A Terrible Gift

Scene 1: A bench sits in the center of the stage. Lights over it are dim. Enter MAN. He is holding a bouquet of flowers. He walks over to the bench and sits.

MAN: It’s a terrible gift, knowing when you have to let go. It’s the worst gift of all when you know you’ll never be able to hold on to anything better. You were the best, my love. The most beautiful, most lively, the most caring. And I was the boy with the terrible gift, and I knew that first time you sang to me the day you’d have to go. You know I spent those first few days, watching you in silence, wondering if I could watch you and never speak to you if you would never have to go. If I had never never known that you were to leave that maybe, just maybe, you wouldn’t have. (Beat) It’s been awhile, hasn’t it? Well, of course, a year is always a long time. I miss you every day, do you know that?  Do you ever miss me? Wherever you are? Do you think of me? Of our summer? Because I think about you... all the time. And I hate you for leaving. Every single day I’m angry with you because you broke my heart and I’m desperate for you to come back. (getting up from bench, leaving flowers) If you ever get these, know that I left them, and I still love you. I know it’s been ten years, but you have my number. It hasn’t changed.

Scene 2: Two teens sit on the bench in the center of the stage. The BOY is hunched over his journal at one end of the bench, the GIRL confidently strumming her ukulele on the other. They exchange glances and go back to their work. GIRL exits and the BOY looks up, watching her go. Lights down. Lights up on GIRL lying on the bench and strumming, BOY enters and looks at her before sitting down on his side of the bench. Lights down. Lights up on the pair sitting almost in the middle,  the wind is blowing hard. The GIRL is singing loudly and playing the uke and the BOY is writing on the flimsy piece of paper that keeps almost getting away. One large gust of wind sends the paper flying into the air. The BOY lets out a yelp and the GIRL jumps, grabbing the paper in the air and holding it out in front of her to read.

GIRL: (sings, reading from paper) Hey girl/ who I’d like to meet/ I’ve seen the rhythm/ of your dancing feet/ You seem really fun/ and really neat/ So what makes you/ so damn hard to greet? (picks up her uke and sings) Hey boy/ who I’ve never met/ I think I like you/ as of yet/ You seem real quiet/ but I bet/ that you’re just/ playing hard to get.

BOY: How do you know it was about you? That’s a little presumptuous, don’t you think?

GIRL: How do you know it was about you? I was just singing from the point of the girl who you were writing too.

BOY: Maybe I was writing from the point of view of a girl too.

GIRL: Maybe you were. (sings) Hey girl/ from down the block/ remember that time/ you used my chalk?/ You’re so pretty/ like a seagull flock/ and I want you to/ darn my socks.

BOY: That was lame.

GIRL: You thought it was great.

BOY: Yes, yes I did.

Scene 3: The BOY sits on the bench with his FRIEND lounging next to him. GIRL enters, but she doesn’t sit, she hangs behind the pair, reacting.

FRIEND: So, you like this chick, huh?
BOY: I guess. I mean, we’ve only really known each other for about a month... But she’s-

FRIEND: She’s different and fun and charming.

BOY: Yeah, how did you know?

FRIEND: I’ve heard the stories, little bro. I know what kind of woman we’re dealing with.

BOY: Are we dealing with her?
FRIEND: Is she pretty?
BOY: Yes. I guess so.
FRIEND: And you like her?

BOY: I like the idea of her.

FRIEND: And she’s knows about-

BOY: No.

FRIEND: You’re crazy! You know you’re never going to be able to keep a girl if you don’t tell her the truth!

BOY: I’ve scared off all the others, Darren! I don’t want her to be another one!

FRIEND: You aren’t going to know whether she is or not if you don’t tell her!

BOY: You don’t get it, Darren, her date, it’s the end of the summer!

GIRL: My date?

BOY: (beat) Isn’t it a little presumptuous to assume we’re talking about you.

GIRL: I will like you no matter what it is.

BOY: You won’t.

GIRL: And you’re calling me presumptuous.

BOY: Darren, can you leave? If I’m going to do this, I have to do it alone.

FRIEND: Whatever you want, bro. Good luck.

Exit.

GIRL: This has been a weird month.

BOY: God, I can’t stall any more! But I can’t tell you, either! It hurts, Chris, this whole thing hurts.

GIRL: You don’t have to be scared.

BOY: I want to ask you out, but there’s no point!

GIRL: Cause I’ll never say yes? Try me.

BOY: No, Christina, there’s no point! I only have until the end of the summer to see you.

GIRL: Are you moving away? I’d email you daily.

BOY: I have a gift. A rare one. I know when you’re going to die, Christina. There’s a derailed train, or a fire, or a piece of carrot in your airway - something - something that will end your life before you get to see the leaves turn red. And it’s stupid and awful because I know when you’ll die, the exact date, and time, but I don’t know how, and I can’t stop it.

GIRL: Oh...

BOY: You should go. I’m sorry I had to tell you.

GIRL: No.

BOY: What?

GIRL: No, I won’t go. If I’m going to die, there’s a lot I need to do. I mean, I still haven’t skinny dipped or hiked a mountain or eaten a deep fried Mars bar or, um, lost my virginity! At least now that you’ve told me, I can do them before my time. And I can do them with you.

BOY: Christina-

GIRL: No buts. We’re going to make this the best summer either of us will remember.

Scene 4: The GIRL and the BOY stand before the bench, holding hands, facing one another.

GIRL: This is the last time I’m going to see you.

BOY: What- why?

GIRL: Because I want a nice parting. It’s the start of school and I’m going to die soon. I want to burn out, not fade away. This summer was a firework. Thank you.

BOY: I can’t let you go!

GIRL: You can’t save me either.

BOY: I’m so, so sorry.

GIRL: Don’t be sorry. That would make you sorry for everything we had.

BOY: What do you want me to say, then?

GIRL: Tell me the truth.

BOY: I think I’m in love with you. And not just the idea of you. Every single part.

Scene 5: The GIRL stands in the center of the stage, facing away from the audience.

VOICE: (from offstage) Christina, move!

The GIRL looks to her left, but suddenly we hear car honk and tires swerve and the lights flare blindingly on the stage, before fading into black.