Siradesdivad
04-12-2008, 10:18 PM
This is a short story I wrote that I thought I'd like to share. I adapted it into a script format since it's mainly monologues and dialogues.
Comments are welcomed. Please reply constructively as this entry is not meant to insult or demean, but to read and enjoy.
The 19th Hole
By: Kyle Jameson
Many of us believe that homosexuality and religious conviction don’t quite go hand in hand.
After all, how can you believe in something that doesn’t truly believe in you?
But for a devoted few, faith isn’t shaken so easily.
We sometimes find that the very things that cause us pain and inner conflict can sometimes be the same place we find comfort and assurance to keep going.
Chapter 1
Father Joseph: Brothers and Sisters, let us welcome fall with a fresh, invigorating bond with God. Folks, how many of you today feel lost? How of you today feel like you are drifting away from God’s embrace simply because you are yourself? Take for instance you Brother Kyle. He’s a sinner, that Kyle. For you see, he had recently begun feeling carnal, sinful desires to see his fellow Brother Matthew exposed and nude. But, folks, let Kyle lead you not through temptation but by example. Why, last Saturday when all of us went golfing, his mind was being played by the strings of Satan. For you see, as Brother Matthew uses his driver to hit the 18th hole, Kyle’s eyes were visually manhandling Matthew in his mind. Little did he know, Kyle was hell-bent on making Matthew his 19th hole-in-one.
Kyle: *gasp and breath* it was just a dream. A nightmare …
Chapter 2
Jessica: A nightmare… about golf and Father Joseph? But you love golf, and you’re such good friends with Joe.
Kyle: Yeah, I guess it’s nothing. Hey listen, I’m planning to practice this afternoon and I think I’ll drag Roman along this time…for, you know, a little father son bonding. I thin he’s old enough to appreciate the art of golf.
Jessica: Kyle, he’s only four. And besides, we already made plans to go have dinner with Linda’s and her family tonight, remember?
Kyle: Wait, which Linda? The “My house smell like curry but I’m not Indian” Linda or the “My 3rd husband is a gynecologists and you won’t BELIEVE how we met” Linda?
Jessica: Neither, it’s the “Deep Fried Twinkie” Linda. Remember? About ten years ago, as a wedding present, she got us a deep fryer and a lifetime supply of twinkies. Who would have ever thought two HORRIBLE things together could taste so – and why are you looking at me like that?
Kyle: We’ve been together for 10 years. 10 happy years.
Jessica: Yeah, I suppose we have.
Kyle: Jessica, there’s something I need to tell you…something important.
Jessica: When did you know?...When did you find out?
Kyle: Why…how does that matter?
Jessica: Because it does, Kyle!!! I want to know. Tell me.
Kyle: Our honey moon. The moment we first…when....that night changed me. Before that my life felt so right, so clear. Before I had any intimate feelings for…for any person, my passion belonged to only one man. Jesus kept me grounded. I felt that being with a woman and fulfilling my part for God far outweighed any doubts or sinful temptations in my mind. I swallowed my doubts, so I could become your husband.
Jessica: I’m no wife to a man of doubt. I’m married to Kyle E. Jameson. The man who HAPPILY married me years ago! The man who built a family with me! God… didn’t make you gay.
Kyle: Goddamnit! Jessica, listen to me!
Jessica: You are in no place to condemn God.
Kyle: …Where are you going?
Jessica: I’m going to stay with Linda’s for awhile. And… and I’m taking Roman. He doesn’t need to be a part of this right now. He needs stability. He needs to find a fatherly role somewhere else until you’re ready to give it.
Kyle: …Jessica, please. Don’t do this to me. You know how hard this would be for me. Go to my mom’s. Hell, go to your mom’s. I don’t care, just don’t… go. Please.
Jessica: We can’t go to your mom’s…or mine. I’m not ready yet.You tell me if you’re ready to tell anyone that our ten years were a lie. You’re not ready, Kyle. I’m sure of it.”
