(Lights up on Janna.)
JANNA: After my first sunday I was afraid I would have to come up with a reason to tell my grandma why I had to avoid church every week. But Isaac took to me right away and we got real close. He was really smart and easy to talk to. I was about two months too late to be able to meet Elise, but Isaac once told me a quote she would often say to him.
"The possibilities are endless if you only stop to have a conversation."
I pointed out how much I liked that and Isaac said she would repeat it all the time preaching kindness everywhere she went. Of course Isaac could have a nice conversation with everybody except his mother. But I know he sure helped me a lot. I know the opportunities for me became endless because I was lucky enough to get to talk to him. Even about the simple things. Even about the simple things that felt huge to me. He never made me feel bad and he always understood.
(Lights up fully as Janna and Isaac sit outside the church.)
JANNA: I haven't had caffeine today.
ISAAC: That's good!
JANNA: No it's not. I need to get my life together.
ISAAC: Wanting to have caffeine doesn't mean you don't have your life together.
JANNA: Yes it does—like I cannot function without it. I need to get my shit together. This is why I can't do drugs or I would become such an addict so quick. I get so attached to everything. Coffee is not the same here as it was back home in New York.You know you're allowed to add cream to your motor oil, right?
ISAAC: Well when it comes to caffeine, I think it's not about getting rid of all your habits. It's about finding better ones to replace them with. What is one other thing you feel like you can't get through your day without? Another thing that you do for yourself to define you. (Getting somewhat excited) Before, you would wake up and if you didn't start your day with coffee it was going to be a terrible day. Now, you wake up and you grab...quick! Something you love!
JANNA: I really like my hair ties!
ISAAC: Yeah you do! There you go. For the next week before you go to sleep every night tie a hair tie around the handle of the coffee pot and in the morning that is what you grab. Only get coffee on even days. I don't even know what that means, what the hell is an even day? Anyway you wear hair ties now. You are known as Hair Tie Girl. That's what you can't get through your day with for one week. Is it fair to say that that is a fairly easy goal?
JANNA: It's just hard when I know I shouldn't get a pop or an iced coffee but then I do it because I need to.
ISAAC: Listen, I totally get that—it's soda by the way. You think I don't sit there looking at the eighteenth shot of whiskey and the near-empty forty of Miller High Life and say to myself, "I really don't need this bullshit...but then on the other hand I know damn well I am about to take this shot?" (Turns) No. actually no. Because I don't drink anymore. I wear sweater vests now.
JANNA: You've always worn sweater vests. At least as long as I've known you. You look good with them.
ISAAC: You have only known me since earlier this year. I stopped drinking last year.
JANNA: You had already developed a drinking problem as a junior in high school?
ISAAC: My father is a militaristic Southern Baptist minister. You try dealing with the self-hatred that comes along with that. Aileen always helped with that. She drinks a little more wine than she should—most people around here know that. She doesn't think it really affects her life too much so she is generally okay. But she would always talk to me about why I wanted to drink and was usually able to distract me long enough until the feelings passed.
JANNA: Why did you break up?
ISAAC: I'm not really sure. Never really gave a good reason.
JANNA: Sometimes we just go through things. (Beat.) Are you okay?>
ISAAC: I'm trying to be. I'm pretty pissed at her about it. I'll be okay. I reckon I've faced bigger issues than this and made it through one hundred percent of the things I didn't think I couldn't.
JANNA: When did you get so smart?
ISAAC: I'm not really sure it just kind of happened one day.
JANNA: You sound like you have definitely been to therapy.
ISAAC: Actually I haven't. I feel like I've needed it for a while but my dad was always
against it. He says, (Impersonating his father:) "Therapists are just lecherous wastrels who try to get in the way of your relationship with God. If you have to talk to someone about how you feel, you best be making it Christ, Boy."
JANNA: What about your mom? Could you talk to her?
ISAAC: I reckon—most of the time.
(Lights fade.)
