UNCLE JOHNNY - An Actors MONOLOGUE - by William Lewis Baker

I'd like to share with you a story about my Uncle Johnny.

I visited Uncle Johnny a few months ago.

He was wearing this shirt.

He said:

YOU SEE THIS SHIRT!

I bought this shirt in New York City, in two-thousand six.

I wanted a souveneir, because I'd opened Off-Broadway.

THAT'S RIGHT!! Your Uncle Johnny opened Off-Broadway in 2006.

I bought it for five dollars from two black street vendors selling t-shirts.

I new they were just a couple of transitioning convicts, that had chose.

To become a part of the American free enterprise system.

By just buying a business license and selling some t-shirts.

So I bought this shirt for five-dollars.

HERE! I want you to have it. And I want you to wear it with pride!

Because your Uncle Johnny, opened Off-Broadway, in two-thousand and six!

Then Uncle Johnny died.

I still wear the shirt. Sometimes, but it doesn't feel right.

You see. While Uncle Johnny was alive.

I never believed a-damn-thing he said.


W. L. Baker 2010