Let Me Be Dull

a play by Kelvin Richardson

TIME: 11:30 am Summer 2009

PLACE: Balboa High School-in a Social Studies class in summer school

AT RISE: Deion Jr, a 14 year old boy, is sitting down at a desk with CJ the pencil

DEION JR.

CJ wake up! Come on wake up!

CJ

OK! OK! What do you need me for this time?

DEION JR.

I need you to draw me the most beautiful rose you can so I can impress Melissa.

CJ

OK, but after this will I be able to go back to sleep?

DEION JR.

Yeah, for the next 50 minutes before I have to transfer to my next class.

(CJ is sitting there sketching out the rose when all of a sudden the bell rings. DEION stands.)

CJ stop! We have to get to the next class.

CJ

Deion you just messed me up. I was almost done.

DEION JR.

(He holds up the drawing.)

Hey Melissa look at this picture.

(Melissa keeps walking.)

Hey CJ did you see that? She did not even look at the picture.

CJ

She must not like you.

DEION JR.

I will not stop until she does.

CJ

How can I help you? What else could I do?

DEION JR.

First, I will sharpen you.

CJ

AHHHHHH! (CJ screams.) Do not sharpen me. I am scared.

DEION JR.

Na ah you shouldn’t be scared. If I sharpen you, you will be the most pointiest pencil in the school.

(DEION walks away to get the sharpener.)

CJ

(CJ talks to the audience.)

You guys have to help me. Do not let Deion put me in the sharpener. Last time I was put in the sharpener my old owner Marvin had broken my lead seventeen times. I never want to be put in the sharpener again. He put me in the sharpener. He said it would not hurt. So I said it was ok. He slowly put me in and all of a sudden I heard these loud grinding noises and I just got smaller and smaller. I never want to be put in the sharpener again.

(DEION returns and whispers to the audience.)

DEION JR.

Hey guys, when CJ goes to sleep I am going to use a hand sharpener so the loud noises won’t scare him. But if he wakes up then he will not be able to trust me and I will have no friends if he leaves me. I know. I’ll beg!

(He gets down on his knees and talks to CJ.)

CJ, please let me sharpen you.

CJ

No! I’m too afraid.

DEION

It’ll only be for a few seconds.

(CJ ignores him.)

Fine, if you don’t let me sharpen you then I will use a different pencil.

CJ

(CJ is shocked.)

No, please don’t. I would be heartbroken if you used another pencil.

DEION

I don’t care how you would feel. You have to get sharpened because that rose you drew was messed up because you were dull.

CJ

(CJ is extremely hurt.)

Deion, I did not appreciate that. If you only knew how much pain I went through when I was sharpened before, you would know why I wouldn’t want to be sharpened again.

DEION

Please? Just this one time and it will never happen again.

CJ

What will you do for me?

DEION

If you let me sharpen you I will repaint you.

CJ

What else?

DEION

I will get you one of those super 3000 Office Depot erasers.

CJ

Something more amazing.

DEION

Fine, I will get you a Crayola pencil soul mate.

CJ

(CJ starts to weep.)

Deion, you really would?

DEION

I’ll do anything if you let me sharpen you so you can draw an orchid for Melissa.

CJ

Come on let’s go to that sharpener.

DEION

I will hold you by the eraser.

(DEION and CJ walk together towards the sharpener.)

THE END