June 24, 2011 "Monologues"

 (This is a day in the life of a Kidswrite journal.)

Sitting on the table, I hear people chatting all around me. Then, I hear a new voice. Miss Ellie introduces him to the class. His name is Mike Thomas. He's an actor, a playwright, a director, and a teacher. 

I am now being flipped open, and the kids have been told to make an inanimate object have a voice.  My kid starts scribbling furiously on me and it tickles.  Stories of water bottles, gum wrappers, trash cans, and fire alarms come to life on the pages of my brothers and sisters. This was actually pretty fun!

After Mr. Thomas talks to us about how to write monologues and plays, some of those silly Kidswriters went to the front of the room for improv games.  They had to communicate by using only questions.  It was pretty weird.  While the kids enjoyed the improv games, I felt lonely and betrayed sitting on the desk and not being used.

All of a sudden, I am lifted into the air.  What's happening?  Where am I going?  Whew, it's hot out here.  I'm afraid I'm going to start sweating and my pages are going to stick together.

As we enter the student union, I feel cooler.  The aroma of French fries, fried chicken, tacos, and pizza greets us.  I'm thrown onto a table and trays of food are piled on top of me.  Feeling neglected and mistreated, I shout, "Hey, I can't breathe. Open me and write in me some more."  The kids can't hear me through all the chattering of diners and the growling of their stomachs.

Finally, I'm tickled again by my buddy, Bic Pen. He's penning a review of the place, "greasy rice with a hint of salt and spice", "the food puts a smile on my face", "the meat in the sandwich tastes like tofu, like nothing", "mumbling voices surround me", and "the pizza from Mama Logan's is exquisite" while "the chicken from Chick-fil-A is extraordinary".

Again, I'm scooped from the table and carried away on a new adventure.  This time, I'm taken to the lobby of the union to use my senses to get ideas for dialogue. My owner keeps acting like a secret agent, listening to people's conversations and creating stories.

By the end of the day, I feel used and loved.  I'm worn out like I need tape to hold in my secrets.  This morning I couldn't wait to be used, but now I need a break.

Written by: Darcy, Megan, Payton, Keith, and Karim