Manny is a Mexican young man trying to make sense of his life in America. His parents worked to get him and his brother Alejandro to America but all they have is each other. It was their life’s goal, for their children to live a life full of choices and the possibility of education. But it was this motivation that pushed him through his life. A life that was wrapped around his relationship with his big brother Alejandro. After as children they experience their parents being detained and deported as they hid in a crawlspace, all Manny had was his brother Alejandro. He became his mother, father and big brother working from age nine to pay for all of the things Manny needed for school. Get an education, that was the goal, that was his focus. Growing up with an aunt Alejandro immediately took on the role of father because he knew that was his job as his big brother. But on Friday nights, every Friday nights the brothers went to Federal Blvd. a place where they could go ad be surrounded by their culture: Mexican food trucks, vendors selling out of their cars and at tables on the streets, blocks and blocks of the closest feeling of home. Fifteen years of Federal Blvd with his big brother until the night that ICE agents raid the street, the same night Manny tells Alejandro he is on schedule to graduate two weeks later. He must watch his brother be violently arrested, as well as Manny himself but only Alejandro was undocumented and both boys knew that. Manny had officially lost everyone in his immediate family. This is an immigrant story that is two brothers who only had each other, until they didn’t. Finally, Manny puts on his cap and gown and accepts that he has to take this next step in his life, but it is heartbreaking that he has to do it alone. For his family, he will push forward.
*Performer must be able to speak Spanish. This is also a story that could be told by a male of female performer, with writer permission.
Male- Federal Blvd.
*Performer may speak as much Spanish as necessary to tell the story. There are specific pieces of dialogue that need to be spoken in Spanish, those are noted by the playwright.
(Scene opens and Manuel (Manny) stands in front of a mirror. He is looking at something that is hanging in front of him. He smiles, reaches for it and places the outfit in front of him so that he can look at himself.) Doesn’t feel right putting this on, getting ready for my high school graduation without all of you. (In Spanish)Get is done Manny, just get it done. (He smiles.) My family was from Mexico, a place where being able to stay alive was their first daily challenge, survival was more important than anything else. The other equally important thing was family. (Laughs) We had a big family and it was the best. Living in a neighborhood where everyone felt like friends and we were supported. Grilling crane Asanda beef on a Sunday, watching all of men in the back-drinking beer and sharing their stories of the week. Helping the younger men find jobs, because everyone wanted to work and they worked hard. Then the women, in the living room or kitchen making tamales from scratch, kids playing board games or stuffing a piñata for the evening family dinner. (Smiles) That was my neighborhood, so much love and family, it was home. (Beat) I lost my home when I was only two, then had it rebuilt only to be torn away from me again. Life isn’t fair, but I’ve come to accept that all of the losses seem worth it when the big win comes.