Time

  PLOT

    Tim and Adam sit on a bench at the park. Tim being the young curious boy he is starts asking Adam about what life has in stored. What are the things he has to look forward to in life. What are the greatest downfalls he will face , and does he regret anything in his past. This main focus is guiding our youth from letting them know our downfalls in hopes that they will not repeat the same mistakes as we have.

Characters

Tim: A young eight year old boy curious about what life has waiting for him, being impatient and wanting to grow up. Tim is very friendly and sees everything in color (being a child still and bubble wrapped from his family it’s only natural). He believes things will happen for the best and tries to see the good in everything. He’s pure and has so many expectations for what will happen without truly realizing how cold the world can be.  

Adam: A seventy five year old GrandFather. He’s a humble, wise, and straightforward man. After all he’s been through he sees no need to sugar coat anything. Just seeing things as black and white (how things are). He loves his Grandson Tim dearly and words how life is in such a manner that is considerate for his age yet at the same time still getting to the point.

*The scene starts off with Tim running around and playing in the park as Tim becomes tired and out of breathe he goes to sit beside his GrandFather on the bench*

Adam: How are you feeling buddy? Are you having fun?

Tim: Yes, I don’t think I’ve had this much fun in a while. I’m happy you’re with me Grandpa, I feel safe around you.

Adam: Why is that?

Tim: It’s a good feeling when you know family is watching over you. Just having you wait by the bench makes me know, no one will hurt me.

Adam: I wouldn't let anyone hurt you Tim. Has anyone tried to hurt you?

Tim: I’ve been bullied before at the playground. The other kids called me ugly and stupid. No one was there for me Grandpa, but you’re here now so I’m safe.

Adam: Tim, I won’t always be there to protect you. Don’t get me wrong, I’m here now just understand you’re going to go through a lot in life and I can’t protect you from it all. One day... my time will come, but I will educate you and tell you everything I’ve learned from my experiences.

Tim: Well then tell me about what I’m going to go through. I want to know what I have to be careful of. (Tim says in a scared and unsure tone)

Adam: I’ll start off with my experiences with school then work my way up, alright bud?

Tim: That sounds good to me.

Adam:(Voice changes to a elementary school version of Adam) I went to a Catholic Elementary school up till second grade. I never really did feel like I fit in with anyone. I was an outcast, while all the other kids played kick ball I would sit alone at the window alone watching them play. I didn’t know how to interact with other people and was too afraid to try. The thought of rejection was something that scared me. If that wasn’t bad enough I was horrible at academics my grades would be C’s and D’s.

Math was probably my worst subject. One time I asked my Dad for help and eventually he lost his patience. I just kept guessing and didn’t try hard enough so he grabbed a large wooden spoon and started hitting me with it. At the end of that night I cried my eyes out and learned one thing. Don’t ask my Dad for help with math homework. Eventually I got held back, you would think for math right? No it was reading, I hated reading so much. I just didn’t have patience for it at all. I rather watch tv and see what’s on. For not prioritizing my education I couldn’t advance to the third grade so I was held back.

My Mom switched me to public school because the school I was going to eventually moved. I still felt different from everyone else but they were very friendly to me and I made some good friends. (Voice changes to a High School version of Adam) I was still socially awkward for a while but eventually in high school I became more social. I also improved in my grades and became a A, B average student. English was my favorite class because I liked writing and it was only natural being that english is my first language. Things were changing in my life and slowly I was gaining a small amount of life experience. I had my first girlfriend she was white and blonde with a thick bostonian accent. It was more of us being in love with the idea of love than actually being in love.

She wasn’t faithful though sadly... after the “honeymoon phase” of the relationship reality started setting in. She said she wasn’t happy anymore that we couldn’t fix the problem. She broke up with me then two weeks after that explained that some guy kissed her. The same guy that hit on her yet she wanted to hang out with a week after telling he hit on her. I couldn’t understand such a woman who still had to figure out herself first and what she truly wanted in life. We were only sixteen so we had a lot to learn honestly. She tried to get me back that day she explained to me why she broke up with me, but I just couldn’t take her back I needed to move forward so I rejected her and moved on with my life eventually got over her.

I met this next women who meant the world to me. I was a Junior in High School and she was a Senior. Her long black hair and a smile that said “no matter the pain I will continue to live on for happiness and persevere through the pain.” She was accepting of every flaw I had, I told her everything about myself. I couldn’t help but fall in love with this kind hearted women who didn’t have a mean bone in her. She’s been through abuse verbally and physically yet remained strong with her smile that refuse to fade no matter what was thrown at her. We met a an anime convention she was dressed up with her white jeans, brown jacket, and long black hair that reached all the way to her butt. Being 5’1 it really emphasized on her hair. I asked to take a picture of her because I like her cosplay and uploaded the picture on social media. Eventually she found the picture and we added each other. We talked about random things and then stopped talking for about eight months... because she forgot to respond to my message. Eventually we met at the Library and we reconnected. We exchanged more messages through social media then eventually text. It’s funny because one of my closes friends said I could never get a chance to date her. Well one day I called her on the phone because she wasn’t able to leave the house much unless it’s for school or educational purposes. I said “Hey, I want to make this offical. Will you be my girlfriend?”. She replied “sure?”. Thinking back to it now I laugh at the uncertainty in her voice. We became as close as can be and truly were in love. Eventually that ended with me moving to another country. I wanted to explore the world and gain as much life experience as possible.

