The following script is in connection to a series of conversations entitled ‘Riddle Me That…’ which is due to release at the beginning of 2019.
Double D: Hey, Mike can you buy me some food because I’m hungry and I ain’t got the money.
Mike: Sorry Double D, I ain’t got it like that – I just got enough for myself.
Double D: See Mike! That’s what I’m talking about – you can’t even help anybody out without thinking for yourself! How can you be so selfish!
Nathaniel: Whoa – calm down bro, I’ll buy you something.
Double D: Do You even know how hard it is for families to eat?! I was gonna take this food and bring it back to my family because they haven’t seen a meal in a while! We are all hungry and I can’t even request some food without someone telling me they don’t have it?! You don’t have it? What do I have?
Mike: Sorry, Double D – I just didn’t have enough for the both of us this time around.
Nathaniel: It’s ok my bros – Double D, what do you want? Pick anything you need right now and I’ll head with you to the store – and buy whatever your family needs for the week. Now follow me, bro.
Double D: Thanks Nathaniel, I appreciate you – not many understand how hard it is for people.
Nathaniel: Yo, I get that but it’s hard for people out here too. You ain’t have to call mike selfish, he didn’t have enough, and you made a scene out there – embarrassing him and that wasn’t right.
Double D: Nah but I know he had it! He clearly was bugging because he didn’t think of others.
Nathaniel: Do you hear how that sounds? He was being selfish because he told you – he didn’t have it? Reverse the script. How would you respond, if you were Mike’s Situation? You ain’t the only one going through hard times bro! Requesting for something doesn’t mean you are entitled to those requests! I can take you out on the streets to people who got it harder than you and Martha. You got kids – they grow up fast. Ruth must be 10 and Tim must be an adolescent- shit gets expensive, but we all struggling out here in some way.
Double D: Oh Lord! Sounds like your preaching man! If I had the money, I’d pass you an offering. I doubt you struggling that much if you’re willing to help me out for the week bro.
Nathaniel: Well I have enough. It’s not a sacrifice for me – but this doesn’t mean it HAS to be a sacrifice for others. Mike had only enough for himself. I have more than enough for myself and others. I’m just glad I was right behind y’all – so I could pinch in and volunteer service. I ain’t trying to preach to you but shit, no one never knows the extent of another person’s dilemma. We owe ourselves empathy-even if you’re desperate for change. What’s going to happen here one day is that you won’t always be struggling. You’re going to work it out. Martha is going to get that promotion and the both of Y’all will have enough to take care of your kids and others. You ain’t going to stay in this bad spot – it might be hard and long but shift happens.
Double D: It’s gonna take a miracle at this point. Some people never make it out of their dilemma. Remember Henry? The Postman? Well, ever since his moms died – he been struggling bad. He had to sell his house and now he’s living in a shelter. His wife left him for another life and he works a lot – two jobs and still sometimes can’t make ends meet. Good thing he doesn’t have any children, cuz shit he wouldn’t be able to contribute much of nothing to their basic needs. Some people don’t make it out even if they pull their bootstraps up and hustle till their purple in the face. I don’t want to get to that point but I also ain’t naïve to forget the sun don’t always shine in the alleys. (Especially on the 5th avenue if you know what I mean?) Haha.
Nathaniel: Yeah, we’ll winging this game of life thing! I just think we can all do better. And all of this makes me beg the question of existence. If you had my life you’d be happy for a while because you wouldn’t be stressed about necessities. Yet, you’d worry about the other things that come with my kind of life. I suppose you’re never free from troubles no matter how good you got it. What’s the point of living if we’re all going to die anyway? I read a story about a millionaire who ended his life anyway. Money doesn’t bring happiness. I suppose it can for a brief period, but happiness seems to be engineered by biology. Some people are born happier than others and that’s to no fault of your own.
Double D: Sheeeiitt. Money is energy and good money is always appreciated bro! I appreciate you Nathaniel. I guess I didn’t have to act out so aggressively to Mike. It was just the rage of me tired of being ignored. It’s all a game of time now, goes to show anything can happen when one is HANGRY! 😀 Thanks for looking out!
Nathaniel: Next time you request of a reply make sure your ROAR is not so intimating! Ha, it’s all good bro, we’re a blessing to be a blessing!