds up the phone and dials, while keeping SAM in her arms.)
MS. JONES
Mr. Grantham?
Yes, it’s Ms. Jones.
I have Sam with me.
I grabbed her on the way out of the restroom.
She’s fine but we’re gonna need a minute.
I’ll bring her over shortly.
Okay?
Good.
Yes, I’m glad too.
Bye Mr Grantham.
(They stay huddled together on the floor for a while.)
I haven’t taken a test in a long time but this whole thing does feel like a test.
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