ADRIAN and DYLAN are walking home from school, bundled up for late fall weather. They approach a stop sign, where the two normally part ways.
DYLAN: (Stops abruptly; glances around.) Hey, isn't your mom normally parked here by now?
ADRIAN: Yeah. That's super weird, she hates running late. (Adrian's phone rings; he picks it up.) Speak of the Devil. Hey Mom, what's up? ... Uh, we're already close to Dylan's. ... No, zir mom's at work. ... I mean if you can figure out the Lyft app, go for it. ... (Noticeably perks up.) I could wait in Dylan's house. ... Pleeease? It's safer than standing around in the cold. ... ... So I can? Yes! Thank you Mom. I will. Loveyoubye! (Hangs up.)
DYLAN: She's finally letting you set foot in my place?
ADRIAN: Yup! If I don't go any farther into the neighborhood than that.
DYLAN: Damn, she really is paranoid.
ADRIAN: I mean, you can't blame her. Every crime watch map lights up on this side of town.
DYLAN: (Slightly offended.) That's because cops label every other group of brown kids a gang and frisk them on this side of town.
ADRIAN: Racist or not, they're just trying to keep people safe.
DYLAN: Didn't I tell you about that time my mom was getting mugged? There was a cop car at the end of the block that didn't move an inch. Sure doesn't seem like they're here to keep us safe.
ADRIAN: (Opens his mouth to retaliate, but is admittedly taken aback.) Damn.
DYLAN: (Softens.) Yeah. It's rough over here, but...you'll be fine, all right? (Ze waits for ADRIAN to respond. He doesn't.) Come on. Mine's the third on the left.
YOU ARE READING
Let Me Do the Talking: An Attempted One-Act on Xenophobia and Effective Advocacy
General Fiction*Technically complete, but in its first iterations. Feel free to leave feedback for future revisions!* Two high schoolers engage in dialogue regarding prejudice against marginalized ethnicities--particularly regarding undocumented Latinx immigrants...
