Once upon a time, there were two boys who hated school. They went to recess and decided they wanted to run away, so they ran off into the forest and got lost.
SCENE 1
ALAN
I don’t want to go to school! I don’t want to go to school!
ALAN’S MOM
Too bad, so sad. You. GO.
ALAN
I left my homework at school and I don’t want my teacher to be mad at me.
ALAN’S MOM
Tell me the truth, I saw your homework at home.
ALAN
Fine. The teacher said I have… (takes a deep breath) D-Y-S-L-E-X-I-A.
ALAN’S MOM
No, you don’t! When you were three you told me you read the whole series of Harry Potter.
ALAN
No, I didn’t, I actually lied to you.
MOM
I’ll call your teacher and ask.
ALAN
Fine, go ahead.
MOM
She picks up the phone to call, but then puts it down.
Actually, I believe you. Maybe you do have dyslexia. But you still have to go to school.
ALAN
Ugh. Fine.
Lights out.
SCENE 2
In reading class (ELA).
TEACHER
Write a whole paragraph on what we just learned.
The TEACHER turns to write on the board.
ALAN
(To himself) Should I try or should I sleep? I’ll just sleep, I don’t need this rubbish.
He falls asleep. The TEACHER comes to him and pokes him on the shoulder. Then the recess bell rings. ALAN wakes up.
TEACHER
Just keep trying! It’s okay to mess up, just keep trying!
Everyone else has gotten up to get their coats and walks out of the classroom, JACK looks at ALAN with understanding and pity. ALAN rolls his eyes at the teacher and leaves, with JACK following behind him.
SCENE 3
ALAN sits on the bench crying at recess.
JACK
Are you okay?
ALAN
No. I just went to sleep because I didn’t understand.
JACK
You don’t understand what?
ALAN
Don’t tell anybody, okay?
JACK
Okay, I promise.
ALAN
(whispers) I. Have. D-Y-S-L-E-X-I-A.
JACK
Let me tell you a secret. I have dyslexia too.
ALAN
ALAN looks at JACK in awe, and then gives him a big hug.
JACK
I have always thought of getting lost and not going to school.
ALAN
That is a great idea!
JACK
Since we’re at recess, let’s do it now!
ALAN
Wait, but the teacher wants to talk to me after school.
JACK
Oh whatever, forget about it.
ALAN
Where should we go?
JACK
He writes down “Bahamas” and shows ALAN.
ALAN
What’s Bamahams?
JACK
(gently) It’s called the Bahamas.
ALAN
That would be too hard, let’s go somewhere else. Oh, I know! The forest!
JACK
Uhh, I’m a little scared of bears, and like cats, and like bunnies, and like trees. But… okay.
ALAN
Are you scared of something?
JACK
(lying) No, not at all.
ALAN
Whatever. Let’s get the heckster out of here.
SCENE 4
In the forest, the sounds of birds and animals can be heard. They’ve just arrived.
JACK
Oh. T-t-trees!
ALAN
Okay? Dude, are you scared of something?
JACK
Fine, yes. I’m scared of the things I mentioned before we left to go to the forest.
ALAN
Dude, why didn’t you tell me this? Before, you said that you were not scared of those things. We could have gone somewhere where you wouldn’t be scared.
JACK
I’ll be honest next time.
ALAN
Okay.
JACK
(looking up at the sky looking at the birds) I wish I was a bird and I could be free and not have dyslexia.
ALAN
(standing there in silence with his arms crossed looking up at the sky, talking to himself) That was my dream when I was little, to be a bird.
JACK
Oh well.
JACK walks with his head down, sad. JACK bumps into a tree.
Ahhh!
ALAN
Jeez, Jack! Calm down!
The boys see something on the tree.
JACK
Oh my gosh! The t-tree said something.
ALAN
Let me read it. Hmmm… Pelh pere.
JACK
I don’t think that is was it says. Our teacher told me a trick. Let me try it. Hmmm. I think it says, “Help here.” Yes, that must be it.
ALAN
Who wants to help us?
JACK
Alan, I have one question. Why does it say it on the t-tree and not the mud or something?
ALAN
Well, maybe somebody was scared of the trees and they needed to escape very fast because they just can’t handle trees and they said “help’’ because they just can’t find the way out of here.
JACK
O-o-okay. How can we help?
ALAN
Oh my gosh. Look at the footsteps on the floor that are right next to the tree. Maybe that’s where the man tried to escape.
JACK
Should we follow them?
ALAN
Okay. I hope these footsteps don’t lead to a dangerous place.
JACK
Wait, what do you mean a dangerous place?
ALAN
Listen, dude. We are in the middle of a forest. Anything can happen.
JACK
I’m starting to think that what we are doing is very bad. I mean, we’ve been in the forest for two days now. Don’t you think our parents will worry? Our parent sent us to school to learn right? If we are struggling we should tell the teacher and learn together. We can learn to read with dyslexia.
ALAN
Are you alright, man? But…
JACK starts crying.
ALAN
I forgot about going back home and being in my mom’s arms. And her kissing me good night.
JACK
Let’s go back.
ALAN
Go back were? We are in the middle of the forest and it’s 3:00. By the time we get to school, it will be tomorrow at 1:00 in the morning.
JACK
How do we get out?
ALAN
The same way we came in.
JACK
Which is…?
ALAN
Man. We’ve got to be brave and follow the footsteps.
JACK
I don’t know about that.
ALAN
Jack… man up you have to face your fears.
JACK
I guess.
The boys walk more into the forest.
ALAN
Looks like the footsteps we saw earlier lead into a cave.
JACK shivers.
ALAN
Dude, this is the last time I’m telling you to man up and face your fears.
JACK
But…
Trees make sounds.
JACK
Ahhh. T-trees.
JACK runs straight into the cave.
Uhhh, Alan you here, bro?
ALAN
JACK!!! Where are you???
JACK
I’m in a cave without t-trees.
ALAN
Ummm, is this the cave?
JACK
Hurry up! I am suffering in here!
JACK
Oh Alan, I see you!
ALAN
I see you too! But why are you holding a leaf in your hand from a tree?
JACK
Wait… WHAT?! Oh, this isn’t that bad.
ALAN
Oh look, there are more footsteps.
JACK
Let’s follow them.
ALAN
Okay.
ALAN and JACK follow the footsteps.
JACK
Oh look, there is our school.
ALAN’S MOM and JACK’S MOM are looking for them and crying.
JACK’S MOM
Jack, where were you? I was worried sick.
JACK
Well, we just couldn’t do it anymore.
JACK’S MOM
Couldn’t do what?
JACK
Well, long story. Well, actually, first thing’s first… I have dyslexia. Let’s talk about what happened at home. Just one thing…. All Alan’s fault.
ALAN
Dude, you agreed to it!
ALAN’S MOM
Agreed to what?
ALAN
Never mind.
JACK
Just saying, it’s you who should be blamed.
ALAN
Jack, I’m not talking to you anymore if you are going to blame me for it.
JACK
Fine.
ALAN
Good.
JACK
And one more thing: it’s Bahamas, you idiot.
ALAN ignores JACK.
ALAN
Why are you bringing that up now? Bye.
ALAN goes home with his mom.
SCENE 5
The next day.
JACK
You know what? I was a huge idiot yesterday for blaming you.
JACK looks into ALAN’s eyes and cries and gives him a huge hug.