Lucky James Pawn Shop

A Play by Demond

SPARKY
Man I can just imagine me being worn by DB. I can just see it. Us on stage performing in front of thousands of people. Lights beemin off of me everybody attention is focus on me. And me I’m lookin so shiny and clean the crowd begin to even start to notice me more than they even notice DB. Him just speaking into the mike that he’s holdin resitin his newest hit “everybody everywhere surprise on how much my diamonds cost” and me just shining showing off my glistening side.
— Wow that was a outrageous dream that I [just] had. I mean just yesterday I overheard Lucky James the owner saying that DB the new rapper that everyone’s been talking about would be in town seeking a new piece of jewelry [today and he’s supposed to be even coming to the store to purchase] and now he’s in my dreams. Man I gotta make sure that comes true.
(The store lights click on. BLINGY wakes up by the bright store lights. SPARKY is still thinking about the dream he
 had.) 

BLINGY 
(Lazy morning voice) That darn Lucky I’ll be happy the day that he doesn’t come to work.
 
SPARKY
Good morning big brah.
 
BLINGY
Good morning? I can’t believe you. Aint nothing good about morning here waking up day after day to these lights. A yellow pieces of gold can’t even rest in here everyday Lucky brings his self in here disturbing my rest. Anyway what are you doing up this early anyway.

SPARKY
Man Im glad you asked. Last night I had a dream.
 
BLINGY
Dream? Sparky I hope you ain’t still been watching them scary movies in the electronic section.
 
SPARKY
Nall brah not a nite mare I said a dream.

  BLINGY
Aw hear you go! Dream about what?

  SPARKY
Well brah yesterday before closing hours I heard Lucky James talkin on the phone to some guy and uh

  BLINGY
Uh what?
 
SPARKY
They were talking about DB was in town looking for some ice and that he’s even suppose to come hear to purchase some.
 
BLINGY
DB who the hell is DB?
 
SPARKY
Are you serious you don’t know who DB is?
 
BLINGY
Obviously not!

SPARKY
Man maybe if you stop sitting in this same spot in the display glass catching dust and pay attention to the electronic section you could find out.
 
BLINGY
Look Bling Im not fent to ask you again who is DB
 
SPARKY
Well DB is that new rapper out that everyone’s been yappin about. You no that one sing that new song “everybody everywhere surprised on how much my diamonds cost”
 
BLINGY
Oh that guy yeah I heard about him. He’s no good. 

SPARK
Well brah dat’s not the end of my dream.
 
BLINGY
Yeah well hurry up and finish telling me the rest of yo dream because I gotta go to the repair shop in a minute. 

SPARKY
Brah you just don’t know. Lastnite in my dream it was me and DB live in front of thousands performin in a sold out stadium. I mean lights beeming, people staring, cameras… 
 
BLINGY
Enough with the nonsense! Sparky do you really believe that you have a chance to be rocked by that singer
 
SPARKY
Rapper
 
BLINGY
Whatever he is
 
SPARKY
Well honestly yes
 
BLINGY
Sparky you’re still young. Being a celebrity piece of jewelry is not for a young diamond. And plus what makes you even think that he’s going to just come in here and pick you before he picks any other piece of jewelry in here? I mean after all look where we are. The old jewelry section. When have you ever known for someone, a celebrity at that, to buy from this section? You know like I know that the repair section is the fastest selling jewelry here.

SPARKY
Man what do I look like a rhimestone? You really think that I was gone just stand here tell he comes? Man you have to be one fool I have to get to the repair section before he comes at 12 and get cleaned up then place myself in one of those fluffy black boxes. Oh yeah I almost forgot I also got to place myself in the light a certain way and show off my glaze. 
 
BLINGY
You just don’t understand little brother. How long do you think that you would survive with that no good rapper?

SPARKY
I don’t know. Maybe until I start gettin old like you and break down.
 
BLINGY
What!! That is the most stupidest thing I heard you say. Before you even no it your be back in here lookin worster then your look now or maybe your be with someone else who won’t take care of you. You never no. Those rappapers don’t even last that long and as bad as DB is man he’ll be bankrupt before you even no it. Then where would you be?
 
SPARKY
I think you just hating on me.
 
BLINGY
Hatin? You my lil brother why do I have to hate on you?
 
