Fireflies

One small respite from the generalized chaos, cruelty, and grief over our nation's unfolding horror show has been the fireflies.

In my little corner of the world (Lansing, NY), we've experienced an explosion of lightning bugs. My wife, Gayle, and I have been taking nighttime strolls on the tree-lined dirt road behind our place. There, we find ourselves under a glowing canopy made up of thousands of tiny floating lanterns. It's like Christmas in July or an open-air disco.

It might be the most beautiful thing either of us has ever seen.

Then, last night, I woke up in the darkness. I stumbled to our picture window to take in some more time with our luminous friends when this short play came to me.

I'm trying to find the light where I can, I guess.

FIREFLIES
a very short play by Ruben Carbajal

Darkness. Each FIREFLY (signified by number)* turns on a small flashlight when they speak, turning it off when they finish their line.

1 (Exhausted)

No drama. Please.

2 (Proud)

6’1’’ with shoes off.

3 (Chill)

Netflix and chili dogs.

4 (Confident)

I work hard and play harder.

5 (Passionate, almost angry)

Must be obsessed with cats.

6 (Romantic)

Swiftie in search of a slow dance.

7 (Peppy)

The gym is my home away from my home gym.

8 (Almost a question)

Let’s make some memories.

9 (Been around the block)

Want to be my partner in crime?

Turns light off. Then, turns it back on.

Actual felons need not apply.

10 (Upbeat)

Dive bar or opera house: I’m down.

11 (Desperate)

One crazy thing about me is that I really love pizza.

12

Sometimes I feel like I’m sending my heart out into a vast and empty void.
I imagine this disembodied, pulsating fist of muscle, alone…floating in a deep, dark, unimaginable emptiness with no hope of even accidentally bumping into another semi-sane, lonely human heart. Drifting aimlessly, wanting nothing more than to simply reach someone. Not head over heels, or love at first sight. Just a soul who can, for just a few hours, make me feel something other than hopelessness. A tiny spark. A little lighter. A reassuring voice in this increasingly confusing and terrifying world that seems hell-bent on replacing simple human connection with a commodified marketplace that monetizes desperately isolated people who have forgotten how to commune with one another without the safety of a screen between them.

Are you out there?

Is anyone really listening?

ANYONE?!!

12 clicks off their light. A long pause. Darkness. Then:

13 (Bright)

Flirt alert!

14 (Humblebrag)

Confession: I’m irresistible.

15 (Tired)

Couch potato seeks same.

Lights click on and off, as all the FIREFLIES repeat their lines randomly/simultaneously until: DARKNESS.

END OF PLAY

*Doubling or tripling is okay.