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Act 1, Scene 1

This series of monologues (now turned into more of a play form) tell a short story about the people of Zimbabwe when they were in a great time of need. The country was one a bit of a turn when the people started to lose their homes and get most of their money taking a way from them. At the time money was becoming less of a problem because the people that were left behind had to pay the hospital with food in order to survive and receive the type of care that is needed. The people of the land blamed Mugabe for their problems but his intentions are to clear his name.

Title: Footprints Aren’t The Only Thing Left Behind In Zimbabwe

By: Aja Wallace

Cast of Characters

• Chenzira-An old man who is age 65 his name means born while traveling. Which happened when he was younger his mother had him in the back of an old truck while they were on their way to Kadoma then Chinhoyi. Ever since then his family stayed moving from place to place and took up same habits when got older even.
• Robert Mugabe- Is the president of Zimbabwe, he is 87 years old.
• Gamba- Is a 14 year-old boy his name means warrior. He has gone through a bit of things in his life but the Falling point of Zimbabwe was the biggest thing yet.
• Dakarai-Dakarai is a 12-year-old girl and her name happens to be a boy name. The name is of that gender because she was the fifth child of her parents and is the only girl her. Dakarai’s parents came up with the names before she was born they told themselves they would keep the name even if she were a girl. She is now aware that her parents were not too happy with her birth so she takes her anger out on others.
• Sheba -Is a 13-year-old girl who is an extra character for Dakarai’s part.

 

Setting

In Zimbabwe when Robert Mugabe was President. Starts off during the day and as time goes on different day occur.

 

Act 1 Scene 1

 (Curtains open: Day time Lights: Curtains open Chenzira downstage center, sitting on the dirt road watching the cars go by and counting them under his breath with small lip gestures and he moves his head up and down to match the cars going by. Speaking with slight sick tone. With a dusty dirty bag with Salted Groundnuts in it. With an open wound on his left leg between his calf and ankle, not covered.)

 

CHENZIRA

So um they left us, just left us to die. Not to live only to die......Then they want to take all da  money away.......Yea, they wanna make us pay in food. I know it sound crazy. Not even real. When I first heard it I thought they was jokin’.

(Gets excited and starts to cough then clears his throat deeply)  

They don’t even use it! They got that food lookin like a giant sand dune of unshelled nuts in dat hospital’s cavernous chapel. See they care more about the food their getting then the medical care of the people.

(Brings his left hand up to his waist then shakes it to all of the Syllables in the next sentence. Then brings both of his hands to his sides.)

They literally, are providing medical services for peanuts I still can’t even believe it.... So um now I’m sittin’ on the road left with no where to go and of course nuttin’ to eat, I’m so sick, that even if there was a job out there for me anywhere I can’t even work. To make things better I havta take this

(Holds up above his had with his right hand, a dusty dirty bag of Salted Groundnuts then puts it down.)

Little bit of food I do got to da hos-pital to save my life.

(Shouts with lots of anger)

What little life I got left! So for the idiot who said choosing food over money is stupid,...is stupid,.... was stupid, well you know what I mean.....

(Shakes his head kind of fast for three second, then walks to Left center stage and sits with his knees in his chest with the bag of nuts still clutched in his right hand.)

 

 (Coming from upstage right Dakarai, Gamba and Sheba are running down stage right then over to Chenzira and Dakarai kicks dirt on Chenzira.)

 

 (Chenzira stats breathing heavy while staring at the kids with a puppy dog eyed face. Then starts to move his mouth to pretend he is talking to himself while one fear falls out of his right eye. He lets that tear run and fall to it can’t be seen anymore then waits to see what the kids do next. He slows his breathing down and puts on a face of confidence.)

 (Dakarai, Gamba and Sheba approach him. Dakarai and Sheba start to laugh at him then two of them ran off to up stage right, turn around and look at Chenzira for two seconds then leave the stage. Gamba stays and pulls out a piece of cloth from his pocket with the two letters RM on the bottom right hand corner of it. Robert Mugabe’s cloth. He then gave it to Chenzira and walks down stage right when he gets their he puts the cloth in his right pocket and pats the pocket twice.)  

CHENZIRA

See those damn’in kids don’t even know, they won’t even stop for those areas dat don’t got functionin’ hospitals, the cholera epidemic got to those people. Just like when all that talk started about deporting undocumented Zimbabweans because of their working permits.

(Fanning his right hand to the air twice then puts it back down.)

Man I’ll tell ya…but that cholera the, killed more than 2,000. See they don’t even care. Tough luck isn’t even a way to put it.... No you can’t fool me to think everything is just gonna change over night because you tell me the US-based group called for the UN to take control of the health service. They just gonna make us poorer by tellin’ us to bring more peanuts to them. I know, you think how would I know but they seen everything fall apart. Yessss, they did nothin’. All they do is take, take, take and expect us to give, give, and give. The only gift we truly get is death from the sick and no food to eat. For those who family is nowhere to be found they just died of disease and if not they just go and do somethin’ crazy..... Yea there are a lot of people that need food, if you tryna be an aid, eleven million to be exact.

(Spoken very slowly)

We have no phone service and no electricity all we want is to live, but no they take the one gift we get from God.

(Stands up slowly as he is yelling with anger and hitting both his fist against his chest with a steady beat.)

Nobody care for me, nobody care for us. No-body. We just da Zimbabwean people, I know I see the looks on the faces. Everybody think cause I’m old I don’t know what I’m taking about but oh you damn well be-lieve I do.

(Deep laugh)

Hahahahaha cuz Robert is the one to blame...  

(Passes out and light goes out left stage center. As the lighters are going to upstage right waiting for Robert’s arrival, Chenzira gets up and walls off stage. Curtains close )

Act 1, Scene 2

 (Curtains open:Enters from upstage right, then walks down stage center and lights come on with an office setting with the sound of Laughing Dove birds in the background. Robert then starts speaking in a nervous tone and twitching his right hand by his side)

 

ROBERT MUGABE

For being the second president of Zimbabwe I know I am doin’...doing. A very good job. Not something everybody can just say. To rule against the white minority is a powerful thing. See, leaving people behind thing was only something that had to be done there was no other way. Any other way would have been the wrong way.

(Robert starts to sounds less nervous and the sound of the Laughing Doves stops in the background)

To fix everything to make it right we as a whole had to make everything the way it is suppose to be. I suppose you, want to know how the people felt, they were okay with it. They didn’t mind what was going on. While all of this is going on I’m living just fine. I happen to like, no I happen to love the life I live.

