Sleeping Sixteen

Act One

Small bedroom in an apartment in New York City.

TRISTEN, an adolescent boy, is sitting on the bottom bunk of a bunk bed, and DANIEL, a 10 year old, is sitting down adjacent to him at desk. There is a window above the desk through which nothing can be seen due to neighboring building. There is a door opposite to the bunk bed at stage left. TRISTEN is reading through a history book and DANIEL is drawing on a piece of paper.

DANIEL

Stops drawing (puts down pencil and looks over at TRISTEN)

How does it feel like to be sixteen?

TRISTEN

It is like climbing Mount Olympus while carrying Mount Everest on your back.

DANIEL

What does that mean.

TRISTEN

It means everyone expects you to sail the Atlantic ocean with no a faulty compass and a gloomy sky.

DANIEL

Crosses his hands and frowns.

I don't get it.

TRISTEN

Puts down book.

Hm... how about this. It is like building a Lego toy with no instructions and with missing parts.

DANIEL

DANIEL getting visibly excited (eyes open wide, and he sits straighter).

Really?

TRISTEN

Yea-...

DANIEL

That is so awesome!

TRISTEN

What!?

DANIEL

I can't wait to turn sixteen it will be so fun to play with Legos!

TRISTEN

But you won't have instructions and you will have missing piece-...

DANIEL

That's the best part, I can build whatever I want like a race car or a spaceship.

TRISTEN

You can't build whatever you want.

DANIEL

Why not?

TRISTEN

You just can't okay. When you become sixteen you will get it.

A woman's voice, their MOTHER, is heard from stage left telling the boys that dinner is ready.

TRISTEN

Lays down on his back on bed.

Go eat and tell mom I am not hungry.

DANIEL

Okay.

DANIEL leaves the room.

Act Two

Sound of cutlery clinking. Family members talking can be heard.

MOTHER

Where is your brother?

DANIEL

He said he is not hungry.

MOTHER

Talks to husband in lower voice.

Why does he do that to us? Since his exams are around the corner, all he does is sleep and do nothing.

TRISTEN

Wraps himself by bed's blanket.