One highly underrated conversation in life is that we all have the families that we are born into but the more we live life we find that we also have friends that become family. This is the case for Heba and Zahra two girls who met in elementary school when they walked into a room and finally saw someone who looked like them. Both girl’s families came to America from the Middle East and their friendship was instant. Unfortunately, as they grew older their friendship took a turn when they found themselves in constant competition with each other. They found themselves being 1st and 2nd to each other for many years and eventually it took over their friendship and put them against each other. As the two girls stand hand in hand waiting to hear the announcement of who is going to be their class valedictorian, they had forgotten what was really important between the two of them. They had forgotten all of the years that they spent leaning on each other through difficult times when people didn't understand or care to understand who they really are and where they come from. The years that they spent keeping each other safe and defending each other from racism within their educational experiences. The years they spent loving and supporting each other as best friends who had become sisters, sisters who loved each other were how smart they were, how funny they were, and how amazing their friendship was. You can always count on a tragic life experience to focus you back on who and what is really important in life. When they finally realize that when it comes down to it, nothing is more important than that friendship. We get to see a full coming of age circle happened for them. This is a story that should remind us all that the most important thing we can have in life is the unconditional love of someone who understands us and accepts us for who we are.
*Performers could be any gender but being from the Middle East is an important part of the story.
With an Open Heart
(Scene opens with two teenage girls who are of Middle Eastern descent. They are holding each other’s hands with their eyes closed tight. Think the final announcement of who is going to be crowned Miss America. They are both breathing hard, crying, it’s so emotional- in a pageant-y kind of way.)
Heba: (opens one of her eyes to see if Zahra is looking at her then Zahra does the same. Pulling her hands away.) Caught you!
Zahra: (pointing at her) Ahh ha! I caught you!
Heba: I opened my eyes because I thought you were cheating.
Zahra: Which proves you were the culprit all along.
Heba: This is why I can’t wait to graduate and get away from you.
Zahra: Me? (laughs) You want to get away from me? After all the crap you’ve put me through. I can’t wait to get away from you.
Heba: I applied for the Ivy’s and so did you.
Zahra: (laughing hysterically) Let me get this right, you are oh so arrogant as to think that the only reason I applied for school at the Ivy’s is because… of you?
Heba: Yes.
Zahra: Not because of the prestige, the opportunities that they present, starting the interview process as a sophomore, doing internships at two of them, the fact that I want to major in pre-law and they have some of the top programs, none of that could possibly be the reason?
Heba: Oh, sure all of those things are a reason but none of them are more pressing for you than being able to say, “Hey Heba, I got into 13 schools and all of the Ivy’s, how did you do?
Zahra: (shakes her head in disbelief) That is truly the best fictional story I have heard since Mrs. Bryson’s creative writing class freshman year.
Heba: Thank you.
Zahra: Not a compliment.
Heba: See, you can’t even give me that!
Zahra: There’s nothing to give.
Heba: You are exhausting. I’m tired.