Oh my god, sniffles.my final chapter.anyway, let me not waste any time cuz
you already know what that's about. So, without further ado, I present to
you the conclusion of Boy Who Cried Wolf. (man, do I like melodramatics.)
Boy Who Cried Wolf
Act VI
Scene I: Emma stood behind the curtains rereading her note cards. This was it. Today, she would be speaking to the entire Degrassi Community School student body. Ever since she had received that last letter from Silent At Degrassi, Emma had been even more determined not to let him down. From the stage, Emma could hear Mr. Radditch over the microphone.
Mr. Radditch: So, I have asked you all here to day so that you may listen to this young lady and learn from what she has to say. Please direct your attention to Emma Nelson of class 901. (A rush of whispers consumes the auditorium. Emma takes a deep breath and steps out from behind the curtain. She slowly walks over to the podium, her heart beating quicker than her steps. She could feel the intensity in the room. She could feel the eyes all on her. Emma pauses and looks around. She sees some familiar faces in the crowd- Ashley and Craig on the far left; Jimmy, Hazel, Paige, and Spinner in the middle; Marco and Ellie in the front row; J.T., Manny, Sean and Toby in the back.)
Emma: Good afternoon fellow students, teachers, and respected faculty members. In the past weeks, there have been a lot of things being said, some true, others, unfair and incorrect. I've been told so many times that homosexuality is unnatural and wrong, but you know what? That statement in itself is wrong. Homosexuality is not a plague. It doesn't happen to bad people. It just happens.
In the past few weeks, I've seen some things and heard some things, that I never thought I'd hear from my own fellow classmates. What has happened to us? Where is our humanity, our compassion? (Emma looks around again.) There is so much hate in this world, it's sickening. Every day, we hear on the news about suicide bombings, war, and violence- all direct results of conflict and hate. We've all grown so accustom to this hate and violent acts don't bother us anymore, or at least, not as much as they should. We, as part of this one human race, need to stop hating, stop stereotyping, and actually start listening to each other. Only then can we have peace.
Several days ago, I received a letter from a fellow student at this school. He wouldn't give his name, but only called himself Silent At Degrassi. I would now like to read this letter to you all so that you may be exposed to the effects of those hateful comments that many of you so carelessly dished out.
"Dear Emma,
Thank you for all your help in this gay tolerance campaign. You are a true friend. I know that I told you not to continue fighting, but I've decided that would be wrong. Sometimes, I feel like the whole world is closing in on me, and that there's no way out. Sometimes, I think it would be best to end it, so that I wouldn't have to live with this pain I feel. Other times, I think that killing myself would only be admitting that they won. It would be admitting that who I am is wrong- even though I can't change that. And now, I've been pushed as far as I can go. I'm so tired and angry. I used to think that I was the one with problem but today, I've just realized something. It's not me who's wrong, it's everybody else. I never hurt anyone. I never made fun of anyone because of who they were. And yet, I keep hearing that I'm a horrible person, that I'm some degenerate. They say that when they don't even know me. So, yeah, I'm gay. And you know what? I'm pretty proud of that. It's not like-" (Emma is interrupted by a voice in the back of the room. A tenth grader stands up and shouts.)
Tenth Grader: Hey! If he's so proud of being gay, why doesn't he stand up and reveal himself?!?!
Another Student: Yeah, if he's so proud, why's he hiding behind some stupid alias?
(A bunch of more kids stood up and started yelling as well. Emma stands speechless. She can't believe what is happening. She can't believe that these are the people who go to her school. She glances over to Craig for help but he is as shocked as she. This whole thing was getting out of control.....Meanwhile, out in the audience, Marco sat silently and gripping the armrests so tightly that he was starting to cut through the fabric. Ellie stared at him not knowing what to do. He listened to all the angry voices telling him to reveal himself and in truth, he really wanted to. His blood was boiling and he was on the verge of something. Whether he was about to cry or whether he was about to start yelling, even he did not know. He would have to wait and see. Almost immediately, Marco felt his body being jerked out of his seat and turning to face the rest of the school. It must have been the look on his face or the certainty of his posture, but the crowd quieted down mighty quickly. They stared at him and he stared back. After a moment of agonizing silence, he spoke, ever so calmly.)
Marco: Fine.
(The kids looked around to one another, confused. Marco turned on and calmly made his way up the steps and over to the podium in the center of the stage. Emma moved out of the way.)
Marco: It's me. I'm Silent At Degrassi. (Craig, Ashley and Ellie smile in approval as Marco clears his throat.) But I am silent no more. You asked me to reveal myself and so, here I am. As I was saying in that letter, yes, I am gay. I know I've kept this secret for a long time and it was wrong of me, but know that you all left me no choice. (Switch to the ashamed faces of his his friends- Spinner, Jimmy, etc.) I've always wanted to be just like everybody else- straight, strong, and athletic, but it's impossible. No matter how much I try to be someone else, I will always be this way. I can't change that and I offer no apologies for it. So, I'm sorry for not telling you all who I was. And I am especially sorry for keeping this lie for so long with my friends. But you know what? I am not going to apologize for living. (He pauses.) Thank you. (Marco walks off the stage, never looking back.)
