John and God, I, 3
JOHN: It’s going to be a great night, Lord.
GOD: You better believe it.
JOHN: The final night at camp….it’s something I always remember. Lots of good memories.
GOD: And tonight you’ll make more.
JOHN: And tonight I’ll make more. But…there’s one thing I want to talk to you about before the final altar.
GOD: Go ahead. It’s your night, too.
JOHN: Ping-pong. (a long beat) Did you hear me?
GOD: Uh…I must have heard wrong. What did you say?
JOHN: Ping-Pong.
GOD: That’s what I thought you said.
JOHN: Can we talk about it?
GOD: We’ve all been together for two days….we’ve prayed and danced and sung and learned to love each other….and now at the end of camp you want to talk about….
JOHN: Ping-Pong.
GOD: I have some really weird friends.
JOHN: You said I could talk to you about anything.
GOD: John…let’s talk about Ping-Pong.
JOHN: Okay…so you know…you hit the ball, then the other player hits it back and..
GOD: Uh…John. I know how to play Ping-Pong. In fact, I’ve got the best serve in the camp.
JOHN: Oh…yeah, I guess you would. So….like when I’m at PAC …praying with my friends, loving them…it’s like I’m in your side of the court. Then I get away at college and I get busy and other things come up…..
GOD: You go to the other side of the net.
JOHN: Yeah. I guess I’m tired of sort of Ping-Ponging back and forth with you. It’s not fair. It’s not honest.
GOD: And you get smashed.
JOHN: Huh?
GOD: That’s a Ping-Pong term.
JOHN: Oh.
GOD: You get smashed around.
JOHN: Yeah. I get smashed around. So how….how do I stop playing the game? How do I stay on your side of the court?
GOD: You can’t.
JOHN: Huh?
GOD: I mean, I want you to go those place, John. I want you to experience all of life that I have planned for you. But you need to start playing doubles.
JOHN: Get a partner?
GOD: Yeah. Get a partner.
JOHN: And that partner would be….
GOD: …That partner would be…
JOHN: You.
GOD: Smash. You just smashed it.
JOHN: (a long beat, then) It’s gonna be a good night.
GOD: Yeah.
JOHN: ….and when I come up here tonight to pray….
GOD: I’ll be there…
JOHN: And when I leave camp…
GOD: You’ve got a new partner.
JOHN: (a beat, then) Smash.
GOD: Smash.