{"id":3790,"date":"2021-11-03T20:01:18","date_gmt":"2021-11-03T20:01:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-the-words\/?page_id=3790"},"modified":"2024-07-29T16:13:36","modified_gmt":"2024-07-29T16:13:36","slug":"wordplay-with-roon-mahboub","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/wordplay-with-roon-mahboub\/","title":{"rendered":"Wordplay with Roon Mahboub"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Alice Asch \u201822 <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Roon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This month at <\/span>The Words<\/span><\/i>, we\u2019re excited to feature the work of Roon Mahboub \u201822! Roon (she\/her), is a Chemistry Major and English Minor from Wilmar, MN. She says that her journey as a creative writer began in her seventh grade science class, when<\/span>\u2014<\/span>bored of learning about photosynthesis<\/span>\u2014<\/span>she decided to write a poem about leaves. Roon specializes in \u201cmelodramas with comedic flairs.\u201d Her writing often explores her own culture, and she enjoys poking fun at societal norms. \u201cThe concept of death also fascinates me, and I always like to include the way people deal with loss of human life,\u201d she told us. She\u2019s inspired mainly by \u201cnarratives of those around me, and dreams.\u201d <\/span>Please enjoy this excerpt of Roon\u2019s play, <\/span>The Van<\/span><\/i>! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The Van<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(The year 2005; It\u2019s a summer weekday in Maine; 14-year-old ELMI ISMAILO and his twin AZIZA are cleaning their messy garage with old boxes stacked haphazardly and a  white sheet covering a large van. The air smells musky with a slight hint of something  rotten.) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MUSE <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(yelling from offstage)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hey! Elmi! Dude! Are you in the garage? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(drops some tongs in a pile, and gets up) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muse? What\u2019s he doing here? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(he walks towards stage left and enters with MUSE) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI (CONT.)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hey dude\u2026what\u2019s up? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MUSE <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, you know, living, life\u2026 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(He winks at AZIZA) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hey…<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(She smiles shyly as she tucks one lock of hair behind her ear. He  <\/span>grins back at her. ELMI looks between them and rolls his eyes) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muse, why are you here? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(MUSE points to the van covered by a white sheet) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MUSE <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My dad is looking for the van keys. It has a \u2018I HEART NY\u2019 key chain on it\u2026 Apparently,  he has someone interested in buying that old van. Weird\u2026 Though he never lets anyone  in that van\u2026 at least, <\/span>I <\/span><\/i>haven\u2019t been inside. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(He looks around the van and shakes his head) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m sorry, I haven\u2019t seen it. Aziza, have you? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AZIZA <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No. I haven\u2019t. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(She begins chewing on her fingernails) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Turns back and looks at AZIZA and MUSE)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ok\u2026well\u2026we\u2019ll let you know if we see it! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MUSE <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ok! I\u2019ll see y\u2019all later! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI and AZIZA <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bye Muse! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(MUSE exits stage left) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Turns to AZIZA) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where are the keys? I know you lied to Muse. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AZIZA <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I didn\u2019t\u2014 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You always chew your nails when you\u2019re anxious or you lie. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AZIZA <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ugh! Why do you care about those keys? Muse\u2019s such an idiot. If not finding these keys makes his life a little harder, then my heart would be a little happier. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LIAR! You like him! You just want him to come back! Besides, those keys belong to his  dad! We need to finish cleaning and give the keys back right\u2014 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AZIZA <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes\u2026 Muse will get the keys. But I need to do something fun before we give it back\u2014 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Azie, no! That\u2019s illegal! WE can\u2019t do that! We can\u2019t look through people\u2019s things\u2014 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(AZIZA takes the sheet off the van; dust flies everywhere and the<\/span> twins cough loudly) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AZIZA <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not like we\u2019re going to <\/span>take <\/span><\/i>anything from the van. That would be bad, but aren\u2019t you  <\/span>curious, <\/span><\/i>Elmie? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(removes the keys, unlocks the van, and enters it through the <\/span>passenger\u2019s side, which faces audiences) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a <\/span>horrible <\/span><\/i>idea! What if Muse\u2019s dad comes or\u2014<\/span>Hooyo! <\/span><\/i>I\u2019ll never get to do anything again! And it\u2019ll be your fault! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(AZIZA doesn\u2019t respond) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AZ? AZIE? AZIZA! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Faint ruffling sounds come from the van, but no response) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I swear\u2026you owe me for this\u2026 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(ELMI is about to enter the van, but AZIZA jumps out of the van <\/span>and shuts the door) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AZIZA <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(whimpers) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elmi\u2026you won\u2019t believe what I saw\u2026 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What did you– <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AZIZA <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A human hand\u2026<\/span><\/i>that\u2019s been <\/span>cut off! <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(She turns away, begins to gag) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re lying! You just want to prank me, and the only way how is for me to get into that creepy van. NO WAY! And even if you were telling the truth, who woulda guessed that a fan of <\/span>The Texas Chain Saw Massacre <\/span><\/i>and all things blood and gore couldn\u2019t stomach a missing hand? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AZIZA <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(turns back to face him) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHAT??  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(shrugs) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I mean\u2026it\u2019s <\/span>just <\/span><\/i>a hand. So what? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AZIZA <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SO WHAT? Don\u2019t you know what this <\/span>means<\/span><\/i>, Elmi? This means that\u2026 Muse\u2019s\u2014<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(gasps)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s probably fake. Did you touch it? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AZIZA <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(sarcastically) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh yea, I\u2019ll <\/span>totally <\/span><\/i>grab a <\/span>severed hand! <\/span><\/i>Yeah! I\u2019d invent a secret handshake with the hand. AND THEN\u2026 it will tell me where it got its nails done!  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(walks past him, and begins color coordinating MOM\u2019s clothes) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

OK, OK\u2026You have a point. I\u2019m sorry. Let\u2019s just finish here so you can go to Imani\u2019s. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(There are a few beats of silence. ELMI continues piling the <\/span>kitchen utensils.) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AZIZA <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hey, would you like to see it? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Huh? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AZIZA <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hand. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No. Not really.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AZIZA <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(coughs) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coward.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELMI <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(walks over to the van) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re doing everything possible to get out of cleaning. But if we get in trouble, it\u2019ll be  on you. And I\u2019m not a coward! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AZIZA <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s see if the family wuss will stomach the sight! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(ELMI opens the side door of the van. Placed delicately on the  <\/span>wrapped seat is the severed hand. The blood on it has dried, and <\/span>the maggots are currently consuming the palm of the hand. The <\/span> twins look at each other) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AZIZA<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still think it\u2019s <\/span>fake, <\/span><\/i>Oh, Knowledgeable Elmi?<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Alice Asch \u201822  This month at The Words, we\u2019re excited to feature the work of Roon Mahboub \u201822! Roon (she\/her), is a Chemistry Major and English Minor from Wilmar, MN. She says that her journey as a creative writer began in her seventh grade science class, when\u2014bored of learning about photosynthesis\u2014she decided to write […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":913,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3790","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/913"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3790"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3790\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7015,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3790\/revisions\/7015"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/the-words\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}