End Scene.
Many thanks to everyone who has reviewed. Please do so one final time for this chapter. Much luv, Vickie.
Boy Who Cried Wolf
Act VI
Scene I: Emma stood behind the curtains rereading her note cards. This was it. Today, she would be speaking to the entire Degrassi Community School student body. Ever since she had received that last letter from Silent At Degrassi, Emma had been even more determined not to let him down. From the stage, Emma could hear Mr. Radditch over the microphone.
Mr. Radditch: So, I have asked you all here to day so that you may listen to this young lady and learn from what she has to say. Please direct your attention to Emma Nelson of class 901. (A rush of whispers consumes the auditorium. Emma takes a deep breath and steps out from behind the curtain. She slowly walks over to the podium, her heart beating quicker than her steps. She could feel the intensity in the room. She could feel the eyes all on her. Emma pauses and looks around. She sees some familiar faces in the crowd- Ashley and Craig on the far left; Jimmy, Hazel, Paige, and Spinner in the middle; Marco and Ellie in the front row; J.T., Manny, Sean and Toby in the back.)
Emma: Good afternoon fellow students, teachers, and respected faculty members. In the past weeks, there have been a lot of things being said, some true, others, unfair and incorrect. I've been told so many times that homosexuality is unnatural and wrong, but you know what? That statement in itself is wrong. Homosexuality is not a plague. It doesn't happen to bad people. It just happens.
In the past few weeks, I've seen some things and heard some things, that I never thought I'd hear from my own fellow classmates. What has happened to us? Where is our humanity, our compassion? (Emma looks around again.) There is so much hate in this world, it's sickening. Every day, we hear on the news about suicide bombings, war, and violence- all direct results of conflict and hate. We've all grown so accustom to this hate and violent acts don't bother us anymore, or at least, not as much as they should. We, as part of this one human race, need to stop hating, stop stereotyping, and actually start listening to each other. Only then can we have peace.
Several days ago, I received a letter from a fellow student at this school. He wouldn't give his name, but only called himself Silent At Degrassi. I would now like to read this letter to you all so that you may be exposed to the effects of those hateful comments that many of you so carelessly dished out.
"Dear Emma,
Thank you for all your help in this gay tolerance campaign. You are a true friend. I know that I told you not to continue fighting, but I've decided that would be wrong. Sometimes, I feel like the whole world is closing in on me, and that there's no way out. Sometimes, I think it would be best to end it, so that I wouldn't have to live with this pain I feel. Other times, I think that killing myself would only be admitting that they won. It would be admitting that who I am is wrong- even though I can't change that. And now, I've been pushed as far as I can go. I'm so tired and angry. I used to think that I was the one with problem but today, I've just realized something. It's not me who's wrong, it's everybody else. I never hurt anyone. I never made fun of anyone because of who they were. And yet, I keep hearing that I'm a horrible person, that I'm some degenerate. They say that when they don't even know me. So, yeah, I'm gay. And you know what? I'm pretty proud of that. It's not like-" (Emma is interrupted by a voice in the back of the room. A tenth grader stands up and shouts.)
Tenth Grader: Hey! If he's so proud of being gay, why doesn't he stand up and reveal himself?!?!
Another Student: Yeah, if he's so proud, why's he hiding behind some stupid alias?
(A bunch of more kids stood up and started yelling as well. Emma stands speechless. She can't believe what is happening. She can't believe that these are the people who go to her school. She glances over to Craig for help but he is as shocked as she. This whole thing was getting out of control.....Meanwhile, out in the audience, Marco sat silently and gripping the armrests so tightly that he was starting to cut through the fabric. Ellie stared at him not knowing what to do. He listened to all the angry voices telling him to reveal himself and in truth, he really wanted to. His blood was boiling and he was on the verge of something. Whether he was about to cry or whether he was about to start yelling, even he did not know. He would have to wait and see. Almost immediately, Marco felt his body being jerked out of his seat and turning to face the rest of the school. It must have been the look on his face or the certainty of his posture, but the crowd quieted down mighty quickly. They stared at him and he stared back. After a moment of agonizing silence, he spoke, ever so calmly.)
Marco: Fine.
(The kids looked around to one another, confused. Marco turned on and calmly made his way up the steps and over to the podium in the center of the stage. Emma moved out of the way.)
Marco: It's me. I'm Silent At Degrassi. (Craig, Ashley and Ellie smile in approval as Marco clears his throat.) But I am silent no more. You asked me to reveal myself and so, here I am. As I was saying in that letter, yes, I am gay. I know I've kept this secret for a long time and it was wrong of me, but know that you all left me no choice. (Switch to the ashamed faces of his his friends- Spinner, Jimmy, etc.) I've always wanted to be just like everybody else- straight, strong, and athletic, but it's impossible. No matter how much I try to be someone else, I will always be this way. I can't change that and I offer no apologies for it. So, I'm sorry for not telling you all who I was. And I am especially sorry for keeping this lie for so long with my friends. But you know what? I am not going to apologize for living. (He pauses.) Thank you. (Marco walks off the stage, never looking back.)
End Scene.
Many thanks to everyone who has reviewed. Please do so one final time for this chapter. Much luv, Vickie.