I am not enjoying the day… By Taquan age 11
I am in that picture because I just got adopted … and I was taking my first and last picture. I am not enjoying the day because I was just abandon by my mother and was adopted on the same day. I took a picture because I wanted to remember all the friends I made on that day. I am from North America. My life … is heart breaking, because I didn’t have a good family, so I ran away… until I find a good family who really cares about me and don’t treat me like a slave. One day I’ll find a good family … who loves me for who I am … not how I look or smell. I wish I had my old family back who really loved me. I want my old family back badly. I don’t want to live in the streets anymore.
Dam… By Jeremy age 10
Hi, my name is Josh. I’m 12 years old. Dam I’m so exhausted from working. “Hello” I’m only 12 and I’m working. (Pause) Since my father died I’m the man of the house. My family used to live in Mississippi but now we live in Florida. My life is horrible and all I wanted in my whole life was to be a kid. I always wanted to go to school … have friends and play around. But now it’s too late.
I was constantly hungry… By Nicholas age 16
My name is Simear, I am from Germany. My family was tragically killed in the holocaust by the Nazis, lucky for me I was able to escape and hide in excluded places far away so nobody could fine me. However, I was found and sent to numerous orphanages. But things just got worst by the minute. Once in the orphanage I was forced to give up my Jewish identity and act like a Christian … and could never give away who I was to anybody. My life was really horrible, just trying to survive. I lived in cellars most of the time, and when one building became uninhabitable because of aerial bombardment I had to find another. I was constantly hungry. I dug through ice and snow, foraging for food in abandoned gardens. I didn’t bathe for months; in fact, I rarely did and was unable to take off my clothes in case I had to suddenly move to a new location. After the war ended, months pasted and no one claimed me at the orphanage. Having a false name and now living in a different location, I feared that I would never be found and taken by a family. I knew all my members were brutally murdered in Nazi concentration camps. Six months later, my life was about to change. Almost thirteen thousand Jewish orphans like me were given the opportunity to immigrate to Canada, as part of the “War Orphans Project”. Once in Canada we were sent to foster homes. We had jobs and now we get an education. Now my life is better. I live in Toronto, Canada with a great family and from time to time I look back at the picture we took at the orphanage. That was the day before we was going to Canada and it was the happiest day of my life.
Who are you? Where am I? (FALL OUT)... By Kishawn age 12
7years later.
Hi, my name is Alex. Me and my classmates were at six flags and we went to the Wild West Photo Shop and we took a class picture of us looking like orphans. Since we are from the boogie down Bronx … am I enjoying my day? Nah …because I didn’t want to take the picture. I wanted to ride the Nitro. So far life is smooth and it’s just great … except for today. The end…thanks.
I was only 3... By Leah age 12
I remember when my mom died. We were driving to the French countryside. I was only 3 at the time and suddenly there was a big explosion right next to the car. The car got turned over and my mother died. I escaped with only a broken leg. So now I am an orphan. I am from Paris. How I miss the Eiffel Tower. I thought that today was going to be a good day. Couples were coming to find children… but even though I was in my best clothes and sat there all day the couples only wanted the little kids. Nobody would ever want to adopt a 15 year old who doesn’t know how to read.
Ellis Island ...By Jasmine age 11
I’m from a country called Germany. I know what you are thinking of. You are thinking that I’m somebody who doesn’t like Jews. I’m really sick and tire of people thinking that I hate them! Well, anyway I am going to Ellis Island. I want to make a fresh start with my parents. The reason… in the picture… we do not have any shoes is because they said that since we were 3rd class that we do not even deserve to have shoes. Whenever a crew member came in to our cellar all the people would start yelling in their language. Well… when we got to Ellis Island, I was so happy to get off. The person who examined me thought that I was crazy… and let me tell you about the examination. It was a 5 second one… because there were so many people. They had a hook to pull down your eye lid to look at your eyes, so then I had pink eye and I had to stay. And the reason why I took this picture because they needed to keep a record of all the people who were crazy and had pink eye, I was both. And finally I got better and they let me stay in New York.
Nina…By Nina age 15
Hello, I’m Nina, and I am an orphan. According to the orphanage Head Master, Mr. Heckman … I was basically abandoned by my parents. I do not care for them. Anyway, today I’m with my friends Elli and Sam. We’re best friends. In the picture we took yesterday we’re the ones in the far back. Even though I am 15… I have not started working yet. I’m hoping I can stay with the orphanage as a worker. All of the social workers are really nice. We don’t have problems other orphanages do. Here… some of the kids don’t even want to be adopted! Since I am older… I have no chance to be adopted. It had been suggested to me, that I start working. As a matter of fact …I do not wish to work yet. I first want to find love.
