“I told you I wasn’t okay.” “No, you didn’t.” “I told you.” “I told _you_ to go to therapy.” “I feel weak when I do that.” “Then deal with it.” “I want to jump off a bridge sometimes.” “Good.”

“Why am I so empty?” “I… don’t know.” “Me neither. Why does life do that?” “Do what?” “Give us problems and no solutions.” “So we suffer.”

Dialogue, O dialogue. A poem full of dialogue. It would be so easy if it was just a monologue. But since I need to talk to you, it will be much harder I suppose that I just need to stretch myself that much farther. You’re a silly twit Just embrace it. Talking to me Oughta be easy. After all we chat. Can you imagine that? Every single day Come what may. It will still be difficult to write a conversation poem. Even though with you, all the world we have roamed. There are surely certain topics that we can write about. Although there are many that we can do without. Don’t think too much Travel and such Ought to be fine To show off your mind. Don’t get too deep You can talk about sheep. Or you can talk about rhyme All of the time. That would be good to converse about rhyming. About how syllables and words are great for timing. Even though people seem to not like our verses. They like to shout “BOO!” They like to give us curses. Don’t exaggerate. Nobody does hate You all that much. Verses and such Are what you adore. So just give them more Of all the same stuff Until they cry, “Enough.” Are you saying we should stop this dialogue rhyme? I am starting to enjoy it. I am having a good time. But if you think that we’ve said all there is to say, I suppose that time is right to finish today. I suppose you’re right We’ll just say, “Good night.” We can be done With this rhyming fun. You are not a dawg. It was fun, this dialogue. I hope they like it too. And nobody else screams, “BOO!”

“What do you mean you can’t!” “ I can’t stay” “ why!” “ I am not allowed to say” “ then im sorry to say…!” “No you can’t” “I will, I am done!” “ very well” “ your not saying anything!” “Why should I, when I know you won’t care” “Goodbye!” “ goodbye my heart”

I told you I was not ok I dont recall that Oh so you say Oh so I say I told I was hurting Oh did you now? I did Continue then I told uou it was hard It didnt seem that hard You dont seem to care I dont really Well ok then congratulations on being a peice of shit Ok now girl thats a little too far Just shut up Fine

**I just want this storm to cease,** **To find a fleeting breath of peace.** **Bad luck clings tight, it won’t let go,** **A heavy weight that pulls me low.** **What crime, what curse, what ancient sin** **Brings endless trouble crashing in?** **Each day a trial I can’t escape,** **A nightmare wrapped in waking shape.** **All I ask is one still day,** **A quiet path, a smoother way.** **One moment free from fear’s tight hold,** **A chance to breathe before I fold.** **But sadness lives within my chest,** **A sinking stone, a heart oppressed.** **I scream, but silence steals my sound;** **My voice is lost, my soul unbound.** **No ears will hear, no hands will reach—** **I fight for love, but love won’t teach** **The pain to ease, the hurt to mend—** **I want it gone; I want the end.** **Bad luck, my shadow, stalks my path,** **A curse that feeds on sorrow’s wrath.** **I long for peace, a fleeting sun,** **But still, this race I cannot run.**

