CHARLIE ONION: I THINK I’LL GO VISIT NESSA THE DINOSAUR. WILL YOU COME JOIN ME?

(CHARLIE ONION KNOCKS ON NESSA’S DOOR)

NESSA: COME IN. THE DOOR’S UNLOCKED.

CHARLIE ONION: HEY GOOD BUDDY. HOW COME YOU’RE STILL IN BED?

NESSA: CAN’T YOU TELL?

CHARLIE ONION: YOU DO LOOK GREEN AROUND THE GILLS. ARE YOU SICK?

NESSA: I HAVE JUST ABOUT LOST MY VOICE.

CHARLIE ONION: THAT’S FUNNY.

NESSA: WHAT’S SO FUNNY ABOUT IT?

CHARLIE ONION: THE BOASTFUL, AND PROUD NESSA THE FIRE BREATHING DINOSAUR WITHOUT A VOICE? HAH! NOW THAT’S FUNNY.

(NESSA PREPARES TO SHOOT OUT A FIREBALL FROM HIS MOUTH AND NOSTRILS). HE IS REALLY MAD.

CHARLIE ONION: HEH! I’M SORRY FRIEND. I DIDN’T MEAN TO GET YOU MAD. SPARE THIS ONION FROM BEING FRIED.

NESSA: YOU BETTER NOT DO THAT AGAIN, OR YOU WILL NEED THAT BUCKET OF WATER TO PROTECT YOU FROM MY FIERY SPRAY.

CHARLIE ONION: THANKS FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE.

NESSA: THE LEAST I CAN DO.

CHARLIE ONION: WHY’S THAT?

NESSA: I NEED YOU TO BE MY VOICE.

CHARLIE ONION: ME? WHY ME?

NESSA: I TRUST YOU.

CHARLIE ONION: BUT I NEVER WAS A VOICE TO SOMEONE BEFORE. YOU MEAN LIKE “THE OWL”.
NESSA: YES, LIKE YOUR FRIEND “OWL”.

CHARLIE ONION: I DON’T KNOW IF I’M UP TO THE JOB.

NESSA: YOU ARE MY FRIEND. CAN YOU GET ME A BOX OF COUGH DROPS, AND SOME DINO-AIDE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD STORE?

CHARLIE ONION: SURE. BUT YOU NEED TO EAT SOME SOUP.

NESSA: CAN YOU PLAY A GAME OF CHECKERS WITH ME?

CHARLIE ONION: WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR? AFTER ALL I’M YOUR VOICE AREN’T I?

NESSA: YES YOU ARE.

CHARLIE ONION: HEH NESSA. DID YOU EVER THINK THAT IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON?

NESSA: HUH?

CHARLIE ONION: FROM THE LAND OF NOW, I MEAN.

NESSA: YEAH, I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT A LOT SINCE BEING SICK, AND ALL.

CHARLIE ONION: DID “THE OWL” STOP OVER?

NESSA: YES HE DID, MATTER OF FACT. AND HE SAID YOU WOULD BE STOPPING BY.

CHARLIE ONION: JUST LIKE OWL TO KNOW EVERYTHING.

NESSA: HE READ ME A FEW STORIES FROM HIS HANDBOOK, AND IT ISN’T SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND ANYMORE.

CHARLIE ONION: YEAH?

NESSA: YEAH. AND OWL SAID THAT I NEED TO LISTEN TO THAT VOICE INSIDE OF ME, AND TO MAKE THE NEXT STEP.

CHARLIE ONION: I AGREE. ARE YOU READY?

NESSA: I THINK SO.

CHARLIE ONION: I KNOW SO. COME ON. DON’T BE SCARED. I’M YOUR VOICE AFTER ALL, AND I SAY “LET’S GO!”.

NESSA: WHO AM I TO SAY NO TO MY VOICE.

CHARLIE ONION: THAT’S RIGHT. IT’S TIME FOR NESSA TO MOVE ONWARD, AND UPWARD.
NESSA: LIKE AN EAGLE HUH.

CHARLIE ONION: LIKE AN EAGLE DINOSAUR.

NESSA: THAT’S A FUNNY ONE. CAN YOU SEE ME WITH WINGS.

CHARLIE ONION: YEAH, I CAN. BUT YOU HAVE TO LOSE THOSE WARTY SPOTS.

NESSA: THEY CAME WITH THE PACKAGE WHEN I LIVED IN THE LAND OF COAL.

CHARLIE ONION: I KNOW. BUT NOTHING’S IMPOSSIBLE FOR OWL.

NESSA: YOU THINK?

CHARLIE ONION: YEAH. ARE YOU READY FOR ANOTHER ADVENTURE?

NESSA: YOU BET, CHARLIE O. HEH, MY VOICE IS GETTING BETTER. I FEEL LIKE SCREAMING A BALL OF FIRE.

CHARLIE ONION: WAIT TILL I GET THE BUCKET.

THE END OF “THE VOICE”

COPYRIGHT © 2000 BY JOE MEDREK