(Stops shaking his right hand then stats to shake the left hand. Then starts to look around as if he was being watched)

See when I went to prison I really think that gave me a different outlook on life and all the things it has to offer. I can have any and everything, everything I want in life and I’m just doing to take it, why because I have the right to do so. I have a nice house and I’m very happy so everybody else should be too.
(The lights go off upstage right, and Robert is walking off stage.)

 (Chenzira comes back on stage and walks to the center of the stage the lights start out dim on him then get lighter. When Chenzira gets to the center of the stage he sits there looking around. Then lays down with his head facing down)

Act 1, Scene 3

 (Sun Set Lights: Dakarai and Sheba are walking back and starting to mess with the old man. They start to stare at the old man to see if he moves because they think he’s dead staring in awe. DAKARAI starts to speak both Dakarai and Sheba are standing next to the Chenzira. The Dakarai starts to speak.)

 

DAKARAI  

He’s dead look at him jus’a lyin’ there. Ain’t doin’ nuttin. Look at dat fly on is leg, its about to eat his meat right out his leg! Hey lets poke him wit a stick and see if he bleeds more. Then again lets not we don’t wanna get what ever he done got. Yea that smart man disease. Thinkin’ he know everything, about everything. He don’t no much of nothin’. Nothin’ about nothin’. Ha! Ha! nothin’ about nothin’. Yup that’s what he knows. Betcha he didn’t know Sr. Wantsalot hahah…. Mugabe was trained as a teacher in a Roman Catholic school. Got peoples thinkin’ he into that religion stuff but don’t wanna help people in need. Religious man?...Praying for people?...Helping the people? Nope ! He sure ain’t help us. Ha! Ha! Us, dat man, nobody tat all. All he want it stuff dats gonna make him happy and take away the money everybody once used. Got us layin’ on dirt roads. Fightin’ of them skeetoes in the nights. And he up there…somewhere, somewhere nobody knows sleepin’ like a lil baby.

(Sheba echoes Dakarai and Sheba’s voice is a little louder then Dakarai’s)

Betcha, betcha,

(Dakarai speaks again, by herself)

Man don’t know, after he come from jail he wanted da white man farmland too. Aahahah yeaa, mama told me bout dat one. Taken the land from a white man don’t make you no bigger and better but he seem ta think so. Betcha he didn’t know, just betcha he didn’t know he da whole reason why nobody was gettin’......em-ployt, employ.....JOB!...ahahah yea.

(Both of the children exit out upstage left together and skip while they’re leaving. Curtains close.)

Act 2 Scene 1

 (Curtains open:Night Time Lights: Down stage right the lights come on and Robert enters the stage from the right wing and walk to upstage center and as he is walking there the light is coming to meet him at upstage center. Standing in his house all alone in front a window, the window is on the wall upstage center, with the glare of the moon shinning in his face. Staring out a window looking at the moon with a blank face. With a big mirror reflecting his face and torso to the audience.)

ROBERT MUGABE

Everybody who’s anybody think they all know me. Think they all have me figured out. I laugh at you all. You all get to thinking I don’t have a heart, Oh! but I do. I have loved and lost. I was married to Sally Hayfron and her kidney gave out before her heart was supposed to. Tough time for me almost reminds me of my childhood,

(Mild chuckle, then sighs)

Yea, my siblings and I always had the hope of growing up to become a nun. Mom was a passionately religious woman.

(Sigh)

Which brings me back to 1934,Michael,..... my brother, he was only fifteen, and he died,...

(Sigh)

Wasn’t easy at all the considering the fact my mother fell apart. His death was so traumatizing it’s freshly in my mind with vivid description. It was something that nobody, I mean nobody wants to go through....... Those dishes, cause of the enema Father O’Hea had to inject and. …those dishes, I remember the exact spot where they were with Michael’s pieces of intestines in them. All of this because...

(Two sniffs and starts to cry a little)

Nobody was willing to take him to the hospital for the proper care he was in need of..... They said no they can’t take him cause mom wasn’t home but dad wasn’t either but dad was never there...., never so mom was all we had. So everybody said no they couldn’t take him to the hospital because they would have had to cut him open there. All I wanted was my brother to live, but instead I got he gruesome memories of his body in bowls.... Yea I know it wasn’t even about me but because of that I’ve been scared ever since. Then I became the oldest and I had so much, so much stuff to help out with.

(Turns to the audience, yells and sniffles between every word)

It was so hard for me!

(Lights go off up stage center)

Scene 2

 (Next day, 6am Day Lights: Lights come on right stage center, Chenzira walks on stage from the left wing, with a bag in his right hand. He goes to right stage center and starts filling up a small holy bag, full of rocks. Moving at a steady paste. Then he starts to walk all around in circles and squatting every time he finds the rock he is looking for. Also looking up at the audience from time to time. Taking to himself with a slight mumble. The walks to down stage center.)

 (Walking out to down stage right and sits Indian style facing Chenzira and listening to him. Lights shinning on both Gamba and Chenzira)  

 

CHENZIRA

Haahah

(Sigh, then starts talking to Gamba)

Yea cuz’a I know what er’body don’t know but once I tell you, five minutes later you gonna be done said, cha knew it!

(Starts speaking fast)

And dat ain’t e-ben fair to me cuz then chu gonna be goin' round sayin’ dat old man crazy

(Starts speaking at a regular pace.)

..........But right now chu and nobody else don’t know nuttin when, I knowed it. So I hear some people talk about it... Yea those things we ain’t pose to mention.....

 (Gamba moves his mouth and frowns his eyebrows as if he is asking a question but no words come out of his mouth, just movement and Chenzira makes an annoyed tone)

Well uh I dunno why they mention them.

(Back to his regular voice.)

...Yea?...Yea. Them voices,

(Shaking his head as if he is agreeing with someone)

I hear them and they told me too. They told me about it,

(In a whisper, and squats down to Gamba)

Sssshhh. Now look’a hear just cause them voices be tellin’ me stuff don’t me you can go on tellin da whole world.

(Back to regular tone of voice and sits Indian style next to Gamba)

But you prolly gonna go on an do it anyways....ain’t chu boy?!....... They say about the death of Michael, Mugabe’s brother and how Mugabe became his mother favorite child when he was gone. Cause she done gone and went crazy.  So then she wanted the little ole shy child to become everything she wanted him to become. They say it was a lot for him to live up to since he was so sensitive and what not. Then they say he became a bookworm because he got teased when he was younger by his friends fo bein’ sucha mama’s boy. Cuz he was sucha mama’s boy he couldn’t even fight to keep dem books in his hand.....but everybody think cause I’m old I don’t know what I’m taking about but oh you damn well be-lieve haha, I do....Haahah

(Sigh).