Chapter 3
Sister Judith: Amazing Grace. How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me…
Father Joseph: Thank you, Sister Judith for such a compelling rendition of Amazing Grace. I along with the church, do hope for a quick recovery from that dreadful, dreadful laryngitis
Sister Judith: Oh father Joespeh, I don’t have laryngiti—
Father Joseph: You may sit down now Sister Judith, thanks again. And I thank you all my fellow flock of sheep for comin today. Now before I begin, I want to take a moment of silence to mourn the loss of Kyle Jameson, a loyal member of this church for, well, ever since he was born.
Pause
Folks, we did not lose him in actual death, but by our own circumstances.
‘Cause right now, Kyle will be going through some of the hardest times in his whole life. And if any of you know him as Kyle the really bad golfer, like I know him, or maybe just Kyle the beloved friend, brother, neighbor, husband, use that basic human ability to draw sympathy. Because out of the 40 years that I have served this church, I’ve learned that a bit of compassion and understanding can work miracles themselves.
Chapter 4
Kyle: Jessica moved in with Linda for awhile. While her finding her own place and filing for our divorce took months, the custody battle for Roman went by surprisingly quick. Apparently, since I wasn’t at home as much as Jessica was, her pull in the matter far outweighed mine. The fact that I was the only sole provider to our family, the fact that I still came home to them every single day and night, the fact that I love my son just as much as any father can – didn’t matter to the eyes of a judge with a little brown mallet. A person just doesn’t see these things when you’re no longer Kyle the faithful Christian father, but the Kyle the Deceitful, the Gay Liar. And so I only saw Roman every weekend. Holidays were negotiable.
But you know
Somehow, I still hang on and I hope and pray that time and faith heals all my wounds.
People keep asking me why do you still believe in God?
Why do you still kneel alone and pray?
Why you still look up at the sky and appreciate God’s work?
Now tell me, how do you try and turn off something that’s have been in your life for so long, the very thing that’s offered you nothing but reprieve and resolution you whole existence.
Cause I’m telling you right now, it just doesn’t quite work that way.
At least, not for me.
Comments are welcomed. Please reply constructively as this entry is not meant to insult or demean, but to read and enjoy.
The 19th Hole
By: Kyle Jameson
Many of us believe that homosexuality and religious conviction don’t quite go hand in hand.
After all, how can you believe in something that doesn’t truly believe in you?
But for a devoted few, faith isn’t shaken so easily.
We sometimes find that the very things that cause us pain and inner conflict can sometimes be the same place we find comfort and assurance to keep going.
Chapter 1
Father Joseph: Brothers and Sisters, let us welcome fall with a fresh, invigorating bond with God. Folks, how many of you today feel lost? How of you today feel like you are drifting away from God’s embrace simply because you are yourself? Take for instance you Brother Kyle. He’s a sinner, that Kyle. For you see, he had recently begun feeling carnal, sinful desires to see his fellow Brother Matthew exposed and nude. But, folks, let Kyle lead you not through temptation but by example. Why, last Saturday when all of us went golfing, his mind was being played by the strings of Satan. For you see, as Brother Matthew uses his driver to hit the 18th hole, Kyle’s eyes were visually manhandling Matthew in his mind. Little did he know, Kyle was hell-bent on making Matthew his 19th hole-in-one.
Kyle: *gasp and breath* it was just a dream. A nightmare …
Chapter 2
Jessica: A nightmare… about golf and Father Joseph? But you love golf, and you’re such good friends with Joe.
Kyle: Yeah, I guess it’s nothing. Hey listen, I’m planning to practice this afternoon and I think I’ll drag Roman along this time…for, you know, a little father son bonding. I thin he’s old enough to appreciate the art of golf.
Jessica: Kyle, he’s only four. And besides, we already made plans to go have dinner with Linda’s and her family tonight, remember?
Kyle: Wait, which Linda? The “My house smell like curry but I’m not Indian” Linda or the “My 3rd husband is a gynecologists and you won’t BELIEVE how we met” Linda?
