Today I write something that has been in my head for a long time, but just recently seemed ready to write. As I start, I am not sure where it will go. It is different than the last seven days - let's see.
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But I will be happy to give permission to do a video for youtube, as long as I receive credit - like Tori Langley did (Click here for THE TOWEL LADY THE TOWEL LADY.)
Monologue Mania Day #8 I Like Boys! Feb. 20, 2014
by Janet S. Tiger (c) all rights reserved [email protected]
(A young man comes onstage, he looks young, anywhere from 14 to 18, and he is wearing a very large chef's hat and an apron that covers a suit.
He is nervous, and he goes to the side of the stage, where he puts the 'final touches' on something that is in a frying pan. This can be mimed, or done with real food, if the production can afford it.
He turns off the stove, takes a deep breath, and faces the audience.)
Mom, Dad, I hope you're hungry, because I have a real treat for you! It needs a couple of minutes to finish off the heat, so it gives me a minute to talk to you...about something important.
Oh, wait a second, almost forgot I had this on!
(He takes off the chef's hat, puts it aside, and starts to take off the apron, then stops.)
You know, I think I'll leave this on. It gives me, I don't know, strength in some way.
(Takes a deep breath)
Whooo, didn't realize this would be difficult. I've been planning to do this for a few months, but actually doing it, is different. Telling you what I'm about to tell you, is very important, but it will change our lives forever.
So ...I guess I just say it......
(Takes another deep breath)
I ........I........I guess you may have figured this out already, but, every since I was little, you kind of knew this about me, I think.. but these last few months, I realized, in order to be an adult, I have to stop pretending. I'm sorry I didn't have the courage before tonight to tell you what I'm about to tell you.
Mom, Dad......I like ......(another deep breath) I like to cook.
There, I've said it. And I hope you're not too upset, because, I know you wanted me to go to college and be an architect like Dad, and I wish I could've told you this before all the applications went out, and the interviews and the visits to all those great schools.
But we had fun, right? It was nice to go all over the country together.....I'll never forget that. I just hope you can forgive me for waiting to tell you this.
(Takes another breath, tilts his head as if listening, more relaxed)
Thank you for understanding. Whoa, that was not as hard as I thought it would be. I guess, food makes things easier.
Just to let you know, this hasn't been a sudden decision - I mean, you both know I've always loved the kitchen, mom, some of my best memories are with you, helping make sandwiches when I was little, then dinner when I could reach the stove!
Remember that time when I thought I would help by cooking everything in the freezer? You were taking a nap, and I got a chair to reach the top of the refrigerator, and I must've put in three chickens, four steaks, and several roasts, all in the same pans! You woke up and you saw what I had done and I thought your eyes would pop out of your head!
And then you said to me - 'well, that saves me a lot of time - I won't have to cook for a month!' (Laughs) I never realized until years later that you sent me out to play so you could fix the problem with spices and lots of sauce. And we ate all kinds of odd things for a month....but you never yelled at me, and I thank you for that.
Now, Dad, I know you wanted me to follow in your footsteps, maybe join your company, have a father and son architects for the future - but maybe that's more for Ellen- she always liked Legos, and putting things together. she's only 13, you have time to work with her - I think that, maybe, that's going to be a good thing.
I've known I liked to cook for a long time, but getting that job at Jack-in-the-Box last summer, well, I know you said it would rot my brain, but Mr. Dylan has been great - when it's quiet, he lets us experiment in the kitchen. All the guys who work there love to cook, I think that's why he hires guys like me......we all .....like to cook.
I've known since I was little - it's like my skin, Dad, and I can't change it. I could scrub it and pretend it was different, but I am what I am, and I hope you can understand.
And now, for our dinner! I know how much you both love quail, so I made some roasted quail, which I am about to flambe with cognac!
(He turns to the stove, then looks back. )
Yes, that's right, flambe means 'flaming'........and that brings me to something else I wanted to mention.............
I like boys.
(He turns and walks to the edge of the stage, now removing the apron and suit jacket, before he exits, returning, looking much older.)
There, that's a big weight off my shoulders! (Reflective) I can't believe it - I'm 62 years old and both my parents have been dead for over 20 years, and it was still hard to tell them.
Thank you my dear friends, for helping me come out to them all these years later.
(He shakes his head, blows out breath deeply.)
Why couldn't I say it then?
Why is it still hard to do these things?
(Listens and laughs)
Yes, I suppose hard is good wherever it comes!
(Quieter, looks around the audience)
We all have to start somewhere.....I guess it's never too late to tell the truth.....yes, they probably knew. Everyone did.
I look at some of you, you young people now, you are so alive, so open, I wish I could've been like that.....
(He takes some ‘plates’ from the counter and offers them to the crowd.)
Well, now that the air has finally been cleared....we can eat!
(He carries the 'plates' offstage, turning at the edge, smiling.)
At least, I told them about the cooking!
(He exits, the end.)
Janet S. Tiger 858-274-9678
www.JanetSTiger.weebly.com
Member Dramatists Guild since 1983
Playwright-in-Residence
Swedenborg Hall 2006-8