A Child’s Play

By: Bryan Ricardo Marini Quintana

Act 1: A Choice

Late at night, passing by colorless streets, a dazzling theater illuminates the pale ambiance. Deciding to halt for a glance, I’m frightened by an imposing shadow that creeps over me, constraining any movement. It’s the adult I’ve become, rashly yelling: “Stay outside and carry on with routine.” Tempted to turn around, a frail silhouette dashes over, willing to loosen any motion. It’s the child I’ve lost, gently whispering: “Go inside and try something new.” A flicker of impulsiveness sways me, eager to soothe a monotonous mind. “I don’t have time,” reaffirms an impatient adult. “What about me?” longs an abandoned child. Will I empower the adult and neglect the child? In an act of recklessness, instinct kicks, as I’m drawn to purchase a ticket, seeking liberation in A Child’s Play. Thereafter, a silhouette’s frail hand grasps upon a shadow’s rugged fingers that cling unto my flesh, guiding both to the entrance. Once inside, a blinding light drives away both shades, leaving me to make a choice. Should I leave or stay? Close by, murmuring adults apathetically diminish the play, discouraging any enthusiasm. However, far-off, giggling children eagerly boost the play, driving away any pessimism. Steadily, I take a seat, choosing to embrace A Child’s Play and longing for a return to what I’ve lost.

Act 2: Where I Belong

Inside, a hall welcomes my arrival while the stage neglects me. Upon seeing my adult drama, a somber hall illuminates the way to a seat reserved especially for me, whereas a joyful stage dims away and closes its curtains when noticing my lack of childish fun. Reality settles in, for I’m a part of an audience, not the show. Behind, there are grim adults ready to spectate. In front, there are cheerful kids ready to act. While those who live confined to reality are relegated to meager seats in a hall, those who live beyond in dreams are uplifted by rich lights on a stage. In the audience, there are no outstanding personalities. Everyone stuck in a seat hides behind a fancy suit or dress that befits a norm. Ashamed of my true self, I sell a personality that complies with society’s expectations. However, on that stage, there’s a colorful wardrobe of unique personalities. Each actor wears what abides to their taste. Proudly, they rebel against society’s constraining guidelines. While spectators have chosen to dim away from the spotlight, actors embrace it. Suddenly, lights fade in the hall to neglect my adult drama while a stage brightens to empower A Child’s Play.

Act 3: A World Of Imagination

Once the play begins, my spectrum of reality breaks away, freeing an imprisoned mind. Brewing with life, the stage is transformed into magical domains and far-reaching corners of space. These are inhabited by children who polish the stage with performances that transform them into whimsical characters, displaying their unique personalities. They’ve come to embrace a playful spirit, showing no shame, fear, or guilt in what the audience perceives. From heads to toes, children dress in silly clothes with outrageous amounts of makeup and ridiculous hairstyles. Regardless, they keep on enjoying their performances carefree. Atop, the stage accepts you, letting true feelings be expressed without judgment. This is a freedom only actors relish, one a kid exuberates. Agonizingly, I’m stuck in an adult’s world of spectators while they are free to act in A Child’s Play.

Act 4: A World Lacking Color

Amidst the intermission, my spectrum of imagination fades away, returning to a confined seat that promptly recalls reality. Dwindling with life, the hall remains dull. Down here, rows of seats don’t undergo any transformation since there’s no time to wander in places I’ll never reach. A hall encompassed by deprived adults doesn’t display uniqueness within anyone. Instead, a monstrous spirit feeds from fear, shame, and guilt that suppresses them into hiding from outsiders. Amongst spectators, a sea of identical clothes and faces hides behind a facade. Each one is careful, avoiding any display of emotions. I follow them by subduing my feelings because if I’m exposed, their rejection will follow. This is a suffocation only spectators suffer; one every adult quells. I was once an actor, but now I’ve grown into a spectator, and time holds me back from ever returning to A Child’s Play.

Act 5: My Awakening

In a grim moment of self-defeat, I come to terms with a stage far from my reach while a childhood spirit of memories attempts to refresh my mind, body, and soul. This cheerful aroma drives away the dismal fume. Although I’ve descended from that stage, these children remind me of what dawning an actor’s performance was like. In that play, they pass on what the audience lost. Suddenly, a child’s curiosity is awakened within me. A wondrous sense of adventure comes back, amazing me with every trivial discovery and replacing indifference. Thereafter, a child’s joy is sparked. Through giggling kids, miseries wash away. Afterward, a child’s innocence initiates. In an act of carelessness, feelings of guilt rinse away. However, I’m the only one rediscovering wonderment, laughter, and purity. Realizing none have joined in the act, I begin to hide again with judging eyes that sharply criticize me. Regardless, I’ve come too far to give in, proceeding to neglect at least for once the adult and empower the child. Now, I gather up a child’s bravery to complete my transformation. Consequently, fear hides away, with childhood fully awakened in triumph over adulthood. Nevertheless, a childish spirit reaches the audience, with frowns turned to smiles, shame to liberation, and reality to imagination. A somber hall is awakened by spectators, who, even though they’ve left the spotlight, now ecstatically remember what it was like to be up there. Finally, A Child’s Play is embraced by spectators who relish the freedom an actor embodies, refreshing their memories of curiosity, joy, innocence, and bravery.

Act 6: A Show Must End

Enlightened, I savor this last moment with my rediscovered inner child, knowing the play won’t last forever. Unwavering eyes gaze upon the stage, recalling a concealed bubble that an actor fills up with dreams of a hopeful future. Inside were written scenes and a character’s guideline to follow through. Abruptly, the bubble burst upon facing reality, leaving characters stranded without any sense of direction. Outside the theater, away from a stage’s spotlight, nothing was scripted, allowing despair to take over while I sought to uncover my true character. Whilst lingering in thoughts of a lost youth, A Child’s Play ended, witnessing an actor’s culmination. Performers were stripped of characters and lines, leaving an exposed nakedness of personalities barely defined. Then, each child bowed before the audience, subjugating to reality. They’ve given away their frivolous characters’ curiosity, joy, innocence, and bravery. Soon after, a harsh transition occurs, relegating everyone to a role backstage. In there, each one will interact behind the scenes, close enough to the action yet far away from the thrill of the main act. A time will pass when they’ll mature, undertaking a journey to find their true selves and replace me. Meanwhile, I get up and give my seat to the next person who passes from the backstage to assume a role in the audience. My time here is up, but at least I’ve been reminded of what it was like to be a child. Once more, a silhouette’s frail and smooth hands grasp my wrinkled ones. Now, it guides me back to the hallway where I made a fateful decision. Here, I chose to embrace my inner child. However, behind lies my imposing shadow, yearning to stay. Desperately, it grabs my hand, begging me to return. Although tempted to relish that feeling of being young again, I’m dissuaded, opting to give another the chance to experience it. Decisively, I turn away the older shade as it peels off from any hold on my body. Whatever energy was left in me has been sucked away by the play and a fleeting shadow that decays. Passing through the hallway, my mind eases, accepting there’s no return to childhood, yet thankful those days ever happened. Where once night reigned when I came in, now day deposed it with my exit. Upon these final moments, a feeble silhouette leaps upwards to a dazzling light, and fire surges through me again as I return to my purest form to the heavens above, in the nakedness of an actor who is received by an eternal embrace of A Child’s Play.