What’s cho name mean boy? Cuz if you ain’t figure it out by now I can tell’ja what it mean....and uh before I forget don’t come round here lookin fo me no more........Cause I heard of some place up da road bouta, uh, 2,3,4..uh 3, 4 miles up the road on foot. So I’m gonna be goin dere to see what kinda stuff they got in store for us. Wanna see they gonna help us in this time of

(Puts hands up and makes air quotes for the word need, along with a slight grin)

“need”.....Yea, I know everybody sayin’ that place ain’t but no good. But,

(Mild chuckle)

Can’t be no worse then what we got here on them dirt roads over there. I be eatin’ dinner out the dargone trash can for god sake....I miss them good old days. When I had a house wasn’t what most people would like to have, but I called it home.
That place never done me wrong it was always there, everyday of the year. I ‘memeber one morning waking up and looking at the ceiling, it was warm the day, the cool breeze trickled down from my head to my toes. It was a sudden rush you get, like when you on the beach just relaxing. Then out of nowhere you get to fill that cool ocean breeze.....Yeaaa I know its nice itn’t it?... Yea, everybody say that, I know nobody can get enough of it...but that’s not important I have to go on now and get ta walkin’.

Scene 3

(Noon/Miday Lights: Speaking to the old man. Still sitting on the ground in Indian style.)

Huh?...My name?..my name is um....no ain’t no cat  got my tongue. Just nobody neva cared nuff to asked dats all. Cuz I’m all older and nice they just think im nothin’ but a big mamas’s boy.

(Trying to make eye contact with Chenzira but squinting because of the glare of the sun.)

GAMBA

Same thing they thought about Mugabe. Some lil mama’s boy who all soft and can’t do nothin’. But see I was doin’ something my name means well idunno but I’ll think of something if you ain’t tellin’ me, Well I’m 14 so that should make some difference in how people treat me but nope, it don’t not one bit. Come to think of it Mugabe was only four year younger then me when he had to be at his strongest. See he so set on doing big things and I know I can’t do big things.....How I know?.....Cuz I’ve tried the only

(Holds hands up and using air quotes when he says big thing)

“Big thing” I can do is take a crap. Wait nope, not even do that cause sometimes I cry to my mom, so I can’t even do that. See I can’t do nothin. Nothin at all......Oh,
(Spoken as if he is asking a question)
my name
(Spoken regular)
…..Gamba.
(Lights go off on them as they walk upstage left and exit stage out the left wing. Curtains close)

Act 3, Scene 1

 (Curtains open:Day 4pm Lights: Enters from right wing. Walks down to center stage, in a brightly lit office typing on the computer, sitting at a large desk. Talking out loud to himself as he gets his paper work done.)

ROBERT MUGABE

 

This work is always more everyday I step foot in this office, I finish one thing and bam! There’s another. Tryin’ to make so many deals and bargains. See and everybody really use to think I was a mama’s boy but look where it got me. It’s a funny thing.

(Turning his both his eyebrows in and down and putting his left hand on his chin with his below on the desk.)

To those of you that already know me, this will simply be a joyous refresher of your cherished memories of me. To those with the still unfulfilled desire to know me better, I welcome you to an intimate glimpse of Mugabe” See I went to jail for “subversive speech” and I only want the white mans land because I don’t trust them....Put me in jail. That was not even right.

(Lights go off of center stage. The desk is removed)

Act 3, Scene 2

(Enters from the left wing then runs to the center of the stage then falls to the ground on his knees, looking lost and looking around very fast. With big tears coming down his eyes)

GAMBA

Chenzira! Chenzira! Where?.....Where is Chenzira...Did they see the art of Mugabe and think he did it?... They saw that artwork that was insulting to him, but how could they think the Chenzira did it?..... There is no way they can blame him for such things. He just didn’t want to see these things happen to these people. He has lived on this land for so many years and to see it come to and end hurt him down to his heart....The people with the news cameras come around and see Chenzira talking about Mugabe and as soon as something is displayed they think he did it!....Wait I know where Chenzira went to the place

(Walks to down stage left then knocks on the door facing the left wing, talking to a pretend person who opens the door.)

Have you seen and old guy

(Holds up arms until he can’t reach anymore)

About, this tall, really old with a limp to his right leg, 5 gray patches on his head and shinny fake eye with a big black and purple scare going through it......Down the hall?.... What do you mean he’s suppose to be down the hall but you don’t know where he is…..okay okay Thank you, for the help you didn’t give.   

(Sun Set Lights: Walks around the stage, down stage right and down center throwing rocks. Then he moves to left stage center throwing the rock directly across from him to right stage center. He begins the sounds of the rock hitting the ground is not longer happening it is move of a thump sound. Gamba then walks over to right stage center and removes the covers thinking he has found Chenzira.)  

More covers, how nice, you told me you were going to be here it was like you lied to me for no reason, no reason at all. I was all worried about you, got thinkin’ somethin’ happened to you....Your not here!....Yes that’s sounds like the guy I was lookin’ for....well idunno where he is! That’s whyyy Ugghhhhhhh. Okay, well he said he was gonna be here, I can only go by what he tells me.....Well no, I dunno where you are,

(Spoken as if asking a question)

I guess he thought he couldn’t trust me.

(Sigh, speaking regular and his eyes start to water)

Yea, he must to have wanted to protect himself who wouldn’t in this world.

 (Mugabe walks into the room from the left wing, over to Gamba)

ROBERT MUGABE

Guess what, I heard you screaming about that old guy and I’m willing to help you look for him if you’re looking for help. Or should I say want my help...Yea, because I’ve heard dome not so nice things said about me and I have to start fixing thing around here and for starters lets make those watery eyes go away......Yea, have to fix this and I want to, so cry no longer and sorry I can’t wipe your tears with my initial   cloth but I seem to have lost it when I was on the go trying to take care of business. For a while I never a lost it and I didn’t even care now I want it back. My mom gave it to me when I was younger.

(Mugabe looks at Gamba waiting for his next move)

 (Spots and picks up a piece of paper on the ground with his eyes and opens it, then begins to reads in a whisper.)

GAMBA

 

Warrior, cuz...Ima...a warrior

(Speaks louder and waves the paper in the air)

A warrior

(Speaks in a regular tone again and puts the paper in his right pocket and pats the pocket twice.)

I’m a warrior Chenzira says, that’s what my name means.  

(Lights go off of Gamba and Mugabe and they wall to upstage right and exit out the right wing. Curtains close)

Act 3, Scene 3

 (Curtains open: Night Time Lights: Enters from the left wing. Walking to down stage right, with a drink in his right hand half drunk. Walking with a slight wobble. With another liquor bottle in his left pocket.)

