(Genre: Short play/Dialogue Practice)
(Note: Please do NOT take this personally, it is meant to be lighthearted, thanks!!)
Person #1: Look, you have to make some changes. You can’t keep letting your mind hold you back. Because it will do that, I’m telling ya.
Person #2: Yeah haha I—
Person #1: Why are you laughing!?
Person #2: No I’m just—
Person #1: Just what!?
Person #2: I don’t—
Person #1: You’re not doing what I’m telling you. You really have to get yourself to relax. It’s not good getting all anxious like you are.
Person #2: Yep. Anxiety will only work against me.
Person #1: So why are you allowing it to do that!?
Person #2 starts breathing heavily again..
Person #1: You really need some friends, that’s what you need.
Person #2: Yeah maybe I’m holding back because people have hurt me even if they didn’t mean to.
Person #1: So find other friends!
Person #2: I know.
Person #1: You know but you’re not doing it.
Person #2: Yep.
Person #1: Did you drive?
Person #2: Yes.
Person #1: Do you get anxious when you drive?
Person #2: Not really.
Person #1: So why are you getting anxious with me?
Person #2: Social situations are more triggering.
Person #1: Yeah but if you can relax when driving you can relax around people right?
Person #2: Yes.
Person #1: So why are you still anxious?
Person #2: Because people haven’t been nice towards me so I get anxious around them.. Yet I just have to keep reminding myself that I can’t expect much from them because when I do they let me down far more often than not.
Person #1: Well maybe it’s something you’re doing that’s causing them to treat you that way? Ever thought of that?
Person #2: I guess..
Person #1: I’m not saying it’s “your fault”, even if you don’t do anything at all people will still pick on you to try feeling better about themselves.
Person #2: I know.
Person #1: There’s so many young people killing themselves because of being bullied. It’s horrible!
Person #2: It really is.
Person #1: If I was being bullied I’d ask myself “what am I doing that’s causing me to get bullied..?”, and usually we’re not doing anything at all, it’s the bully’s problem, not ours.
Person #2: Oh yes.
Person #1: People can be very nasty, I’ll tell ya that.
Person #2: Oh I know exactly what you’re saying.
Person #1: So find other people to spend time with.
Person #2: I’m trying yet I keep finding the wrong people. I just can’t let their meanness define me.
Person #1: But you are letting them define you!
Person #2: I know.
Person #1: I know you know. You’re smarter than you realize. And you just have to start applying it more, because right now you’re not doing anything.
Person #2: I know.
Person #1: So do it.
Person #2: I will.
Person #1: What do you do in your free time? Sleep?
Person #2: I still sometimes practice juggling as a hobby after I quit baseball—
Person #1: Baseball? What position did you play?
Person #2: I played second base and in general I did better in practice because I’d get too anxious in games.
Person #1: No one tried to help you reduce your anxiety?
Person #2: Aside from my parents some people tried to help—
Person #1: People are stupid, they really are.
Person #2: My coach called me stupid.
Person #1: That’s terrible! No wonder you’re struggling! You’ve been around all the wrong people!
Person #2: I know and several people who tried to help didn’t realize how much worse they were making it.
Person #1: Yeah people will do that. And there’s so many bad people out there.
Person #2: I know.
Person #1: How do you know?
Person #2: Because of all the bad experiences I’ve had with—
Person #1: I’m only kidding.
Person #2: I know.
Person #1: If I ask you if I helped you by talking with me then you’ll probably say I “did” even though I didn’t.
Person #2: You helped.
Person #1: See, you just lied right there.
Person #2: I didn’t lie.
Person #1: Please start making some changes.
Person #2: I’m trying to write again.
Person #1: Writing?
Person #2: Yes.
Person #1: So write then.
Person #2: Yes.
Person #1 kindheartedly laughs.
Person #1: I’ll see ya next week.
Person #2: Later.
Person #2 exits the premises.
Zach Dana Writing 