Today, I’m going to do everything in my power to write you guys something. I’ve been wanting to write a short, one-act play for a while, and I’m in a better writing mood today, so I have no choice but to take advantage of it. It won’t be about any of the World Cup free writing I did yesterday and I won’t use a prompt either.
The Surprise
MATT: 16 years old.
GEORGE: 15 years old.
MATT and GEORGE are next door neighbors. It’s MATT’s 16th birthday and they are walking through their neighborhood.
MATT
What exactly are we doing today?
GEORGE
You’ll see.
MATT
What do you mean “You’ll see?” Why can’t you tell me?
GEORGE
It’s a surprise.
MATT
Not anymore.
GEORGE
What? You know? Who told you?
MATT
Told me what?
GEORGE
About the surprise!
MATT
(Takes a deep breath, attempting to collect himself.) No one told me about the surprise. I was surprised when you said there was a surprise.
GEORGE
What?
MATT
That’s why it’s not a surprise anymore.
GEORGE
That’s not what I’m asking though.
MATT
Well, what exactly are you asking me?
GEORGE
I’m not asking you about anything. You’re the one with all the questions. (Beat.) Look, we’re almost here!
MATT
Where?
GEORGE
Can’t tell you ’til we get there.
MATT
Right, ’cause it’s a surprise.
(MATT stops and looks in all directions. Sees nothing but an overgrown, abandoned lot.)
Where are we? I don’t remember ever being over hear.
GEORGE
You don’t know where we are?
MATT
No.
GEORGE
Come on, really? We used to come here all the time! Look closer; at the lot. (MATT looks.) You see?
MATT
No!
GEORGE
You’re not looking hard enough. Think about it, dude. Where are we?
MATT
George, I’m supposed to be eating dinner with my family in like, five minutes. They made lasagna. They never do that; only during the holidays! Just tell me where we are. I have no idea.
GEORGE
Is your dad making it?
MATT
Yup.
GEORGE
Does he still make that paella?
MATT
Why would he stop?
GEORGE
I don’t know.
MATT
George.
GEORGE
Yes?
MATT
Where the fuck are we! We’re not even in our neighborhood!
GEORGE
Dude, this is where we first met! You’re a dick. How could you forget?
MATT
What are you talking about? We met at Larry’s, when he’d have those sleepover parties.
GEORGE
Nah, that doesn’t count.
MATT
How does that not count?
GEORGE
‘Cause we didn’t even know each other. We just knew Larry.
MATT
Yeah, but we had like, the best times at those parties.
GEORGE
True, but I don’t count that. (Beat.) We used to play wiffleball here all the time.
MATT
No! We used to play at Joe’s. He lived right next to the park.
GEORGE
Are you sure?
MATT
Dude, I don’t know what you’re smoking, but it has to be some good shit to think we used to play here.
GEORGE
Fuck you, man. I was just trying to make you feel better. You know, by remembering all the good times we used to have.
MATT
Yeah, that’s cool and all, but like, I know for a fact we’ve never been here once.
GEORGE
Fine, you want to go back?
MATT
Sure. You want to eat over? There’s always leftovers.
GEORGE
Yeah, I’m down.
(GEORGE and MATT turn around and head back. GEORGE trips over an old yellow wiffleball bat. MATT laughs and keeps walking. GEORGE stops and looks and sees what looks like the letter “M” etched in the side. Thinks nothing of it and catches up to MATT.)
End.
