Part Eight of the Khalil Short Play Series

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THE STUDENTS - (c) 2007 Cherie Renae

Khalil is loosely based upon my own grandfather, who lived to be 99. He lived to the last with my grandmother in their own home. Family and friends were always dropping by to visit. Their house, and especially their kitchen, still hold special memories for me.

Introduction

Joe and Khalil audit a class at the local university. How will the young professor of The History of American Immigration handle the outspoken duo, which has personal experience with the subject?

THE STUDENTS

Scene One: Khalil and May's living room

(All four are sitting in the living room, drinking coffee and chatting.)  

Joe: Ladies, you should have gone to the Senior Center with us today. They had a speaker from the university, and he was very interesting!

May: It's too bad that our ladies' church group was meeting at the same time.

Esther: The other ladies would worry about us if we didn't attend.

Khalil: Well, you missed out. Guess what? We're going to college!

May: Who's going to college?

Khalil: Joe and I. We signed up for a class.

May: You can't go to college. You never even went to high school – you can't go to college if you don't go to high school.

Khalil: Shows what you know. Everyone at the Senior Center was invited to…what do they call it, Joe?

Joe: Audit.

Khalil: Yes, audit. We were all invited to audit a college course – that means we go to the classes, but we don't have to take the tests. That's good, because my eyes aren't so good anymore. I don't know if I could see well enough to read a test.

May: Don't you have to read books for this college class?

Khalil: Well, of course. My eyes will be OK for that. Besides, if they get tired, you can read to me.

May: I see.

Esther: Khalil, you never went to high school?

Khalil: Actually, I never went to grade school, either. They didn't have schools in my village, and when I came to America , I had to work.

Esther: How old were you when you got to America ?

Khalil: I was twelve. It's a long story, my coming here. In fact, I talked with the speaker about it, and he's the one who suggested that we sign up for this history class.

Joe: Yes. It's The History of American Immigration. You see, we figured we already know something about the subject, so we'll have a head start.

Khalil: Boy, will I be able to tell them stories!

May: Khalil, I think the professor is going to want to tell the stories. I think you're supposed to just listen.

Khalil: Sure, sure. But I bet they'll want to hear my stories.

Joe: Everyone wants to hear your stories, Khalil. You're the best storyteller I ever heard.

May: How about you two telling us the story of where we're going for dinner tonight? Esther and I are tired, and we don't feel like cooking.

(They all laugh.)

Khalil: How about that Italian place down on the corner a couple of blocks from here?

Esther: That sounds really good.

Joe: Let's go!

(They rise and walk out of the room, chatting.)

Scene Two  

(May and Esther are sitting in the living room, talking.)  

Esther: Well, I wonder how class is going for the boys today. They sure were in high spirits when they came back from their first class on Wednesday!

May: They're late; they should have been here by now. I hope they didn't get in trouble for talking too much.

Esther: It does sound like they spoke quite a bit, doesn't it? The way they told it, every time he brought up a subject, they jumped in with an anecdote about their experiences.

May: I don't think the professor is going to like that after a while. What did they say his name was? Professor Brown?

Esther: I think that was it. I hope he can keep control of the class; Joe said he was pretty young.

May: I hope he can keep control of Khalil and Joe! Khalil said he can't be more than forty years old.

Esther: Apparently, he's quite the expert in American history, though. Joanne's husband is a retired history professor, and he said that Professor Brown was quite well thought of in the field.

May: It does sound like Khalil and Joe had fun. It's good for them to learn.

(The door opens. Khalil and Joe enter.)  

May: There you are. You're late! Is everything OK?

Joe: Everything is fine, May. Sorry to worry you, ladies.

Khalil: The other students wanted to take us out for coffee. They wanted to hear about our experiences.

Joe: You know what a great storyteller Khalil is. He had them sitting on the edge of their seats!

Khalil: And Joe, too. They wanted to hear his stories, too. And the professor invited us to speak to the whole class next week!

Joe: He did ask us to wait until then to tell any more stories.

Khalil: But his stuff is boring. (glancing at May) Don't worry, we kept quiet.

May: You don't want to get kicked out of your first college class.

Khalil: I don't think they could kick us out….could they?

Esther: Khalil, tell me – how did you come to America ?

Khalil: My mother and father died when I was just a baby. All of my other brothers were much older than me, and they took turns taking care of me. Actually, it was their wives that had to take care of me, and they weren't very happy about it. I learned to stay out of their way. I would go play in the caves in the cliff outside of the village during the day – that's why I never went to school.

When I was twelve, my oldest brother came to me. He was carrying a cigar box filled with thread and other notions. He said, “Here, take this. You're going to America with your cousin Aziz. Sell the things in this box, and make your living.”

When I put my feet on the ship, I raised my hand up, just like this. I said, “God, I never want to see this country again!” And I never did. I never went back.

I arrived at Ellis Island with my older cousin. We worked in a cigar factory in Allentown , Pennsylvania . It was awful. We worked long, long hours, and never got any days off. The pay was barely enough to buy food. We went hungry a lot.

I moved out here to Portland after four years. I attended night school, and learned to read and write English. I learned how to be a tailor. America has been good to me. I am proud of my country; I am proud to be an American.

(Khalil stops and wipes his eyes.)  

Esther: Khalil, that's a beautiful story. No wonder the other students want to hear you.

May: You just keep on telling your stories, Khalil.

Joe: I don't think we can stop him!

(they all laugh)

Joe: Before I forget – would you ladies like to go to class with us on Monday, to hear us speak?

May: You mean, go to the college? Will they let us?

Joe: We already asked permission of the professor. He said it was fine.

May: I've never been to college.

Khalil: Well, it's never too late. Maybe next time you can take a class, too.

May: I'd like that.

(Curtain falls as they talk together)

THE END

---(c) 2007 Cherie Renae - may not be reproduced without permission

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