_(Open scene at a Lake.)_ **_Glasses_**: You know I hate fishing. _(She silently fumes while giving death glares to Diva.)_ **_Diva_**: I know you have…family problems with this recreational activity we call _(She makes air quotes with her fingers)_ “fishing”, but I couldn’t think of anything else to do. Unless you want to go mud bogging? **_Glasses, Honey Bear, Hollow_**: No. **_Diva_**: Well then._ (She gestures at the boat, where her boyfriend—who we’ll call _**_Deep Voice_**_—waves.)_ Think of it this way, you’ll be able to meet my boyfriend! Eh? _Eh_? _(Hollow starts at the lake, her voice small.) _**_Hollow_**: B-big water. Big water! _(Honey Bear wraps an arm around Hollow reassuringly. She raises a brow.)_ **_Honey Bear_**: How did Emo get out of this one? **_Diva_**: Her mom wants her to clean the house. **_Honey Bear_**: Ah. **_Deep Voice_**: Hey guys, you ready to go? **_Diva_**: Yeah! **_Honey Bear_**: Sure, I guess. **_Glasses, Hollow_**: No…. *** _(Open scene in a boat floating in the middle of the river.)_ _(Hollow and Glasses are huddled against Honey Bear’s sides. Glasses looked pissed; Hollow’s eyes are wide and she is frozen. Diva and Deep Voice are chatting and fishing. The boat isn’t very large.)_ **_Honey Bear_**: Are you two okay? **_Glasses_**: I hate this. I hate this. _(She brushes back her strawberry-blonde hair, turning red from the exposure to the sunlight)_ I wanna go back to the shore. _(Hollow just whimpers.)_ **_Honey Bear_**: Alright, that’s it. Diva! Take us back to the shore, right now. Please. Diva: Oh, you want to go back already? _(She checks her phone.) _It hasn’t even been thirty minutes. _(Honey Bear’s voice grows deep, deep enough that Deep Voice himself raises his eyebrows.) _ **_Honey Bear_**: _Now_. *** _(Back on shore.)_ _(Glasses has been picked up by her mom’s boyfriend. Hollow and Honey Bear sit together, drawing in the mud. Diva is sulking. Deep Voice is distracting himself by putting the fish he caught in the ice box.)_ **_Honey Bear_**: Diva. **_Diva_**: What._ (Her voice is snappish.)_ _(Honey Bear stays calm though, she’s good at that. She pats her left side where she’s sitting on the mud with Hollow making noises to herself on the right.)_ **_Honey Bear_**: Come on. We need to talk. _(Despite her attitude, she comes immediately.) _**_Diva_**: Is this about the boat? **_Hollow_**: Of course it is, what else would it be about? Wait. Are you being sarcastic? **_Honey Bear_**: You know better than anyone that Glasses hates fishing. And Hollow has said serval times that she can’t swim and she has a phobia of being in large, open water. I just wanna know why you did it. **_Diva_**: Well, maybe, just maybe, I wanted my friends to join me on my one year anniversary with my boyfriend. And maybe…maybe, I knew about those problems and I ignored them because I thought that if we were together that we’d still have a great time…. _(Her voice grows quiet at the end of this. She averts her eyes to the ground.)_ Saying it out loud…it sounds stupid. **_Hollow_**: And arrogant. **_Honey Bear_**: And not like you. Look, Diva, you know we all love you and we know you love us—in your own special way. But people have boundaries for a reason: they want to be and feel safe. Did you feel safe out on the open water, Hollow? **_Hollow_**: No. **_Honey Bear_**: And I’m sure Glasses had a horrible time as well. **_Hollow_**: She hates fishing because her bio-father used to always force her too with her brother. **Diva**: Yeah…I know. I’m sorry guys. **_Honey Bear_**: No problem. **_Hollow_**: If you do it again, I’ll find you. **_Diva, Honey Bear_**: … _(Hollow goes back to humming and drawing in the mud.) _ **Honey Bear**: Sometimes I worry about you.

