Jason is a young man in his mid-twenties. He rides around on his on his skateboard that he prefers as a mode of transportation. It is more than just a skateboard it is a connection to his father who has passed away. Jason begins to speak using sign language then realizes that the audience doesn’t know what he’s saying. He takes us on a trip from age three to adulthood with his board and his father. The days when he took being able to hear for granted and the decision to join the military because after the loss of his father, he just wanted to get away and find his place again. Unfortunately, he didn’t realize that with joining the military comes the possibility of going to war, which is exactly where he went. It is at war that he found great friends and began to come to terms with his father when the tank he was riding in is hit by a missile. It is in this tragic event that he loses his hearing and his way, but Jason believes that it is in this moment that he hears from his father again. He tells him that he has to get up, find his way, and never give up. A story about the connection to a parent and how even after death the connection is just as strong as it was the day we are born. Though on a board, Jason finds his footing, his new life and himself after the tragedy of death and war.
Fight of Ghosts
*Note to performer: Jason is deaf in different moments of the flashback. It is at the performers discretion to utilize sign language as much or as little as they choose. However, specific moments noted where the character should be signing, this is expected. And the complete removal of sign language is not permitted. *
(Jason a man in his mid-twenties stands holding a skateboard. He runs his fingers around the wheels, smiles, sets it on the ground and carefully steps on. He pushes himself forward once slowly. He hasn’t done this in a long time. He comes to a stop, steps off and begins so laugh. He looks at the audience and signs “Let me go back.” Then realizes the audience doesn’t know sign language. He speaks, while broken we understand him.)
Let me go back to 2013. (Beat. He picks up the skateboard and is transformed back to a younger version of himself. He does a trick on the skateboard and speaks to the audience. This transition has taken him back to before he lost his hearing.)
I started skateboarding when I was five years old. It was the most ridiculous situation, my father bought me a bike at the age of three like most good parents do. We were outside and I had my training wheels on, and my dad is running next to me, I’ll never forget that day. By the age of four I was riding my bike with two wheels. I was watching television one day and saw some bigger kids doing tricks on their bikes. I was a kid you know, kids are stupid, (Pointing) so for all you kids out there just know that when your parents say that you’re stupid, don’t argue with them because it’s gonna take twenty more years for you to realize that they were absolutely right. (Laughs) Anyway it was after dinner, and I took my bike outside and decided that I was going to jump the curb like the big kids. Not anything big, not a huge ramp my dad built just a regular curb. Mind you my dad, because he was one of the good guys, he made sure that he taught me all of the rules of riding a bike: stay on the street, always wear your helmet, don’t go far from home, and don’t try anything stupid. Most of the rules I heard but the last one is something that I forgot on that day. I rode to the top of the hill on my street, I turned around and like some version of some bad ass renegade BMX video game I bare down and drove my little four-year-old bike as fast as I possibly could and then at the last moment, I veered to the right to jump the curb into our driveway. I went hella high in the air before I quickly fell right on my ass and wrecked my bike. (Laughs) I mean I was flipping in the air like a gold winning gymnast. (Laughs) See, I told you, kids are stupid.