Jessica: Neither, it’s the “Deep Fried Twinkie” Linda. Remember? About ten years ago, as a wedding present, she got us a deep fryer and a lifetime supply of twinkies. Who would have ever thought two HORRIBLE things together could taste so – and why are you looking at me like that?
Kyle: We’ve been together for 10 years. 10 happy years.
Jessica: Yeah, I suppose we have.
Kyle: Jessica, there’s something I need to tell you…something important.
Jessica: When did you know?...When did you find out?
Kyle: Why…how does that matter?
Jessica: Because it does, Kyle!!! I want to know. Tell me.
Kyle: Our honey moon. The moment we first…when....that night changed me. Before that my life felt so right, so clear. Before I had any intimate feelings for…for any person, my passion belonged to only one man. Jesus kept me grounded. I felt that being with a woman and fulfilling my part for God far outweighed any doubts or sinful temptations in my mind. I swallowed my doubts, so I could become your husband.
Jessica: I’m no wife to a man of doubt. I’m married to Kyle E. Jameson. The man who HAPPILY married me years ago! The man who built a family with me! God… didn’t make you gay.
Kyle: Goddamnit! Jessica, listen to me!
Jessica: You are in no place to condemn God.
Kyle: …Where are you going?
Jessica: I’m going to stay with Linda’s for awhile. And… and I’m taking Roman. He doesn’t need to be a part of this right now. He needs stability. He needs to find a fatherly role somewhere else until you’re ready to give it.
Kyle: …Jessica, please. Don’t do this to me. You know how hard this would be for me. Go to my mom’s. Hell, go to your mom’s. I don’t care, just don’t… go. Please.
Jessica: We can’t go to your mom’s…or mine. I’m not ready yet.You tell me if you’re ready to tell anyone that our ten years were a lie. You’re not ready, Kyle. I’m sure of it.”
Chapter 3
Sister Judith: Amazing Grace. How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me…
Father Joseph: Thank you, Sister Judith for such a compelling rendition of Amazing Grace. I along with the church, do hope for a quick recovery from that dreadful, dreadful laryngitis
Sister Judith: Oh father Joespeh, I don’t have laryngiti—
Father Joseph: You may sit down now Sister Judith, thanks again. And I thank you all my fellow flock of sheep for comin today. Now before I begin, I want to take a moment of silence to mourn the loss of Kyle Jameson, a loyal member of this church for, well, ever since he was born.
Pause
Folks, we did not lose him in actual death, but by our own circumstances.
‘Cause right now, Kyle will be going through some of the hardest times in his whole life. And if any of you know him as Kyle the really bad golfer, like I know him, or maybe just Kyle the beloved friend, brother, neighbor, husband, use that basic human ability to draw sympathy. Because out of the 40 years that I have served this church, I’ve learned that a bit of compassion and understanding can work miracles themselves.
Chapter 4
Kyle: Jessica moved in with Linda for awhile. While her finding her own place and filing for our divorce took months, the custody battle for Roman went by surprisingly quick. Apparently, since I wasn’t at home as much as Jessica was, her pull in the matter far outweighed mine. The fact that I was the only sole provider to our family, the fact that I still came home to them every single day and night, the fact that I love my son just as much as any father can – didn’t matter to the eyes of a judge with a little brown mallet. A person just doesn’t see these things when you’re no longer Kyle the faithful Christian father, but the Kyle the Deceitful, the Gay Liar. And so I only saw Roman every weekend. Holidays were negotiable.
But you know
Somehow, I still hang on and I hope and pray that time and faith heals all my wounds.
People keep asking me why do you still believe in God?
Why do you still kneel alone and pray?
Why you still look up at the sky and appreciate God’s work?
Now tell me, how do you try and turn off something that’s have been in your life for so long, the very thing that’s offered you nothing but reprieve and resolution you whole existence.
Cause I’m telling you right now, it just doesn’t quite work that way.
At least, not for me.