Leonardo … By Grace age 14
My name is Samantha, and I am 14 years old and I am from Brooklyn. I'm in this picture because I’m an orphan. They took a picture so they could show what kind of kids were up for getting picked to get new parents. I probably won't get new parents because I’m too old. They want the younger kids. I don't want new parents anyway! I’m a Brooklyn girl and I was born on the streets. Also, I can't trust people very well. I never did because my parents weren't there for me so I had to trust myself. I was left to die on the streets! My parents left me in a trashcan to die! That’s what the guy who found me told me. I was still a baby and they left me! They left me! Don't you understand? Nobody understands my pain. The guy who found me was the leader of the strongest and toughest gang on the streets of Brooklyn, the Knights. His name was Leonardo. Leonardo was like a big brother to me. He raised me as if I was his little sister. He taught me how to survive on the streets. Without him I wouldn't be in this world now. Sure I didn't go to school, and I didn't have a job, but it was better then nothing. Even though I had a family at my side and a big brother my happiness didn't last very long. Leonardo died when I was 10 years old. He was killed by another gang called the breakers. A boy by the name of James killed him in front of me. It was horrible! We have problems with this gang so they challenged us to a fight so Leonardo said yes, and so we went to the dock and was ready to fight them. The fight was supposed to be a fair fight you know… fist fight, but they jumped us with knifes. Lucky us, Leonardo told us to bring knifes just in case. But it didn't save him. Sure we were doing great protecting ourselves, and me and Leonardo were fighting side by side and doing great working together. So me…I was fighting one of the strongest guys. He punched me and I punched him. We were giving each other our best. I started to get tired, I was fighting well… and he stabbed me in the arm. I screamed and fell to the floor, and right when the guy was about to stab me in the chest and finish me, Leonardo took the knife for me. The knife went right through his heart. He fell down with blood dripping from his body. He was on the floor. His eyes wide open staring at me. I held him in my arms with those eyes still staring. I let go of him and saw blood all over my hands. I got up and had tears sliding down my eyes. I looked down at Leonardo's dead body, and then looked at the boy who killed him …eyes with flames of fury in my heart. My heart was broken. I charged at the boy and punched the boy in the face and he fell to the floor. I grabbed the knife from his hands and stabbed him in the chest over, and over, and over. My friends had to pull me back. With the bloody knife in my bloody hand, my friends held me and took the knife out my hand and I just dropped down to the floor and cried my heart out. The fight was over… many had died. Couple of my other friends died beside Leonardo. A couple of days after the fight people from the orphanage found me in an alley in a box which was my shelter for the night. So that's how I got to the orphanage. I kind of miss my life on the streets. Even though those horrible things happened to me I still wish I was back. But I guess this is better for me. I actually get decent meals, I get love from the nuns in the orphanage, I get to go to school and learn, and I could get a chance to have parents. I guess Leonardo would be happy for me if he was still alive. He would also want me to move on in my life and be happy. Leonardo would want this for me.
So, I got problems… By Matthew age 11
(Walks in smoking a cigar wearing a heavy jacket.) I don’t want to be in this stupid place. (Knocks down something) So … I got problems. I’m 12 years old; I’m an orphan living in an orphanage. And people think I need work. (Pause. Takes off jacket and throws it down.) No, I don’t have to work. I have a much harder job …. I steal. Steal from the rich … steal from the poor. I don’t care … so long as I can live. See, I need … I need real food. In the orphanage we get jack … nada …nothing. (Take puff from cigar) Only thing I got from my family is this Safire ring (Shows to audience). That’s a sign that my … well … that my parents must be rich. I don’t know what happen to my parents. Maybe they were in an accident, who knows. Anyway, that’s how I feel right now. So … if you fell like adopting a kid … PLEASE pick me! I won’t steal no more. I won’t shoot nobody anymore. PLEASE (takes puff of cigar)! Please just pick me.
Dear God …By Shanece age 12
Dear God, It’s me Lisa. I’ve prayed a lot today. It’s because I really need Your help. Please give me luck today at the orphanage center. I need luck because some parents are coming to pick out a child that they would want to take home with them. I don’t think I will be one of those children because I am 13 yrs old. For some reason they don’t like older kids. I’ve been in this orphanage for 2 yrs and they treat us bad. They make us do all the work. Like scrub the floors and clean their office. If one little thing isn’t done right we get beat with a thick belt. I can’t live like this anymore. They moved me from New York to Virginia to Georgia. All I am asking for is a room of my own and a lovely family. That’s all the luck I need. Amen.