_(Open scene with Hollow sketching in her bedroom.)_ **_Hollow_**: Nya! Dang—I gotta stop doing that. _(Air Strike (11) enters, their baby brother—who we’ll call Holy Saint (2)—walks in behind him.)_ **_Holy Saint_**: Hewo, Hollow, how are you doing? _(Hollow smiles, ignoring Air Strike and helping Holy Saint onto her bed, not forgetting to close her sketchbook for protection against the toddler)_ **_Hollow_**: I’m doing fine, Bean, how are you? **_Holy Saint_**: I’m good. _(He points to her newest stuffed toy that she got for Christmas) _Taco, please? _(Hollow hands Holy Saint her taco plush, then turns to Air Strike, narrowing her eyes)_ **_Hollow_**: What do you want? **_Air Strike_**: Come on! How do you know I came here for something. _(Hollow blinks slowly)_ **_Air Strike_**: Okay. Okay. I need a pencil. **_Hollow_**: Will you bring it back? **_Air Strike_**: …. **_Hollow_**: No. **_Air Strike_**: Wait! You didn’t let me answer! ＊＊＊ _(Open scene at lunch)_ **_Diva_**: So, how was everyone’s break? **_Emo_**: Eh. **_Honey Bear_**: We stayed with my dad’s fiancé’s grandpa._ (She shivers) _There was no source of technology in that whole house. **_Hollow_**: I went to a funeral. (Dive, Emo, and Honey Bear turn to her, those looks in their eyes.) **_Hollow_**: It was my great-great step-grandmother; I hardly knew her. **_Diva_**: It’s still a death, Hollow, how are you like this? _(Hollow shrugs)_ **_Hollow_**: Death doesn’t bother me. Everyone dies. **_Emo_**: True that. **_Hollow_**: Did you just agree with me? _(The table is quiet)_ **_Emo_**: No, bitch. Yes, I did._ (She points at Diva and Honey Bear) _You two shut up! ＊＊＊ _(Back at Hollow’s Home)_ **_Pigtails_**: BUT I WANT IT! _(Hollow and Pigtails are currently arguing over the last bagel. Air Strike is watching the proceedings while eating the chicken pie he microwaved.)_ **_Hollow_**: I TOUCHED IT FIRST! DIDN’T I, AIR STRIKE! (Air Strike raises his hands in peace) **_Air Strike_**: I’m _not_ involved with this. **_Mum_**: HOLLOW! PIGTAILS! SIT YOUR BEHINDS DOWN BEFORE _I_ EAT THAT BAGEL! **_Hollow, Pigtails_**: NOOOOO!! **_Air Strike_**, (and **_Holy Saint_** who has somehow wandered in the kitchen unnoticed): YESS! **_All Siblings_**: AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH _(Hollow, Pigtails, Air Strike, and Holy Saint continue to scream. No doubt the neighbors hear them; the walls are thin. Mum sighs, putting her head in her hands before continuing her work.)_ **_Mum_**: Why did I have four kids? _(She looks down at her skinny body)_ _How_ did I have four kids? ＊＊＊ _(Open scene at Lunch)_ _(Hollow, Diva, and Honey Bear are talking to two boys behind them. Emo is on her phone. We’ll call one boy Baseball Hat, and the other Nice Guy.)_ **_Baseball Hat_**: _No_, I do not lick children. You _misheard_ what I said, _Hollow_. **_Hollow, Diva, Honey Bear_**: We all heard you say that you lick children, man. **_Diva_**: And you said that you bang guys. **_Baseball Hat_**: I do NOT bang guys. I am a fully straight man—I’ve gone hard from titties. **_Hollow, Honey Bear_**: WHAAAA— _(Nice Guy looks up from his lunch and his phone, peeved that this conversation is even happening.) _**_Nice Guy_**: Baseball Hat, shut up before you make this worse. Do you have evidence that he said any of this, Diva? **_Diva_**: Nooo…. **_Nice Guy_**: Then the victim is proven innocent. **_Honey Bear_**: The victim did say he licks children, though. _(Baseball Hat flushes red.)_ **_Baseball Hat_**: No I did NOOOOT!

“I wanted it to be you.” “We don’t work.” “How can you say that?” “We don’t; we are like snow and flame. One burns too hot, the other too cold.” “I suppose I am the flame?” “No, no you are the snow, cold and cruel.” “How dare you—“ “You’ve caused me pain, and drowned my feelings in your own self misery.” “…” “Goodbye. Let your snow fall elsewhere.”

Eve says I was made for you to be a baby factory. Once comes Abel, Second came Cain. Adam says Were we not commanded to be fruitful and multiply? Eve says I don’t know, ask your first wife. Adam says Not this again. Eve says She had the privilege of individuality. Lilith was dust And I am just a walking rib. Adam says You were made for me, and I you. Eve says I was a consolation prize. Adam says But it was I who won this lottery. Eve says Yahweh gave us paradise, and you can’t go find someone else to bother? Adam says You are the only one I want to bother. Eve says Well, let’s make this a little more interesting. The serpent says Come with me, I will show you that the fruit of the tree Has bitter truths—oh, but they taste so sweet going down.