SPARKY
Why not? I mean look at me Im younger, my price is higher then you. And plus Im way more shinier than you.
 
BLINGY
You really think so. 
 
SPARKY
I know so. 

SPARKY
Blingy has always been supportin’ of everything that I ever wanted. But after all today he starts bugging out. Man, I should of never told him about the dream that I had last nite. As soon as I told him that I planed to stand out get my shine on and be sold to a famous celebrity he flipped out. “Being bought by a celebrity is not the best for your future.” If I had somewhere to go I would of walked out his face but instead I just stayed and listen to what the old grumpy gold ring had to say…. If you ask me I would just say he’s hating on me. Maybe he’s jelous because he think I stand out more. I mean after all Im shinier than he is. But what does he want from me? Im not tryna be like he is. Hes mesebale he’s been brought twice in the last month and returned faster than I can remember. Once he told me how he felt bout my dream he kind oif disturbed me. Hes been support of (me) since day one and now it’s a different thing now he has me feeling undiscouraged… |

BLINGY
You sit beside your little group of friends all day who are influenced by the same thing you influenced by: being sold and living the fast life style being famous. [I need to get Lucky to move you away from that type of crowd.] I don’t want you to be bought by a celebrity, Sparky.
 
SPARKY
–Man forget what you say Ima just leave I gota make my way to the repair shop so that I can get fixed up before he comes.
 
BLINGY
Sparky the last thing Im going to do is watch you leave. Look I want tolerate this
 
SPARKY
Well don’t then–“Everybody everywhere surprise on how much my diamonds cost” 

BLINGY
Look Spark cut the crap.
 
SPARKY
I can’t believe you think my dream is crap. 
BLINGY
Out of all the things you really believe you can survive in the world of celebrities jewelry? You don’t even know what you’re trying to get yourself into.
 
SPARKY 
Uh man and what let me guess. You do
 
BLINGY
Well actually yes I do. I know a lot about the jewelry game. There still a lot for you to learn and its up for me to teach you
 
SPARKY
Like what 

BLINGY
Like about customers. Now that your older you should understand that there is certain customers and you can figure it out by…Listen. I need totalk to you about how to judge customers by their personality. And I need to school you on the game before you get sold. There’s people who purchase jewelry and search for the right one. That’s the people that you want to attract. Then theres the people who buy jewelry but they buy a lot because they have a lot of money. Those are people who don’t buy from the heart and they don’t really hold on to jewelry that long.
 
SPARKY
Man Blingy your hilarious. Do you really think that I should listen to that. Look at you. You have been bought twice in the last month and returned.

BLINGY
Listen I know that Ive been bought and returned. But I have learned and grown to be smarter. And plus its my responsibility to pass down my knowledge. That’s what family do. What do you think mom and dad would do if I didn’t teach you right? (They would be disturbed.) You know how much mom and dad did for us? They were the most beautiful silky black diamonds that I ever known straight from Africa. You can’t forget about the struggle we have been threw. We were born in Africa, Nigeria to two silky black diamonds. We got separated from our parents after they were discovered in a hunt for diamonds in the nearest river. Five years later me and you were discovered in the same river that our parents were founded in. We were auctioned to a rich American jeweler. We remained with that guy for a couple of months, you were younger when that happened and you don’t remember, until we weren‘t needed anymore then we were sold to Lucky James Pawn Shop. Now we’re spending our time inside of this display glass surrounded by…. Like I said there’s still things that I have to show you.  

SPARKY
Brah your crushing my dream. 

BLINGY
A regular customer would take care of you unlike a celebrity.
 
SPARKY
I’m tired of sitting in the pawn shop watchin all the other rings, necklaces, watches leave. And I’m ready to be bought. If we want to be bought we have to place ourselves in the right position. But we always get overlooked because we dusty and rusty looking. I’m tired of being stereotyped from the look of the customers. I want to be bought and be able to travel the world. I think I have a chance. And with the teachings of how to position myself and smile I gots it down pack.  

BLINGY
I understand that youre young and just want to be purchased so that you can leave this pawnshop. But by a celebrity out of all people. They gonna return you. Celebrities be buying for the fun of it and not buying from the heart. My greatest wish is to see you grow into a mature diamond and not have you go threw the things I been threw. I want you to be taken care of right.