CHENZIRA

Everything was not so easy I hate when people think life is always easy.

(Screaming to the night sky, with his left hand in a fist throwing it to the sky.)

You are all dummies.

(Talking to the audience as he walks down stage right and down stage left back and forth in a timely manner.)

I’ve been on top before and it was swweettt, man was it oh, so friggin’, sweet! But then came Mugabe taking everything from me.

(Drinks some of the liquor in his hand, lets it drip on his chin and doesn’t wipe it.)

We were neck and neck

(Big deep belch)

Then the crowd was quiet but then they just wouldn’t shut up cause Mugabe was talking so the kept a clappin’ and clappppiinnn’

(Screaming to the night sky)

Damn you all.

(Talking to the audience as he continues to walk down stage right and down stage left back, forth in a timely manner)

When I got up there they were quiet, ahaha or is it that I’m so drunk I can’t even remember what the crowd did from me ahaha but anyways. Yea there were all those, white, black, tan, orange and brown faces. Every last one of them was just there. Then

(Stops walking and sits down stage center on the corner of the stage so his feet dangle off the stage and starts talking to the bottle.)

That guy, don’t know who he was but he knew what he was talking about, wait no he didn’t

(Drinks from the bottle again, this time some falls out of his mouth on his chin and he wipes it with his left hand.)

Cause she, he said Mugabe was da new president. I tried to act like I don’t care but I did, but day just made me so made and he that guy who told everybody Mugabe was the president, he done lied to me. Told me he was my friend I found my new friend.

(With unsteady finger points at the bottle of liquor and shakes his head as if he is dizzy.)

Yea, yyooouuu. You never lefffft me, you were always there, you new I nnneeddedd chu. ‘Memeber that time we lost the house and I was drinkin’ you so I didn’t really care but then I neededdd more of you so I gave my clothes away to get more of you

(Smiles a big Kool-aid smile)

I had so much more of you, even doe in da morings you wasn’t always so nice. Then those jealous people was tryin to make me get rid of you, but

(Tears fall down his face and stats to yell)

I wasn’t about to do that!

(Speaks in slight drunk voice, no longer yelling)

I listened to your whispers so closely, ever so close....I ‘member those nightsss tossing and turning because I was sick and you were all I had. I needed you everyday and you were the only one that understood me. Like no utter. And I know why this happened he told them...Mugabe that’s who, told them, that I was a drunk but I didn’t

(Cries)

Need it everyday until I lost I just didn’t know what to do with myself. I was a screw up. Dats what me pa use to call me when I didn’t do things right all the time.

(Drinks the rest of the bottle then pulls out another bottle from his left pocket, opens it hold his head up and drinks it all, belches and pass out as the light fade away from him. He then rolls off stage but stays in front of down stage center and passes out.)

(Next day, Day Light: Gamba and Mugabe are walking and looking for Chenzira, outside. Mugabe walks to right stage center and stands there.)

GAMBA

Chenzira ! Chenzira!

CHENZIRA

Go home boy!

(Yells from off stage, while he is down stage center. Gamba then runs to up stage left and stands there to cry.)

CHENZIRA

I hear you boy cryin’ go home I’m not about to tell you one more gin.

 (Gamba then runs to the left wing to exit. A dumpster is pushed out to down stage right, the front part of the dumpster is cut off so the audience can see inside it. Chenzira then gets back on the stage and climbs into the dumpster but no light are on him. Curtains close)

Act 4, Scene 1

 (Curtains open: Lights come on down stage left: Mugabe walks to downstage left and starts to walk slightly back and forth.)

 

ROBERT MUGABE

Now I see how you think this is my fault all these things happening but it is not. So you know I want to clear my name to show you that I am not such a bad person..Yes

(Sigh)

I do have my ways just as much as the next man, and yes sometimes I might not think of other people from time to time if I’m trying to do something to benefit myself.

(A chair is put down stage left; he walks to it and sits down, and crosses his arms)

See where outside and I’m not so high up in class....... How do I know?...I-I just sat in this dirty chair with, only lord knows what’s at the bottom of it.

(Light goes off left stage off Mugabe. Curtains close)

 

Act 4, Scene 2

 (Curtains open:Right stage: Lights turn on Chenzira, sitting in black oil in an open dumpster with liquor bottles in both of his hands, one under both his arms, one under his neck, one between his knees and one between his feet. But he is talking to the one in his left hand)

 

CHENZIRA

You don’t even know the meaning of dirty and then if you went’a touching on something that was dirty you’d get the thinking you know what’s it’s like to not have everything all the time......Hahaha, yes that’s what I would tell Mugabe if I saw him...but I’m telling you..

(Slightly shakes the left hand)

I don’t want to be found. Well ain’t like nobody cares about me, well maybe Gamba but I didn’t even tell him what his name mean....and means warrior too.

(Sigh)

I never even told him…. Little man

(Sigh)

He jus keep on. He ain’t even give up on me, like everybody else did. Ain’t turn his head not once when he saw the dirt road was my home.... Being nice when those there other two kids wasn’t.

(Lights goes off down stage right off Chenzira)

 

Act 4, Scene 3

 (Lights come on down stage left on Mugabe, still sitting in the chair now talking to himself)

ROBERT MUGABE

Where are you were could you be, I told that little boy I would help find you. I’m sitting here saying little boy and I forgot to ask his name.

(Light goes off right stage off Mugabe)

Act 4, Scene 4

(Sun Set Lights: Lights turn on down stage right on Chenzira in the dumpster. Still talking to the bottle in his left hand whispers)

CHENZIRA

Warrior,

(Back to regular volume when talking)

That’s what his name means, I can’t get over it that I never got the chance to tell him.... but how could I forget I saw him everyday..., good kid, good kid.... So how would you help me, … us, the people of Zimbabwe...Or when are you going to start getting back some of the money? Or When you see these things does it remind you of your childhood?.....Yea

(Slightly shaking his head up and down)

Stuff like that I would ask Mugabe, if I saw him.

(Light goes off down stage right off Chenzira. Curtains close.)

 

Act 4, Scene 5

(Curtains open:Lights turn on down stage left on Mugabe who is now taking to the audience. While moving his hands as he talks)

ROBERT MUGABE

See I would help the people fix everything; I’m not such a bad guy. When I look at Zimbabwe now, it brings me back to my childhood with those hard tough days. All the things that were the hardest. I remember waking up feeling like I lost, lost what?...lost, lost like I was losing at life. Then I realized you only lost when you think you can’t win. So I put all that negative thinking aside....

(Talking/Yelling out to stage right)

See nobody, not a near single man or woman from Zimbabwe has to feel like they lost.

