Chapter 1: Ideas for a Script

One mild Saturday in March 2017, one of my best friends, Carly Shay, and her parents, Sam and Freddie, met my childhood friends Sarah, James, and Henri at their apartment in Oakland. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. "Is there any reason why you invited me and my parents to come over to your apartment this evening?" Carly asked. "Well, Carly, James is going to work on a script for a film with your mother about disclosing a diagnosis at work," Sarah told Carly. "Oh, that sounds like fun!" Carly remarked. "Do you guys have any more good news for us?" I asked. "Well, we got accepted to Woodland Summer Camp as major staff members- Sarah a TSS for a young girl named Charlotte, James a camp counselor for the boys' cabin, and Henri the art director," James happily announced. "Congratulations, everyone!" I happily exclaimed. "Yeah, I got accepted to be a camp counselor at PNC YMCA," Carly announced. "I can't wait to get started writing that script with you, James," Mrs. Shay stated. "I can help film it," Mr. Benson offered. "So can I," Henri agreed. "What do you know about technology, Henri?" James asked. "A lot of stuff, James," Henri replied. "If there's something I don't know, Mr. Benson can help me, right?" "Yes, Henri," Mr. Benson replied. "I can help you." "That reminds me," James stated. "I still miss my old girlfriend, Phillis. If she didn't get a job at such a young age, we would still be dating each other." "Why couldn't you just get a job with her, James?" Sam asked. "Because I was unable to disclose my true feelings, since I don't have a diagnosis," James explained. "Speaking of which, would any of you guys like something to drink?" "How about a glass of craft beer?" I asked. "Sure," James replied. "Coming right up!" "Sarah, I thought that we were going to have dinner served here," Carly told Sarah. "Why did you think that, Carly?" Sarah asked. "Because Alex always made us something to eat before we did an activity," Carly explained. "I'm sorry, Carly," Sarah apologized. "We just don't have much food to cook right now. But next week, we will make you guys something to eat for dinner." "All right," Carly happily remarked. James got us all our beverages. "Guys, Mrs. Shay and I are writing a script for a video to start filming next weekend," he then told us. "But, we need your help for ideas." "How about if we have a narrator who announces 4 different skits for the film?" Sarah suggested. "James, you would make the perfect fit for that!" "I guess I could be the narrator," James agreed. "I know someone better who can film the skits- my dad!" "Your dad?" Mrs. Shay asked. "Yes, Mrs. Shay," James answered. "My dad- George Hiller!" "Henri and Mr. Benson can just be actors in the film," James continued. "All right," Henri happily stated. "That's even better!" "We can think about filming these skits somewhere in the downstairs lobby," Mr. Benson suggested. "Or how about in our room, where James has a desk?" Henri asked. "We'll see, Henri," James told him. "Anyway, do any of you guys have ideas for skits we can do?" "We could do a skit where we disclose during an interview," Sarah suggested. "I can be in that film with Sarah," I volunteered. "Then, we can do a skit about disclosing at a job offer," Mrs. Shay suggested. "I can be in that film with Sam," Freddie agreed. "Then, we can do another skit about disclosing while hired," Henri suggested. "I could play the weird guy... whatever his name is?" "Todd, Henri," James replied. "His name is Todd." "I can play the human relations person- whatever his name is, who helps Henri's character," Mr. Benson volunteered. "His name is Harold Riser," James informed us. "Harold Riser," Mr. Benson repeated to himself. "Finally, we could do another skit where we disclose after an issue," Carly suggested. "Sarah, can you be in that skit with me, please?" "I would love to, Carly," Sarah replied. "Heck, I can even be the same woman who discloses with Angel's character... whatever their names are!" "Cynthia, Bethany, and Kathryn," James told us. "Perfect," I shouted out. "I could play Bethany, Sarah could play Cynthia, and Carly could play Kathryn!" "I guess that could work," Sarah agreed. "After all, Angel, Carly, and I are best friends!" "Well, I guess we better start working together to write the script, Mrs. Shay," James told Mrs. Shay. "Uh-huh," Mrs. Shay agreed. "Hey, I may not be a Phillis, but I am there to help you whenever you need it!" "Mrs. Shay, can you, Mr. Benson, and Carly drive me back home?" I politely asked. "Sure, Angel," Mrs. Shay replied. "Thanks for some great film ideas, everyone!" I told my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Bye, guys!" "Bye!"