By Jon Crawford
“This group interpretation is based of a true story, a story of a boy named Benjamin who was born with congenital hemophilia and then contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion,” announced OHS principal Ed Jodlowski before the Group Interpretation performance by members of the OHS Speech team.
Benjamin had a hobby of coloring. He liked to draw and “go into his own world,” As the story progressed, the colors in his pictures begin to change with his mood.
As Benjamin goes through life, he progressively gets worse. When he gets a cut or scratch, he is unable to stop bleeding because he doesn’t have the right stuff in his blood to help it clot.
The doctors told Benjamin's parents there was nothing to worry about. After a couple more visits, their viewpoints on the whole situation started to change and they started to realize that Benjamin's health situation was more serious when they thought.
Freshman Ethan Schopp, the actor playing the role of Benjamin, said, “This performance was very emotional since it was based on a true story. Even though it had a sad ending, he had a calm death and I believe this is suppose to represent hope.”
Benjamin grows up but not like a normal kid. When people start to find out that he had AIDS, they don’t want to come around him in fear of also getting infected. Benjamin could no longer play with his friends.
Benjamin sees himself as a yellow boat because it is the one that doesn’t go home but rather sails to the sun. Benjamin says at the end, “I see red. I hear blue. I feel purple. I taste green.” The last drawing, the captain decides that it is time to set sail for the sun.
In 1987, Benjamin died at the age of 8 due to AIDS- related complications. His drawings represent hope.
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