The Author’s Voice

East New York Monologues

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Ysak
The big Turk who ran the dirty little grocery shop on the ground floor and had part-ownership of our tenement.

Abie
My best friend among “our” people. My transgression against him.

Mitchell
My first best friend among The Americans.

Mrs. Robinson
My terrifying kindergarten teacher.

Pastel
Those big colored chalks that could keep a kid amused on the street for days.

Playmate (Shelly)
My first love. Damaged.

The Coal Man
A dirty man with a dirty job.
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The Kid Who Couldn’t Cry
My first enemy, and a formidable one too.

The Library
Far away, but worth the journey.

Meyer’s Horse
The old nag’s fascinating achievement.

Red’s & Kaye’s
My first encounter with the American class structure.

Going To The Store 1
My first family responsibility.

Peds (Going To The Store 2)
The first time I failed at pleasing Dad.

The Rat
My first heroic effort.
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With the exception of Ysak, none of the East New York monologues have been worked. They are presented in exactly the same condition they were in after I sat down at my kitchen table with pencil and legal pad to write them. [/div]