Another from BEN. Ben, about 16 years old, talking to Baxter, a middle-aged restaurant owner.

(Warning: Using this monologue without permission is illegal, as is reproducing it on a website or in print in any way.)

BEN
I bought her something so nice, and she threw it away. She didn't even look at it. Didn't she know I was watching?
(beat)
Why does she hate me? Isn't your Mom supposed to love you, especially if you get her something so nice?
(beat)
It was her lawn.
(beat)
The lawn job. 248 Brattle. That’s her house.
(beat)
Why couldn't you give me a job here? You're the only person that would ever maybe give me a job. The jewelry sale was only 'til Sunday.
(beat)
I bought her a diamond like you're supposed to. She didn't even look at it. The sign at the store said it was supposed to cost four hundred. I could never ever get four hundred dollars. I had to get it by the sale.
(beat)
One guy, he said there's no way he could hire a person like me. I tried to be so nice. I called him sir. If he told me to clean the toilet I would have done it.
(beat)
He said he'd call the cops if I didn't get out. And the customers could hear him, I know they could, and they didn't care. They wanted me to leave too. Your busboy fuckin’ sucks. Why wouldn’t you let me do it?
(beat)
One guy says why should he give me a hundred-nine "when I can have any kid on the street for fifty." Next guy, I tell him the price, and he says no problem. I tell him he only has twenty minutes. I have to go in twenty minutes. He says fine. Easy money. He says he's just gonna' park in this alley. Then he says can we go to his place. He doesn't want to get caught. It's real close. We get there, and he says if I can stay longer than twenty, he'll buy me pizza. I say maybe I can stay thirty if he gets me the pizza.
(beat)
I had to stay a lot longer than thirty.
(beat)
At least I got pizza--right?