HAZELWOOD JR. HIGH

SCENE FOUR

THE STEPS OUTSIDE SHANDA’S APARTMENT BUILDING

 

SHANDA

Let’s sit out here on the steps. I can watch out for my mom. She doesn’t like me having friends over when she’s working. ‘Specially you because of the fight.

 

AMANDA

What you tell her?

 

SHANDA

She’s just really strict.

 

AMANDA

What about your dad?

 

SHANDA

He’s great. He lets me do whatever I want. But he lives in Louisville with my step-mom. I wish I could stay with him and have as much fun as possible.

 

AMANDA

My dad’s real strict since my mom moved out. But he lets me have girls over anytime I want.

 

SHANDA

My mom doesn’t like me around boys at all. I had the biggest crush on this guard at Skate World near where I lived and when she found out, she took away my skates. It’s cause I’m--I’m only twelve.

 

AMANDA

Twelve? I thought you were at least thirteen. You look at least thirteen.

 

SHANDA

Thanks!

 

AMANDA

You have any boyfriends at St. Paul’s?

 

SHANDA

Lots of ‘em. Everyone thought I was boy crazy! I had to sneak around to meet ‘em so my mom wouldn’t find out.

 

AMANDA

D’you go all the way with any of ‘em?

 

SHANDA

(possibly lying) Yup. But I never had a real boyfriend. That I loved. I don’t think.

 

AMANDA

Shanda, can I tell you something? Promise you won’t get mad? Do you know who Melinda is?

 

SHANDA

Yeah, I love her hair. It’s so pretty. 

 

AMANDA

Well, um, Melinda and me are going together. 

 

SHANDA

(matter of factly) Really? Is she Italian?

 

AMANDA

I don’t know. Why?

 

SHANDA

She looks like this Italian girl I know. How long you guys been going out?

 

AMANDA

‘Bout a year. We met a basketball game and pretty soon we was hot and heavy. We was seein’ each other for 3 or 5 months before she asked me to go steady.

 

SHANDA

Isn’t she like, really popular?

 

AMANDA

Everyone’s just scared of her.

 

SHANDA

Is she conceited?

 

AMANDA

No, she’s just crazy. My dad’s kept telling me Melinda’s a bad person but I didn’t listen. She smacks me around for looking at other girls. It’s messin’ me up.

 

SHANDA

Amanda, if you’re going through bad times and you need a friend to talk to, you can always talk to me.

 

AMANDA

That’s so nice. You’re so nice. I saw you when you was coming out for the fire drill today and I thought you looked so nice.

 

SHANDA

Thanks. I was in English when the alarm went off. I almost fell out of my seat! Then I had Basic Algebra, then Phys Ed, then lunch, then 6th when I see you. Then American Civics.

 

AMANDA

That’s so nice, telling me your schedule like that. I gotta ask you somethin’. This might sound dumb, but do girls--I mean--do you like girls? I think it’s cool cause it’s so different. Is that why you’re nice to me? Tell me-I won’t laugh ‘cause I think it’s cool.

 

SHANDA

I don’t know, I guess.