A RISKY CHOICE

By Hunter S.

 

Characters:       Statistic the Dirt, 1000 years old

Mud the Mud, 1000 years old (They’ve best friends who grew up together)

 

Setting:  In and around the abandoned house located in Bayview Hunter’s Point, a basketball court across the street, with a burnt down park in eyesight, with kids running around and loud music cars roaming by.  Smells like drugs and hear gunshots.

 

Time:  It’s 2pm on a Harvest day in the Fall.

 

At Rise:   Statistic and Mud are being gardened.

 

Dirt:

Bra, is there a problem between me & you?

 

Mud:

Naw, Why would it be?

 

Dirt:

I’m trying to do what’s best for me and here you are sitting here & I sense some jealousy.

 

Mud:

I don’t give a worm’s tail what you do.  I’ma do me regardless.

 

Dirt:

You know what?  My mom and dad grew and raised my seed till I had roots, stems, etc. and I feel as if you tryna turn away from us, cause of my choices!  I never did that towards you!

 

Mud:

You’re doing it now!  You’re leaving me.  You expect me to stay trapped in this community, this black hole, this mud pit!

 

Dirt:

You’re impatient!  What I’m doing is gonna effect on both of our lives so we could do what my parents did to us!  Feed us, water our stems, fill our lives with guidance.

 

Mud:

When you leave?  What do I have?  Where would I be?  You’re the only family I have!  Just like my mom, you going to abandon me!

 

 

Dirt:

I’m different from your mom.  I’m going to come back and I’m not addicted on poison.

 

Mud:

(gets up and confronts Dirt to face) Don’t say that about my mother punk!

 

Dirt:

The truth hurts. (Mud pushes him)  What is us fighting going to do?

 

Mud:

(points finger at Dirt) You a sucka, you ain’t nothing without me.

Dirt:

Get your roots out my petals!

 

Mud:

You ain’t ginna do nothing about it!

 

Dirt:

I’m not finna t’ tell you again!  (Mud still has finger in his face, Dirt shoves him to the ground and gets on top of him)

 

Mud:

Get the heck off me!

 

Dirt:

Naw, you need to calm down!

 

Mud:

I swear to freaking God…

 

Dirt:

You gonna do something if I letcha go?

 

Mud:

Maan, get off of me.

(Dirt gets off him)

You Pesticide!

 

Dirt:

No tangled roots Bra, but you know I will always love you.

 

Mud:

Scum bag.  (packing his clothes)

 

Dirt:

Where you going?

Mud:

Don’t trip.  Instead of you leaving me, I’m leaving you now.

 

Dirt:

Look, I’m sorry.  I didn’t think it would end this way.  Why throw our friendship away now after all we been through?

 

Mud:

What’s it supposed to mean?  After you give harvest, our friendship just down the drain?

 

Dirt:

All you think about is the negativity.  This is just a phase, a test, an experience that God expect us to stay strong.  God give his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers.

 

Mud:

I replaced you with what my dream was.

 

Dirt:

You have a dream?

 

Mud:

Yes I did.

 

Dirt:

You acting like Dr. M.L.K.

 

Mud:

Stop playing.  You replaced my dream!  You are my family, so my wish of searching for my root family, you watered it away from coming true.

 

Dirt:

How did I do that?

 

Mud:

You’re the only family I ever had.

 

Dirt:

But look, the gardeners are on their way and I want to harvest my crop so I can fulfill my petal and future.

 

Mud:

Do as you please.

 

Dirt:

But you’re in my way of accomplishing it.  Keep filling my stem with bad water, then I’m stuck in this pit life forever, then I’m rotten like those dudes roaming the community.

Mud:

So you want me to leave?  Because if I do then I won’t come back.

 

Dirt:

No, your petal is in the gutter. (Mud keep on packing)  It’s not like they’ll harvest both of us.

 

Mud:

Why not?

 

Dirt:

Because…(pause) your life’s in mud.

 

Mud:

What you tryna say?

 

Dirt:

As a friend, I’m going to keep it 100% honest with you!  But what you’ve done in the past, I wouldn’t think they’ll accept it if it’s outside that type of tolerance.  They’re strict about their surroundings and when they harvest someone, they want to make it worth it.

 

Mud:

So I’m piece of trash!

 

Dirt:

(sigh) No, you’re not!  I’ll be back, I’ll be out back getting air.

 

Mud:

Mhh-mmmm…(mumbles)

(Dirt walks outside.  Mud writes to Dirt.)

Dear Brother,

You was always there for me and I’ll never forget it.  Your family took me in as their own child and fed me, water me, but I didn’t quite fit the lifestyle.  I hope nothing but the best for you.   I hope you get harvest.  That’s all you talk about when you was younger.  I love you always & forever.

Love always,

 

Mud

(Mud then leaves)

 

Dirt:

Mud!  Mud!  Mud!  (finds letter, reads it out loud.  Dirt has tears falling.)

(Then he hears the sound of digging)

Who is it?

(Harvesters came to check out the crop, they talks about how his crop is wonderful and willing to pay a full ride.  Dirt accepts it.)

(Writes to Mud)

Dear Mud,

I don’t know where you went or how to contact you.  I was and always will be here for you.  I love you as if you’re my root brother.  I promise that the decision I’ve made will benefit both of our future.  You’ll see.  I’m like MLK and you’re my dreams.  Hahaha.  Always remember that.  Until next time.  I love you.  Always and for life.

Love,

Dirt

 

3 Years Later

Statistic (Dirt) comes back and returns to the pit where him and Mud was both planted.  He went to the garden of his house which used to be abandoned, the first person he sees is the brother he never had, Mud.  From what he seen, he can tell that Mud changed.  He changed his ways and changed his seeds.  So he was tryin to grow his roots to his full potential.  They see eachother and embrace their roots into a hug.

 

Dirt:

You look different!

 

Mud:

Your words from your letter impacted my choices and my actions towards a better me.

 

Dirt:

How does the garden look?

 

Mud:

Look for yourself!  What a change in my future.  We’ve planted new seeds.

 

THE END



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