A series of mini-dramas based on public conversations, as overheard and rewritten by local playwright/director Aurora Stewart de Peña.

Overheard on Allistair Ave in Scarborough at 11:30 p.m.

Jonah, 16 is straddling a dirtbike with an iPhone pressed to one ear.

He’s wearing loose, mid-calf length pants with multiple pockets and a red shirt with a white maple leaf embroidered on it.

Jonah: I don’t know, man, because I had to go.

Pause.

Yeah, well… 

Pause.

I’m not just gonna sit there.

Pause. 

I do have better things to do, actually. Way better. 

Jonah surveys the dark, empty street.

No, you guys drink your beers and whatever. Play rabbit pong.

Pause.

Jonah snorts one solitary laugh through his nose.

Did she leave with him, though? Olivia?

Did you see her leave with him?

Pause.

No, I don’t care.

Okay, I gotta go. 

Okay. Bye. 

Jonah taps a button on his phone.

He looks at it for a second, puts it in his pocket, and pedals down the dark street.

____

Aurora Stewart de Peña is half of the theatre company Birdtown & Swanville (the other half is Nika Mistruzzi). You can follow her on Twitter at @Aurorahhh.

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