Scene One

Getting ready for the bus

A boy named EDDIE prepares for another day of school gets out of the house, shivering in the cold winter air. He sees his friend, JUNI, outside and joins him to walk to the bus stop.

EDDIE Hey, bro, you know why it’s freezing out here today?

JUNI No man, you know anything ‘bout this?

EDDIE You think I know this? Bruh, (Chuckles) I getting killed by the cold and you expect me to know why it’s cold? You outta yo mind!

EDDIE and JUNI starts to walk to the bus stop.

EDDIE Ay, you ain’t cold or nothin’ yet?

JUNI Man, (Points to his various articles of clothing) I’m burnin’ like a motherf***er!

EDDIE Hook me up bruh. I’m getting the snotstache and sh*t, my tears all frozen on my face, and my hands just solid!

JUNI takes off his coat and hands it to the shivering EDDIE.

JUNI Why you ain’t got nothing to wear?

EDDIE Man, my old man wasted everything we got on drinkin’.

JUNI Why don’t you just stop him?

EDDIE Brother, it not easy to do dat if yo daddy one of them alcoholics who find excuses to drink every day every day.

JUNI Show me.

EDDIE So we like “Hey, why you drinking?” My dad takes a sip and says “It’s Saturday.” “Why are you drinking?” My dad take a sip “It’s Sunday, Jesus had wine at the Last Supper.” “It’s Monday,” (Takes a sip) “first day back at the job.” “It’s Tuesday,” (Takes a sip) “kids getting on my godd*mn nerves!” “It’s Wednesday,” (Takes a sip) “hump day.” “It’s Thursday,” (Takes a sip) “almost Friday!” “It’s Friday,” (Takes a sip) “thank God!” “It’s Saturday,” (Takes a sip) “that’s what I’m sayin!” That’s about it.

JUNI (Lets a breath out) Wow… ain’t easy.

EDDIE Told ya. (Sees the bus coming) Hey let’s get a move on, the bus is coming!

EDDIE and JUNI run to catch the bus. The boys sit shivering and chattering the whole way to school.

Scene Two

School

EDDIE and JUNI get off the bus and run to their first period class. They take their seats and see COACH SPEITH, their teacher, enter the room.

EDDIE GEEZUS! It’s freezing in here!

JUNI Man, how you think I feel right now?

EDDIE Looks like Evening just entered the set.

JUNI (Looks at EDDIE with a quizzical look) Who?

EDDIE This guy was so big and black, I just called him “Evening”. And every time he smiles like the stars were twinklin’ (Moves teeth around).

EDDIE and JUNI talk until COACH SPEITH slams on the table.

COACH SPEITH Smith! I want you to come up to the blackboard and read this paragraph in proper English!

EDDIE Man, w-w-why meeee? (Looks at JUNI) This the biggest black guy I’ve ever seen!

COACH SPEITH What you say?

EDDIE I ain’t said nothin’ man, d*mn, alright, d*mn. I can’t do it. I can’t, I can’t, I can’t, I’m sorry. Turn the heat on man, (Holds up hands in front of him) my hands is froze, man. (Pauses) How’m I holding the chalk?

COACH SPEITH Rest of the class, I want y’all to read chapters 24 to 27. (Turns to EDDIE) Smith! Meet me in the hallway! (Marches out the classroom)

EDDIE (Attempts to perform on the way out) Screw that big fat Evening turd, the guy look like he need to climb the Empire State Building that gorilla-looking old man! (Til he got in the hallway) Huh, what you want?

COACH SPEITH Why are you trying to mess up everyone else’s education just because you don’t want one?

EDDIE Man, you know I ain’t doing nothing but tryin’ to thaw out from the cold, man, that’s all.

COACH SPEITH Well, you gonna do more than thawing out during English are you? (Smacks EDDIE on the head)

EDDIE Man, wha– (Looks up at COACH SPEITH)

COACH SPEITH (Gives EDDIE the evil eye) You think you can go in there  and speak proper English? (Opens the door)

EDDIE (Attempts to say in an accent) Well, since I can’t stuff you now, I was waiting on the chance to get in the classroom and flex more English skills! (Laughs weirdly)

EDDIE goes back to class and resumes his regular school day. After school ends, EDDIE and JUNI catch their bus and goes home.

Scene Three

Getting off the Bus to go Home

EDDIE and JUNI get back from school and realizes that the weather is nice outside.

JUNI Hey, Eddie, you want to go play for a bit? I’ll go get my little bro Griffin too!

EDDIE I gotta check with my mama first. (Runs back home) Mama! Mama! Can I uh… c-c-c-c-can I go outside?

MAMA Not till you finish your homework!

EDDIE (Walks away) Kuma duma…

MAMA What you say?

EDDIE Nothin’.

EDDIE goes to his room and finishes his homework.

EDDIE I finished! Can I go play?

MAMA You can play to the end of this block. That’s as far as your a** go. Ain’t no goin’ out to the woods!

EDDIE (In a small voice) Yes mama.

MAMA And if you go any further, I’m gonna f*ck you up!

EDDIE, JUNI, and GRIFFIN play around until they reach the end of the block.

JUNI Ehhh… (Glances at EDDIE) come on, let’s go on the next block! Let’s see what’s over there!

EDDIE puts one hand in his pockets and looks down to see if MAMA on the front porch. And sees her looking at him dead in the eye.

MAMA (Gives EDDIE the death stare and mouths I’m gonna f*ck you up)

EDDIE (Looks around while talking) Well umm ah… umm… ah…

JUNI You ain’t goin’ in?

EDDIE (Grabs his thigh) Naw, man you know, I caught a charlie horse.

GRIFFIN Aw, we gonna beat you up, punk?

EDDIE I’ll be the b*tch today! I’d rather fight both (Points at JUNI and GRIFFIN) of y’all then take one butt whooping from her! (Points at MAMA) See ya!

(Waves back at JUNI and GRIFFIN and runs back home)