(Light goes off down stage left off Mugabe)

 

Act 4, Scene 6

 (Lights come on down stage right Talking/Yelling out to stage left)

CHENZIRA

 

So make me feel like I won.

(Chenzira stands up and all the bottle fall to the bottom of the dumpster. He reaches in his right pocket pulls out Mugabe’s cloth and throws it to down stage left. Then falls to the bottom of the dumpster and he stops breathing. The lights fade from Chenzira side of the stage as the dumpster is being taking away being pulled into the right wing to exit.)

(Mugabe stands up and spots the cloth, he picks it up holds it in both of his hands and outs it over his heart. Then the lights fade off of him, stage gets dark and he exits throw the left wing. Curtains close)

Act 5, Scene 1

 (Curtains open:Night Time lights with one big shinning starts: Gamba walks bout on stage entering from the left wing. He then starts walking slowly to down stage center. With Chenzira’s dusty dirty bag of Salted Groundnuts. Gamba is rubbing his thumb back and front on the top of the bag as he sighs and begins to open his mouth and is hesitant to speak. He sits on the ground, and then he slowly brings his knees up to his chest and wraps his arms around them. Tilts his head to the right slightly frowns and exhales and looks up a the night sky.)

 

GAMBA
Whoa is that a star?...I think it is, I never saw one start in a night sky like that before until now.

(Gamba stops looking at the sky, then more stars appear in the sky, and Gamba gives a slight laugh under his breath)

It’s so beautiful, got that twinkle to it. Reminds me of the way my Zimbabwe use to be. My land, are land,

(Picks up some dirt in his left and lets if fall out)

This land. Now you have to fix it, we have to fix it and we will fix it. Let us not blame anybody for it now. We come together. I don’t wanna wake up with my face in the dirt of a blanket dat I don’t know who it belongs to. I want my home and I know you do too. My family live wit nothing now. And you think I want you to feel sorry for me, no. I want you to help us to find somewhere to live. My grandpa use to tell me stories and even though he use to drink too much I never gave up on him and now he’s gone but I saw that paper he wrote, had that crazy writin’ of his...it said you’re a warrior Gamba.

(Starts to cry a little)

Guessin’ he wrote it for me an left before he hand the chance to put it in my hand, but good think I found it right.

(Stops crying and sniffles three times.)

I didn’t know how he saw that in me. Then I look and I never stop thinkin’ no given up. Thesedirt roads need not have people on them in the night or the day. These roads

(Stands up and walks down stage right to down stage left as he speaks)

Are not for the feet of newborn babies or for the feet of my brothers and sisters or for the feet of the older. It is feet for

(Screams)

No one!

(Back to regular tone of speaking)

No one. So Mugabe and all da people of the land are goin’ to work together to fix this land no matter how long it takes. Give me food, give me life...Who am I you ask....

(He walks back to down stage center, stops and looks at the crowd, and pick up the dusty dirty bag of Salted Groundnuts and shakes it to every words he says in the last sentence.)

…..I am Gamba, so, Chenzira say, I...am...warrior.

(Puts head down as light fade out and turn off on the stage and curtains close.)

   

Act 3, Scene 3 Video of the character Chenzira played by Manna

The SLA College Counseling Office invites students and parents to attend:

FINANCIAL AID 101 NIGHT

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

6:00-7:30
SLA Cafe

Speaker: Chad A. Spencer, Senior Assistant Dean, Davidson College 

Topics covered: Financial aid basics, college costs, determination of aid eligibility, finding money for college.

If you have any questions, please contact Karina Hirschfield, SLA College Counselor at khirschfield@scienceleadership.org.

I enjoy the television. It shows me pictures moving at a tremendous rate. It shows me Dairy Queen commercials that are blatant rip offs of much more amusing Old Spice commercials. It shows me Mark  Wahlberg's angst in startling clarity. Alrighty then.

Its nice getting a random text from a friend who just wants to talk to you. Makes you feel special 

I am very happy about the grade I got, on the 10-20-30. I think this was a sustainable grade because I did everything that was told, and went above and beyond. On top of that when we had to do our reflection on what we could do better on our page, then actually did it; I made the reflection and fixed everything on there. 

Goldie Robins

Art

Ms. Hull

 In the beginning of third quarter when we started art, with Ms. Hull she prepared us to do this project since the first day. We started to draw our shoe. Now some people may say that doesn’t help us with your perspective project but it prepared us with visual drawings, looking at something and drawing it, and drawing straight lines. Then we practiced drawing boxes, which was helpful with shapes. It got harder when we had to do draw the boxes above and below the horizon line. But that is what we had to do in our final drawing; everything is depending on the horizon line and the vanishing point. That was the first time we were introduced to perspective, and it definitely prepared me for the final drawing.  Every drawing in our sketchbook was preparing us and setting us up for this perspective drawing.

 The process basically was being ready in class everyday. Everyday I had another part of the perspective drawing to do, and I set my goal. What helped me a lot was the activities/ drawings we did to prepare our self up to the start of this perspective artwork.  The main process was just getting things done, and drawing.

 In my opinion there was nothing easy to learn and nothing hard to learn. Everything was set up as a challenge for me, and I just needed to reach my goal in that challenge. It doesn’t mean my goal was to finish it, make the drawing perfect and get everything I draw perfect. I didn’t know what I could and couldn’t do ,so I just tried. The only way you try was by coming to class prepared and to work . I could see what I did better hen others, but it doesn’t mean one thing was easy and one thing was hard. The point of a “challenge” is it to be challenging. Yes there could be strong points but this is artwork and what some of that drawing might be better then others, doesn’t mean that part was easier. So all in all, the whole project was a challenge not easy or hard.

 Person I picked:

 I picked, Henry Poeng’s drawing. I picked his because I saw how he worked well in class and really tried hard on his drawing. I also picked it because I thought he did a very “killer” job on his artwork. His was one of the many in our stream that was exemplary. 

Real Recognize Real, And You Don't Look Familiar.

I like a girl on the honor roll.

Random Thought: I cant wait to be in college,to have own apartment. Just Doing me. Being on my own. Dont get me wrong,i love living with mama.. But That grown life is what im looking forward too.

thats all

Does this mean we dont have the thing at the end of the year? Im diggin the monday idea about reppin ur college, preetyy cool idea and week. I know this Friday im probably gonna get in trouble if I do any of my homemade jokes, so ill pass since graduation is 2 months away. ​

"Is that a female?"

"No... Oh it might be, I don't know."

"Unless it's the dude from passion pit."

