the mediocre brain

The Mediocre Brain—a Repeat (2003)

The following is a rerun for Public Health students who have seen the Brain Monologues (we also had the Superior and Lobotomized brains) some years back…

ACT 1

I just came from our analchem exam. As usual, I finished just before the long 2-hour period expired. The exam was really tough I found myself crying as I answered the questions. Where did all I reviewed weeks before the exam go? When the professor saw me in tears, he gave me an odd look then I started laughing…tears of joy? Naah, I cried and laughed at the same time, quite uncertain what I really felt. The other students in the room got the biggest scare of their lives as they witnessed this brain actually going nuts! Well, that’s just a day in the life of me…the mediocre brain.

ACT 2

’know what, I’m really feeling a bit off. I feel unusually bad these past few days…but I guess, you won’t even be half-interested to know why simply because I’m just a mediocre brain and obviously you’re not…or, it could be that you’re just one of those who refuse to believe you might in fact, be one. I’m not really like this, I mean, I don’t give a hoot about what other brains say about me being so ordinary, second-rate, middling, giftless...and they could go on with their offending slurs…You non-mediocre brains must be saying, “Sorry, ‘di tayo magkalevel.”

ACT 3

I remember seeing this film, which again, wasn’t something that would have fascinated you thinking that Mediocre Brain got to see it…e ano naman? For all I care! I may just be the mediocre brain, but this is my moment (full of pride), my share of 15-minutes of fame…I’ll say the things I want to say even if it bores the underworld out of you (hmph!). As I was saying—the movie I saw, it was called “Dream of an Insomniac” Silly title you must think. How can an insomniac have a dream, when he doesn’t even get a wink and manage to land first stage REM. Whew! Was that I? Who’s this mediocre brain talking about REM? Anyway, one line from this “uninteresting” film went—“Anything less than mad passion and extraordinary love is a waste of time…there are TOO MANY MEDIOCRE THINGS IN LIFE AND LOVE SHOULDN’T BE ONE OF THEM.”…(pause, stares audience blank) That did it! It was the last straw which broke the…how’s that again? Horse, camel? Cowhead? Basta, yun na yun, nagalit na ako! What insolence! (surprised by her choice of word) How could it DISSOCIATE mediocrity, that is, me, the mediocre brain, with the most beautiful (slightly lightens up…) thing called love (nyerks—author)…

ACT 4

Probably what this mediocre brain is trying to say is that, my mediocrity does not, in any way, give you the license to haul off my ability to love…yaak (this is not me, I’m not soppy, I’m not!) It was just hurtful that people think that mediocrity is all too bad. It wasn’t my fault if I was meant to be ordinary, but having me is better than having no brain at all…(starts to sound sinister) Without me, you…are…brain-dead! (mirthless nyahaha)I may be mediocre—ordinary, unexceptional, decently normal, but I am not faulty nor am I out of order…I’m capable of performing the same things superior brains do, they only do it with more brilliance and pizzazz. Now, I must be speaking on behalf of all brains when I say that—it must be unfair when people give credit to the heart for the wonderful emotions they experience when in truth, mediocre as I am, I know that it is us, brains, our hypothalamus in particular—the seat of emotions—which is really responsible for the breathtaking feeling of happiness, bliss, of loving and being loved (I can’t believe I wrote this—author)…Then there’s nothing wrong when someone claims…”I love thee with all of mine mediocre hypothalamee!) How unfair can things be then when someone falls for the wrong person and people say…”di mo kasi ginamit yang utak mo!” You heard them, you love with your brain, mediocre or not.

FINAL ACT

I am a brain and I may just be mediocre. I hope you do realize that we have our limitations. These are here not to hamper us, you see. Intellect doesn’t make you, there is more to you than proving your superior intellect to others. There’s such a thing called attitude—A-attitude! A great positive attitude may well compensate for what we mediocre brains lack in capacity and power. I realize you are students form the college of Public Health right? Don’t sweat when things don’t go your way acads-wise. Many are willing to die to get to number one: “Magpapakadiyosa ko and I will lord over the rings of PH!” However, not everyone’s destined for greatness. But try thinking about what tito Morrie once said—is there anything wrong with being number two?(LIGHTS dim)

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