Soybeef

By Sierra Blanco

Veronica is a well meaning woman who just wants the best for everyone. She is determined to

remain optimistic and maintain her sense of normalcy during the pandemic, despite the many

obstacles. She dreams of having a life like she sees in the movies with the tight knit suburban

neighborhood where she can make artsy tie-dye scarves and talk about the mysterious new

postman. Unfortunately, she currently lives alone in the city. She's a bit of a dreamer, but

uncertain of herself in her current urban and tumultuous setting. During quarantine, she has

somewhat lost her mind and is overly enthusiastic for any kind of human interaction. She

ordered 25 pounds of vegan meat to offer her newer neighbors as an excuse for conversation and

contact. She has hauled the 25 pound box to her neighbors door as a conversation starter. While

doing this monologue, she hears mumbles through the door.

Veronica:

Hello?

(the door's peephole opens)

You ordered twenty-five pounds of soy-beef? Well, for some reason they delivered it to me? No,

I don’t know why. I mean, apartment 2, apartment 14, kinda hard to mistake the numbers.

Anyway, everyone here has been meaning to do a housewarming party for you, but then this

whole COVID thing happened, and then this, so I figured now might be as good a time as any to

introduce myself? I’m Veronica by the way, apartment number 14? But you knew that. So…

how are you holding up with the virus? Cooking a lot of vegan burgers or… (Apt 2 did not order

the soy-beef)

You didn’t? Well, that’s unusual. I mean gosh, I wonder how that happened? It’s a bit of a

shame, though, if all this delicious faux meat goes to waste. Ya know, I also, well maybe not

also, share a passion for vegan cooking. What should we do with it all? Are you Vegan?

Vegetarian perhaps?

(Apt 2 isn't vegan)

Well, I guess I can just congratulate you on the new apartment? Although technically it’s been

four months but better late than never. Shall we cook up a burger?

(you can keep the soy-beef)

Oh really? Well, um, thank you! I'll send a pot of chili your way! Nice meeting (peephole closes)

Soybeef - Sierra Blanco