Assignment #5, performed 9/29

1
Safiya Martinez
Assignment #5
CW #602
Sammy is a fourteen year-old boy in an eighth grade class. He was born oxygen deprived,
and as a result suffered considerably. He has mobility issues, needs to use a motorized
wheelchair, and is severely underweight. Sammy’s hands lack the strength to manipulate a
keyboard or a pen for very long, and has aide who works as a scribe for him. He also has an
incredibly sharp wit, is astute interpersonally and can cut nearly anyone down to size with his
words alone. He is tough, and students recognize this. They do not treat Sammy as if he is a
victim, and whatever he serves up, his peers dish right back. He enjoys his popularity, but
there is a sadness too. Like any fourteen-year old boy, he is hormonal and curious, and really
just wants to find a girl who will date him.
SAMMY
Indiana, listen, listen what I want to know is why you never you know; stop when you see
me in the hall. I be trying to talk to you all the time, and you just out.

INDIANA
Shut up, Sammy. You’re the one who’s out. Your wheelchair goes type fast. I can’t keep up
with you.

SAMMY
No it’s not even like that. I’m always ducking this motherfucker right here—
[To Sean, his scribe and personal aide]

SEAN
Sammy—stop talking to me like that—

SAMMY
You be quiet, and bring me my water Sean.
And when you fill my water bottle, run that shit. And I mean, really run that shit. I don’t
want no germs, no lead in my shit. You understand? That’s how you get the bubonic plague
and all that.

SEAN
We’ve talked about this. You can get your own water.
2

SAMMY
Are you crazy or are you slow? I can barely press go on this bitch.
Get my water. And run that faucet for like a minute, minute and a half before you fill my
cup. You don’t watch The History Channel nigga? I know my history. You ain’t giving me
no infectious diseases cuz you tight you make minimum wage, and shit.
SEAN EXITS.

INDIANA
Why you talk to him like that?

SAMMY
I don’t like his ass, and he know it.

INDIANA
Rudeness. You so rude to everybody. That’s why nobody want to sit next to you at lunch.

SAMMY
What is you talking about? I stay with Darrel and them, all them cats in the tenth grade.

INDIANA
Whatever. You need to do your schoolwork, and stop playing around so much.

SAMMY
Well, I’m saying we could set up study dates and all that. You help me with math, you know
I’m hopeless, and I’ll write—not write, but help you Mr. Sugden’s position paper.

[SAMMY swats Indiana playfully]

SAMMY CONT’D
…C’mon yo, why you moving away?

INDIANA
Boy, you know you need to quit.

SAMMY
Alright, but you don’t need to leave though.

INDIANA
I have to go to afterschool, then my man is picking me up.

SAMMY
Word? Who you go out with?

INDIANA
[Sucks teeth, is quiet.]
3

SAMMY
Who you go out with? I won’t tell nobody.

INDIANA
With Michael.
SAMMY
Perkins?

INDIANA
Quinones.

SAMMY
Ugghh, I don’t like him. He stuck on stoops, and he got that fucked up ass hairline.

INDIANA
There is nothing wrong with his hair. And Sammy, you don’t like nobody.

SAMMY
A’ight, well I’mma see you tomorrow and you gonna help me with my math, right?

INDIANA
Yeah. See you tomorrow, Sammy…. [Turns away, then around to ask]
…Why you stay around here after class is over?

SAMMY
I gotta wait for Sean. He takes me out on the ramp.

INDIANA
Okay. See you tomorrow.

ENTER SEAN. He gives SAMMY his water bottle.

SAMMY
Thank you…

SEAN
It’s alright.

SAMMY
I’m not trying to bother you, but you think you could refill this? It’s a little warm.

SEAN
You’re coming with me then… and we’re going to the cooler. And you’re gonna fill it up.

SAMMY
A’ight, bet.