Ellie & God PAC 3,1, 2016
ELLIE: Hi, Lord!
God: Elly! Good to see you! How’s my girl?
ELLIE: Great. When I’m at PAC I’m always great.
God: Funny you should mention it. I am, too.
ELLIE: I know I’ve asked you this before, but why is that?
God: Why is what?
ELLIE: Why is it when I come to PAC that I feel . . .I don’t know. . .so much different than all other place I go?
God: The Orange Elixer. . . is magic!
ELLIE: (laughs) Okay. . .but I mean. .
God: Yeah…yeah, I know what you mean, Elly. It happens to a lot of people. I’ll tell you a secret. . . sometimes I have the best talks with people all year long. . . right out here.
ELLIE: So?
God: So?
ELLIE: So why is that?
God: What was your favorite Halloween costume?
ELLIE: Huh?
God: Costume. Halloween….you know…spooks…Boo!
ELLIE: Uh. . I don’t know. . . I was the Little Mermaid once.
God: I remember. . . those flippers were tough walking the sidewalks that night.
ELLIE: You got that right. But my question was about PAC. .
God: So’s my answer. Remember how much fun it was to dress up and be somebody else? Then as you got older it was no big deal?
ELLIE: Yeah.
God: That’s what happens out here at PAC. You can be yourself. You don’t have to pretend to be somebody else.
ELLIE: I never thought about that. So. . .I mean. . why is that?
God: Well. . .when you were walking down the street on Halloween night what were you thinking about?
ELLIE: I guess. . .I guess how I looked to other people.
God: And when you’re at PAC, what are you thinking about?
ELLIE: That’s a tough one. Lots of things. . . but I do a lot of thinking about you, Lord.
God: . . .and you’re free to be yourself.
ELLIE: Wow. You’re right.
God: I know. I’m God.
ELLIE: (laughs)
God: Ellie…the very best Ellie I made. . .my original idea for Ellie is just what I’m looking at right now. . not pretending to be what she’s not. . .not putting on an act to impress other people. I made the perfect Ellie. It’s not my fault if she’s different today.
ELLIE: I guess that would be my fault.
God: Happens to everyone. Don’t worry about it. With me, every day is a fresh start.
ELLIE: So . . . How do I do that? I’ve spent the last year doing just the opposite.
God: Well . . .how about we begin by saying what you mean.
ELLIE: Huh?
God: Just telling the truth about what you feel.
ELLIE: I’m . . uh. . sort of lost.
God: That’s okay. I’ll show you. Look out there. . .see anybody you love?
ELLIE: What?
God: Love. It’s an easy word.
ELLIE: I know, but. . .
God: See anyone in the audience you love?
ELLIE: Sure. . . lots of people.
God: Have you told them that?
ELLIE: Well . . . I mean, not lately.
God: What are you waiting for? Halloween?
ELLIE: Uh. . .(and here you adlib. . talk to the person in the audience, tell them something you appreciate about them and end by saying, “I love you, ___________.” Do a couple of these or three. . or whatever, then end with, “I like that, Lord.”)
God: And that. . .that was the real Ellie. That was the Ellie I made. . . without pretending. . without a mask. Feels pretty good doesn’t it?
ELLIE: Thanks, Lord. (a beat, then) It’s gonna be a great weekend.
God: I know. I planned it. See ya ‘round, girl. (she begins to exit, then) And Ellie
ELLIE: Yeah?
God: That Little Mermaid costume?
ELLIE: Yeah.
God: It was pretty cool.