(A dull, uninteresting girl is standing in the middle of the stage. She should be wearing glasses and looking at a different focal point. She turns and notices the audience. She looks around furtively before looking at the audience.)

Have you ever had the element of surprise?

Probably not, very few people have been granted with that kind of talent. And those who do never grasp the chance to use their talent.

(Looks taken aback)

Of course the element of surprise is a talent! They’re hiding who they truly are! Anyone who can hide such a big item that well and surprise a good amount of people -- damn that’s a talent if I’ve ever seen one.

I had the element of surprise. I often do. I’m quiet, walking silently down the school hall, flitting past the obnoxious people, flying under the radar, fluttering,

Always silently of course. And therein lies my talent.

Who expects anything from a quiet person? You expect things from the plenty of people who wear their personalities on their sleeve. And often you make the mistake of thinking everyone wears their personalities on their sleeve. You think we’re quiet. All the time.

(Girl snorts and pushes up her glasses)

I’m fine with it. Gives me an edge over you people.

You expect loud, outgoing girls to be good performers. They live in the drama. The fame! The notoriety!

(Girl snorts again)

You don’t expect the quiet brunette with glasses who never gave you two words to give a powerful performance with a knock out voice.

But I did.

And they were surprised.

Like always.

The quiet girl who we’ve been protecting has come out of her shell! Oh, we must’ve helped her! What thanks she must give us!

(Snorts)

If you were ever silent for 24 hours, you would notice so much more than you do now. You could see the insulted face of the fluffy-haired kid as you broke off his conversation right in the middle of it. You could see the hurt on that silent girl’s face after you just hit her with a backhanded compliment.

(Sighs, looking older)

But you never do. You never will. And I’ve accepted it.

(Looks audience in the eye)

It doesn’t make it hurt less though.

(Shrugs and leaves)