After a year and some months I broke up with her the last time I visited America because she deserved for me to do it in person. She cried on my lap As she looked in my eye demanding I tell her that I don’t love her anymore... I couldn’t do it. Instead I looked away and said “I don’t feel anything anymore.” The women who loved more than I could hope for, I let go. I thought it was for the best at that time. The three main things I want you to understand is prioritize your education. Education will take you far in this world, find something you are interested in and learn as much as possible about it. The second thing is find someone that just doesn’t love all the good things about you, but accepts your flaws and helps you grow as a person. Anyone that holds you back from becoming better and doesn’t accept you for you will not stay by your side at the end. The last thing from my elementary to High School experience is always seek gaining more experience. Life has so much to offer don’t stay in your comfort zone. Get out there and explore the world as well as try new things. The more things you try the more you find out about yourself. You can always learn more about yourself as well as others.

I went to Japan for a year getting by with a translating app and some of the locals knowing english. As for stability with money and a place to stay; I worked as a bartender and stayed at a cheap apartment. Working as a bartender, naturally I met lots of people. I’ve met many beautiful women with different lives, yet similar problems. If they were between the ages of twenty to twenty five, they were at a point of their life that they were still figuring themselves out or just trying to party with meaningless connections with temporary men. From ages twenty six and older they usually say they want something meaningful, but in reality have been to caught up in lust or money. I’ll admit, I have fallen for a few of these women who have been caught in a such a loop of pleasure, money, and refusal of growing as a person.

There was this one women who walked into my bar that I just couldn’t keep my eyes off. Her name was Emily, and she was twenty four years old and I was twenty at that time. She sat down and asked me for a shot of tequila, after a few shots later the conversation started to pick up. She was working for a large insurance company and lived about twenty minutes from the bar. Her Father left her at a young age, so she had abandonment and trust issues. Most men just tried using her and weren’t looking for any commitment from her. She was fine with that though... her self esteem was low to being with her. She blamed herself for her Father leaving, thinking that it was her fault.

I couldn’t help but look her in the eyes and tell her how beautiful she is, and eventually she asked me to dance as a slow song played. We held hand and she kept her distance at first, surprisingly being more shy then I expected. After the second slow song she held onto closer to me with her head on my chest. I whispered in her ear how I wouldn’t leave her like the rest did. How I’m actually here to stay till the end. My words and actions weren’t enough though.... By the end of the night she left that bar, and I left without a number. All I got was a “Thank you for a great night.” and never saw that women again.

You would think the pain of being alone and hoping to find the right women wouldn’t hurt less with more experience..... It doesn’t. I would get more and more nostalgic after each girl rejecting me or leaving me at one point or another. I thought of my ex who I had left, having trouble keeping her off my mind. I had to accept it though... she’s the past and I made my decision as a man so there is nothing to regret. I had to move forward and strive for my own success. I had to strive for more in my life. Gaining all the life experience I can, and become the best me I can be.

Something my parents didn’t prepare me for was the harsh reality of how cruel, manipulating, and insincere people can be. The way I use to think I can open up to someone without being judged and them keeping my secrets to themselves. The way I thought someone could care for me as much as I care for them, just because I gave my all. I just didn’t understand people will take advantage of that kindness and I just can’t put all the blame on that person. I put myself in those situations in the first place, to be used. I know you may not understand all this now, but please try your best to remember these lessons. I went through all these experiences and pains to one day pass down the experiences I have gained to prevent you from suffering those same experiences or at least have an idea what to look out for.

The last thing I can really teach you is TIME.... it’s just something we perceive. You could've know someone is school for six years , but you never spent any moments with them that strengthen your relationship between each other. There was this one man I spent who became a brother to me no less than a month. We spent everyday talking about our future and goals. What we share in common was striving for so much more than what was already in front of us. Refusing to accept anything less than our dreams to become a reality. The negative things you experience that would hold you back forget them all. Let your failures and everything that will keep you from growing and forget it. Be a man, take action.... Towards your goals. Do whatever it takes, strive for that success. Make short term and long terms goals always keeping them in mind. Understand that the people you surround yourself define apart of you.

One thing I could never wrap my mind around was this empty feeling I had inside my heart. I thought love could fill that void. I thought having these lustful moments with these beautiful women I met at the bars and clubs would make it all go away, but it didn’t. I had still felt empty, what was this empty feeling I had till the very end. I strived for success and self improvement... not even that filled the void. Tim I really hope one day that if you ever have that feeling of emptiness that you find what fills it. Having the complete understanding that cigarettes, alcohol, women or drugs won’t fill that void. I know it may be confusing , what I’m telling you now. Hopefully one day you’ll understand.