Coming up with a story to tell every tuesday isn't very easy for someone who keeps everything in. Now we have the topic 'pain' and I'm trying to figure out where to take that. I don't know; I've spent so long NOT telling anyone about these snippets of my life to having to everyone for a grade. I don't mind it, I just need the time to plan this out right. 

Dear Prom, 
I hate you. I don't really, but I want to. You cause too much drama. You draw up too many emotions. You hurt feelings, bruise confidences, and confuse or frustrate everyone in your path. You know what? Let's fight. You give me the time and the place and I'll be there. Well, I'll try to. Hopefully, I'll make it. 

Lenea 

There were times when everything almost seemed ok, and there were times when everything seemed lost. It was around one of those times when everything seemed lost, and that’s why I didn’t kill john for waking me up. Its not that I didn’t like his idea, but it was not something I should have been woken up for, its hard enough trying to fall asleep let alone going back to it.

            After i jumped up with my gun and went into another section of the store with him, he quickly explained what he wanted with me “ its almost Christmas, and we don’t have a tree, or anything. I think after all we have been through we deserve a good Christmas.”

            I stared at him for a moment not really believing what he was asking me. I almost laughed but held it in. “john are you ok?” I knew he was serious so I didn’t even bother to ask.

            “yes,…well no..but that’s the point no one is really “ok”…. after we all saw ant and ally die….and then Nicole…that could have been any of us…. something died in all of us.” 

            Pain came into my thoughts as he said the word Nicole, I nodded “we all felt it john, the odd indescribable feeling, like we lost part of our selfs.”  I thought for a second and considered a Christmas in this place. It would be nice. “ok whats the plan to make this work?”

            “fade and gannon the cannon, they have been out there for a while, they know how to live out there, and they agreed to help us, only us four know about it.” I nodded. So far it seemed like a good idea, no one would argue that gannon and fade kick ass.

            “how do we know what to get people?”

            “ask, no one would actually expect anything, so just ask hypothetically” I nodded, this would work somehow, john was right. We needed to spread joy around here.

 

            Over the next few days we all get ready for going out, we asked people casually what they wanted.

            I almost cried when Eve and Dan both asked to see Dad, I did not know what to do. I think deep down they understood, but refused to believe their feelings “im sorry, but I don’t think dads going to make it this year” I told them they complained but they stopped when they saw my eyes starting to tear. They both hugged me.

            After a few days of, me and john, just asking everyone what they want we decided that we were ready. “a lot of sad answers, things we can’t actually get them”

             we both had  to ask our friends what they wanted, and we both got answers that upset us. It was still a while before Christmas, about a week and a half, but we wanted to get the shopping done early. The plan was that we would be ready in two days, we would all have different weapons, although fade insisted on using his sword, because it did not run out of ammo, and no one argued, after all he had a point. We all met in the weapons storage section of the store, where are the unused weapons were being used.  Gannon still had his glock 18, and happily found another one and loaded up on a lot of clips, John picked up a Simi-automatic rifle with a small scope, probably an acog I didn’t really look at it well enough, and of course his side arm, a glock 19. I wanted to use a shotgun, I grabbed a 20 gauge , figuring the 12 gauge would be too heavy, and there is only a slight difference in killing power. And of course my dads glock 19 with two clips.

            “damn, it would be fun to be using a world war two weapon now” I said out loud as I was viewing all the different rifles.

            “world war two?” Gannon asked curiously hearing this

            “yeah, its my favorite war…I was a war buff before the zombies” he looked at me and smirked

            “yeah, but that’s all teenage boys these days, I know I was…but world war two huh? That’s interesting”

            “yeah...”

So this project is mainly about modernization. The issue with people these days is that we believe if a place doesn't have wifi or the latest iPhone that we need to fix them and make them like us. A place that modernization hit hard is Ladakh. Ladakh was once this peaceful place that kept quiet and away from the outside world in Tibet, but then we moved ourselves in. Except for making it better we made their little place worse and worse… So thats practically my project.                                                           

 

Ablae Angmo- Is a man around the age of 32, he is against the westernization, km he is a very confused man and loves to allow his points to get through to everyone that he believes matter and why he thinks everyone should follow his lead. He is about 5’4” and he wears only hand made clothes, which his wife Reni has made. He lives far from the Ladakh now culture. He walks miles away form his home to go get some clean water. He is frustrated, very angry, and finding a lot of things funny

 

Francis Angmo- His Wife- A quiet woman, very soft spoken. Doesn’t agree with her husband at all. She believes he is just going through a mid life crisis and just hates change. The move is driving her family apart.

 

Taylor Angmo- His Daughter- Frustrated at her parents that she had to lose all of her friends and move away. She is a loud mouth back talking teenager. Westernization started changing her as well as Ladakh. She is 17 and when she turns 18(soon) she plans to run away from her father’s rules. She argues with her father constantly and completely ignores her mother

 

Damian Angmo- His Son- Quiet seven-year-old child. Very respectable but very curious. He is not as spoiled as his older sister, he’s confused about the move but doesn’t say much to the family. He keeps to himself in a little room in their current home.

 

Jacob Angmo- His Brother- Ablaes older brother; Very strict and is not accepting westernization. He is not a stubborn as his little brother he’d rather

 

Sunset Angmo- His wifes sister-

___________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Act I Scene I

Ablae Angmo

 

(Ablae is pacing outside and he seems ticked off about something. He’s acting like he is doing something productive but really he is not. He secretly is watching his wife making sure that she is fine and keeping watch outside for no outsiders. Then a camera crew comes up, asking him questions.)

                       

(Beginning)

 

Yeah, I believe I can talk to someone... How personal is this going to get... Well I'm not willing get personal... my opinion.. Yeah of course I can share that... I don’t understand why every time something happens they believe we need the fixing.. Fixing what, what’s wrong with the way we chose to live our lives.. We were pure and educated the way we were... Explain?... See when we first started out Ladakh was the most beautiful place ever. No one and I mean no one threw trash anywhere. The water was purified and clean. The land oh was it so clean... The dirt we could eat our food off of it... When i lived there I was your regular Ladakh farmer... A wife, children, beautiful home, nothing would've been better then this... When people in other country thought of our Ladakh as a undeveloped place which all children lived in rags and such is when westernization started taking place... In my eyes westernization is the change of my world and my cultures world into something so horrid the gods probably turned their heads and no longer look down upon us.  First, came the people, lined one by one like we were a circus. Then came the workers the builders, then after they started coming is when we started… well I started packing.. Stay? Why would I stay there… they meant to make us better?… if ruining the way people do everything and polluting our land is called making us better then yes they made us very better… I'm not stubborn… I don't understand what they're doing… no I don’t really know any background from what there doing.. I know they came out of nowhere...but... know what you just don't understand me!… I think this interview is over.. Good-bye to you

 

 

 

            Act I Scene II

 

Francis Angmo

 

(Wife is sitting in a chair with a handful of laundry. She is humming a beautiful song while folding clothes.)

