A play: Say no

Say no

In the classroom ( during the break) a few students are sitting… Among them,

there is Kamal, who is sitting in his place, busy checking some notebooks, seeming lost, tired, and sad. After a moment, he puts his hand on his head and sighs. At that moment, his friend Brahim comes in and walks towards him.

Brahim: Are you alright? What’s the matter?

Kamal: I’ve got a terrible headache, and I’m terribly stressed and worried.

Brahim: Why?

Kamal: I’m not ready for this afternoon’s test. And what makes it worse, I can’t focus when I try to revise.

Brahim: Take it easy my friend, relax. Nothing is worth worrying.

Kamal: How can I relax and take it easy while I have endless problems?
Brahim: Just forget about your problems! Don’t think about them!

Kamal: I can’t… I can’t…

Brahim: Would you like to forget your problems?

Kamal: Yes, sure. I wish I could!

Brahim: What if I offered you something that will help you forget?

Kamal: Are you mocking me? There is no such thing!

Brahim: Yes, there is.

Kamal: Really? What is it?

Brahim: There is something that not only helps you forget but also gives you the greatest feeling of happiness and joy in the world!

Kamal: What do you mean?

Brahim ( puts his hand in his pocket, takes out a packet of cigarettes, and shows it to Kamal):

             I mean this my friend, the key to freedom, power and joy.

                  ( At  this moment enters Karim, a friend of theirs)

Karim: You mean the key to prison, sickness and death!

Brahim ( upset by the appearance and interference of Karim): Oh! You again! Why on earth do you insist on disturbing others and interfering in their affairs?

Karim ( calmly): That’s exactly what you’re doing my friend! Besides, you're trying to hurt others and teach them deadly habits.

Brahim: On the contrary, I’m trying to help my friends to get out of their terrible conditions and to relieve their pain and suffering.

Karim ( in irony): Really! ( pointing to the packet of cigarettes) You call that a cure? Don’t you know that it’s a poison not a medicine, a problem not a solution, a danger not a relief?

Kamal: You’re right my friend, you’re right.

Brahim: Oh, come on! One cigarette a day when you feel depressed or worried won’t do any harm!

Karim: It will my friend, it will. You know better than us all that cigarettes are addictive. Once you start smoking them, you can’t stop.

Brahim: Why on earth do you complicate everything? Why not just have fun and let life go on as God wants?

Karim: What God wants is that we use our minds to distinguish what’s right and what’s wrong, that we follow what our conscience tells us, not what our desires push us to do.

Kamal: How wise your words are Karim! I agree with you on every word you said. I’m sorry Brahim, but I can’t accept your offer. In spite of my problems and my suffering, I’m not ready to get into such foolishness and commit such a crime against myself. I know very well that smoking won’t solve my problems. On the opposite, it will make them worse and lead to more dangerous ones.

Karim: Bravo Kamal! I’m glad to hear that from you. I really feared you would accept to try that poison.

Brahim: Well I guess you’ve won! It seems it’s me the loser!  I should admit you’re right. Thinking seriously about it, no one can deny that smoking is a poison that destroys our health little by little. In fact, I’ m already suffering from its negative effects.

Karim ( putting his hand on Brahim’s shoulder): Well, since you’re aware of that, why don’t you try to give it up?
Brahim: I can’t. It’s impossible! I’m stuck!

Karim: It’s not impossible my friend. It may be difficult, but it’s certainly possible. You just need to want it hard enough and to have a strong will.

Kamal: Yes, I’m sure you can do it if you really want to.

Brahim: I’ll think about it. I’ll try to give up this deadly habit. Thank you for your advice. Wish me good luck, my friends.

Kamal: Good luck my friend.

Karim: Good luck.

Brahim: Thanks.