You... you want to know my name? … By Brittany age 15
Setting: A young girl talks to the new girl she is bunking with in her cell room. Both are you and aren’t really aware of what a concentration camp is. They both have a discussion and the young girl explains her life living there. Stage directions: Young girl sitting hugging her legs to her chest, feeling kind of gloomy. (She speaks) What? (Looks up) My name? (Looks confused) You, you want to know my name? You actually bother to care? (Shakes head) Since I can remember being here… the first thing I learned was that…nobody cares. No, I’m too embarrassed … you promise? Ok, I don’t know my name; they call me Marie, Stephanie, Brittany; but my name; I don’t know! (Looks and acts embarrassed) The older kids call me scabby. (Lifts shirt and sleeves revealing scars and scabs) That’s for every time I spoke during dinner. (Looking sad; choked up) It hurt. Oh, this? (Points to the numbers on her arm) I don’t know. Cola said its special and when they call the “special number” you get a great feast! Funny though, Samuel and Jacqueline never came back … I’m still waiting though. I’m hungry. Hey, let’s go to sleep! (Screaming and fired gun shots from a distance) Oh, that? Someone saw something scary, or their scared of the thunder, I think.
They’re not listening … By Aubrey age 13
Setting: Outside on the street corner in the winter with her mother. (Talking to someone as they past by) Please sir, help me and my mother, please? (She sighs) Mommy… they’re not listening. (Looking at the audience) Can you help me and my mother? You see, we haven’t eaten in days and since its winter we’re very cold. My mom is very sick and I’m scared that she might go visit God. Please, please help. I don’t want her to leave…if you would be so kind to give us a penny? I’m trying to save money to buy my mom medicine but I only have 3 cents. We’re struggling a lot and I don’t know what to do…I just don’t know. (Lights dim down)
No one wants me …By Amanda age 12
I am an orphan. I am 13 yrs old and my name is Amanda. My Parents died when I was only 5 months old. So I don’t trust anyone, only me. I have a few friends. No one wants me, not even my own family. The people here told me how my parents die. They said that someone shot them in a fight that they saw. They also said that I was in a car near by. I sent you a picture of us here in front of a building. I am in the back because I am one of the older kids. They make us work 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. I heard that I have brothers and sisters. I make shoes at work. Each shoe I make I get 50 cents. I am just saving up my money so I can go someplace. Maybe New York City… because right now… I live in P.R. When I have free time I play soccer, baseball and basketball. I am the best at that. I learn how to read and write by myself. I am going out with this kid name Luis. He makes me so happy. He’s the only person who cares about me. So, if you want me, can you take Luis too? I am standing next to him in the picture. Hopefully, someone takes me or maybe I can go to school. Ok, look at the time, I have to go. It’s time for work.
Lying under an empty box … By Courtney age 13
My name is Carol, I have been an orphan ever since my parents pasted away a month ago. I am from Manhattan. Every day I get robbed and even get jumped. I thought this would happen for the rest of my life. But, one day a man named Steve found me lying under an empty box. He owns the Manhattan orphanage. At first I was happy because now I can be safe from the bullies out in the streets. Now that I’m in the orphanage not too many kids liked me and I only have three friends out of the entire orphanage. When it is adoption day… I pray that I will get adopted. But what I really want is to get adopted with my friends.
The name's Leo ...By Joshua age 16
My name is Leo Griffin. I was an orphan in the “All Orphan School”. I was there since I was 8 yrs old. There I had friends named Joey, Mike, Zack and Luke. They were the cool friends I hung out with. When I was 10 yrs old I was adopted by two adults named Mary and Gio. They both talked to me … asking me what I like to do, and what I want to do. I introduced them to my friends and they got to know them … and they adopted me and my friends! Now my four friends are my brothers. My brothers and I went to the same school together “Eastchester Junior High”. After school my brothers and I were trying out for baseball. I got in for basketball instead, and they got in for baseball. My basketball team was called the “Hawks” and my three brothers’ team was called the “Red Socks”. I was good at basketball and my three brothers were good too. When we graduated we did our own thing. My brother Luke became a wrestler, Joey became a doctor, Zack became a dancer and Mike became an actor. And me…I became a writer, and that’s what my life is about.
By Jhon age 10
I’m in this picture because I’m in a homeless shelter for kids. I just took the picture with some other kids. My name is Tony and I’m 10 yrs old. I’m having a great day because we are getting free McDonalds for lunch and Wendy’s for dinner (This was donated to the shelter.). My life is great because I have shelter, friends who are like my brothers and sisters. But… I wish I had a real family