                                   

He’s such a reactive person.. I loved Ladakh, a place of fun and family... Yeah I agree with that we were different before they came... Transportation and people too... No not all are bad things, well not all of the things... Of course I still want to go back, it’s so quiet out here at night and I dearly miss my family... Well the move really wasn’t my choice.. He’s the man.. Well in my culture we follow what the males orders are.. Yeah, there the leaders of the pack, when he dies Damian will be the leader... I just wish things would go back to where they were I want to go home...it effects me because no one has been the same since after the move.. All the kids changed.. They don't even talk to us anymore... Forgiveness?... They don’t want to forgive us.. No I don’t think it was I... Yeah.... My husband... He’s real stubborn.. He never lets our family have fun anymore... He’s so different now... He thinks were going to turn on him and leave... I don’t understand... Yeah well … I don’t think... No why would you... well good he needs to know what was said.. I personally think westernization isn’t that bad.. I talk to my sister... through mail.. We talk about all the changes.. They’re waiting for us to come on back home

 

 

Act I Scene III

 

                                                Damian Angmo

 

(Sitting in his room alone, little Damian no older then seven. He’s playing with some kind of doll singing quietly to himself sitting on the floor. He notices the door creak open he drops his stuff and slowly turns around, almost frightened)

 

..He..Hello... my name’s Damian.. Ye..yeah .. Nice to meet you... may I ask why your here... oh int....

(sounds it out)

in-ter- view.. Okay.. I’m fine with it... old?. I.. I’m not old... oh my age seven in two eighths.. Yeah I’ll be eight soon.. How “ool..ld” are you.. That’s pretty old Mr... I don’t think... oh why am I here?.... I don’t feel comfortable...around...them..They...aren’t the same... my dads always grumpy.. Tayy doesn’t play any games anymore.. We use to play everything... tag, duck duck goose, hide and go seek... We use to play at this park type of thing..Well mines were really nice..We lived around a lot of family friends and stuff... I do miss my old home..i didn’t have that many friends... they all thought i was weird.. i’m not that talkative... i just..get nervous around big crowds... i’m afraid they might hurt me.. or judge me... no i’m not self con-sc-i-ence... my mom said it meant confident... confidence is like liking yourself a lot... it’s not.. oh, that’s cool i guess... mothers been stressed... she’s worried about my father..westernization just changed the whole town...we were independent but then the people came and yeah..

(mother calls him to dinner)

 

 I’m sorrry.. I have to go eat, but we’ll finish talking some other time

 

            Act I Scene IIII

Taylor Angmo

 

(Taylor is dancing in her room to this new song that her friend had told her about, she seems like an outgoing nice person until she hears a knock on her door. Her whole demeanor changes and she goes to looking annoyed and starts to turn a light red color. She answers her door and notices it is not anyone from her family then her mood changes back to that nice, outgoing way.)

 

Hello

(She says with a smile)

I’m Taylor and you guys are?.. Nice to meet you.. Interview? Sure, I wouldn’t mind that at all... I’m Seventeen.. Weeellllll I love Ladakh... Yup, born and raised

(she grins with pride)

My mother tells me westernization is to help our beautiful Ladakh, my father thinks other wise.. He thinks that westernization is something to ruin Ladakh. He thinks the people are messing up our pride lands and angering our gods. I think other wise, i think westernization is adding more fun to our plan old boring Ladakh. Yeah i loved it there but i always wanted more. I had always wanted that extra push, something to keep us in contact with the outside world... Well we were “isolated” but come on you hear things people travel sometimes people write to other people... We were modern but not as “modern” that everyone else in the world was..  I love when i see Ladakh now, they have eevveerryytthhiinngg!... No, Where’s America?.. Wow that’s pretty far... Nope i never seen or heard anything about them.. Wow really?.. All day shopping and no curfew?? i would love that so much!

(At  part since Taylor only has a few months to count as a child in America the interviewers are trying to persuade her to go back with them after they leave their voyage through the culture of Ladakh).

 

 I don’t think my parents would let me go that far... In Ladakh we all stay close to our families... Yeah even through marriage, I know that is a lot... well I dont mind my culture its just I need more to make me feel complete...my family is annoying now..its like she agrees with his choice...she would say that...damian? Hes fine I guess...i dont really find time for him anymore...I've just been really pissed...at night... yeah, sometimes I sneak out go back to Ladakh...all my friends are there... i just wanted to see them.. When i go there they catch me up on the news.. Yeah like whats new, what’s in style and things like that..  if my parents found out they would probably be really angry... yeah, i bet my dad would be on ground duty more, he probably would watch everything i do at every time of the day... My dads getting old, he wont be able to walk soon. He’s already having problems walking now... I figure that after a while he’ll just give up and let us do what ever we want... I think my family should be out of the eating area by now.. yeah, i’m really hungry.. would you guys like something to eat i’ll bring you something... no? okay well i’m going to sneak some food, are you guys staying?.. okay i’ll show you guys out i guess

(walks towards the front of the home and lets the visitors out)

 Bye you guys

(she smiles then walks away)

(After Visitors Leave)

            Hopefully no one finds out what i told them. I think i said too much. That was so stupid, what if they go and tell my father what i said. I would really be in big trouble. When they asked me to go with them to this America place i was the most terrified. Isn’t against some law that they cant offer to take people from their homes. That whole conversation got me really lost. ;

 

Act II Scene I

Ablae Angmo

 

(Ablae is ranting because he has just found that Taylor has eaten again after the family has been off to bed. In Ablae’s house he had clearly stated that they eat as a family or they do not eat at all, and Taylor broken this rule. This is not the first time, but it is the first time Ablae is going to settle this problem.)

 

She’s been here, i know she had to been. Nothing seems to be in place now; she snuck our food again too didn’t she. I’m getting sick and tired of her and her restraint against the house rules. I need to protect my family and she is going against everything that will help her grow and prosper to a great and intelligent young woman. I need to set a limit and it stops here. Going to her and telling her what’s going to happen is the biggest way and thing that is going to effect the way this relationship is going.

   

            YOU OUTSIDE NOW!... I’m done with your resistance.. I am your father.. i am the leader of the pack and you you are not... you are last one the list.. It’s me, Damian, Your mother, Then you all the way at the end.. This means we rule over you.. I’m not going to take no more of you.. You will follow my rules or there will be dire consequences.. Remember that story of Chumur gonpa.... okay... Let’s start over.. sit.. lets meditate..

 

(They both sit on the ground in front of each other cross their legs then start)

 

hmmmmmmm....uhmmmmmm...hmmmmmmm...uhmmmmm......you know me and your mother love you, if not we do. The rules i made were we all eat together pray together and sleep at the same time. I do not mean to push it, because i know you are upset with me, but i want you guys to be raised as i had been. Pure, i wanted you guys to be complete Ladakh born and raised children.. I wanted your brother to get married off, i wanted you to get married off... Yes, i know you could have had a chance to but your whole perspective of Ladakh would've changed too.. I did not want that to happen. Your my child and as my child you were a gift to me from Leh, you are here for me to protect you until you blossom to protect your self.. Ladakh is a dangerous place for you in my eyes now, i do not think that it would be a safe choice to allow you to do that... If you promise to stay safe and my pure little girl then yes you may, but you must ask your mother, you was her gift also.. Night. 

 

            Act II Scene II

                                                             Damian Angmo

(Damian starts off, he is kind of having a little panic attack. His father isn’t aware of it but damian hears everything he says to his sister. He’s terrified and believes that it couldn’t get any worse then how its going.)

 

Ahh.. I don’t like this.. I don’t like this at all… Why is daddy yelling… I don’t like when my family is so angry, anger is scary and it makes the gods angry and upset because we are not being positive... Daddy hasn’t been the perfect Ladakhen, he has been really controlling over the whole family and his positivity and gracefulness had lowered down to close to nothing.. Well damian i guess all you have is you. Just like the loners I always hear about. Maybe if you can get the family together one by one you could make happy with everyone.i should start easy like Taylor, then mommy, last daddy..

(Damian breaks out into tears)

 I don’t know how i’m going to do this...

 

                                    Ablae Angmo

 

(Change of character. Ablae has finally made up his mind. His family would be better and cooperate together more. He calls everyone into the prayer room)

     

Everyone come in here. We’ve been discussing this for awhile and i believe well we believe, maybe we should go back to Ladakh just for awhile. This may confuse you but the move had effected everyone. I think maybe it would be good for our family if we had left and moved back to Ladakh. As a whole we are separate, since i made the choice to leave Ladakh. So now we’ll take that same path we walked to get away form the real world and walked right back into it.

(The family stops and stares)

 

Yes i am serious... Yes back to our old home. Everyone get all the stuff packed and get ready to leave..Yes Taylor Seriously

 

                        Act III Scene I

                        Sunset Angmo

 

(The Angmo Family is moving back to Ladakh. While on their way there, the other half had already heard the good news(due to the interview crew and Taylor keeping in touch with them) This is Sunset.)

 

            Oh dear i gotta get everything clean. I can not wait until they come home. I miss them dearly. When they come here i’m going to tell them everything that has been going on from the point they left till they got here.

Yes.. of course i’m getting their home ready for them to come on back home.. Its pretty bad, its been inhabited for a while.... Well it seems like some of the animals have gotten into here too..it is... Not real bad but bad enough.. get the kids we may need extra hands..

 

(The other side of the family take exactly 3 days to clean the whole home, and get the Angmo family ready for take off with a full  fill of food and clean water to drink. On the way home the Angmo family is full of smiles hugs and happiness. Even though the family has been okay out of Ladakh they are determined that now moving back to Ladakh will bring on a new life with a good change. After this point it will just be kind of like a summary of what happens in the family’s life when and after they return to Ladakh.- When the family arrives, all the people in Ladakh come to visit them. Everyone is happy and the family is pretty much sure that Ladakh didn’t change as much. No one in the community tells them about the water problem, they just think the water trucks are because they found more pure water, which they can drink from. After a few months, the family has gotten well acquainted.)

 

Act III Scene II

                                                Damian Angmo

 

(It’s around sunrise Damians’ a little late from waking up, he washes his face with some water then heads to get something to eat. After eating Damian goes straight outside with all of his friends.)

 

Mom, im leaving now. I know sunsets and im late.....I’ll be on time this time... pprroommissee..

(5 minutes later)

Hey you guys.. Where are we off to today... oh that’s cool, cause I haven’t been there since when I was younger

(A few minutes after walking. All the kids around him had these water drinking canisters, Damian always figured it was just because it was a new trend or something. Where they were playing was the same place Damian and his sister use to go as a child. )

 Lets play tag..

(A few hours pass)

Thirtsyyy

 (Damian goes to the stream which he drunk out of as a child.)

(takes a sip.)

 ahhhh water,

(takes another and starts to feel ill)

 I need more water I think I'm still thirsty.

(takes another sip)

(Moans)

Maybe I'm hung

 (Throws up)

I think I want to go home now

(Him and his friends exit stage, for him to come in through a door)

 Mommy I don’t feel so

(Throws up again)

 

Act II Scene I

                                               Francis Angmo

 

 

When we first arrived here I thought everything was going to be just fine. Then this happens. Maybe Ablae was right after all. Maybe my family should’ve just stayed where we had stayed for these past months. When push comes to shove family comes first. But when shove came in front of push my little Damian could’ve had a better future then what’s happening to him now. I wish I could just go back in time and find out just what happen between the time I let him go out with his friends and now. I just feel so careless and stupid for letting my child go out there alone with just his friends. I feel as if I should’ve sent Taylor to go look after her younger brother maybe just maybe I should’ve thought twice about my choices. Its just all my fault he’s lie this now.. Just my fault

 

 

(After two weeks he gets worse and worse. His family takes him to the place of prayer, which they all pray for his health. The next day Damian had died.. ):  The family is really sad and regrets coming back to Ladakh. The whole story behind this is Westernization may be good for you but Ladakh is surviving off of everything that you leave them with, and their living with exactly what you leave them with your trash and pollution. Westernization is ruining places like this so that people can have what they have, which they aren’t they’re changing what they had. Stop Westernization and save children like Damian. )

 

 

I have been thinking a lot lately about graduating.  For some reason, I have been coming across many photos of SLA's first graduation and it is making me so excited and nervous at the same time!  I keep wondering what it's going to feel like standing at TFI with parents clapping and gazing upon us in joy.  I wonder how many of us are going to cry, and whether any of us will keep in touch long after high school has ended.  After four years, we have all changed so much in our own, unique ways.  Each and everyone of us have grown up and discovered ourselves.  Whether we dealt with a terrible break-up or failed a few classes, we have determined our strengths and weaknesses through experience.  And I think that's what high school is all about. 

A part of me is scared to start a new chapter of my life.  It feels like this graduation, which is happening in a little over two months, marks the defining line between childhood and adulthood.  And I'm not so sure if I am ready for it.  But I guess I kind of have to be, right?