By Warren Judkins
Two temple guards discuss the signifance of the arrival of Mary and Joseph to present their baby.
Two temple guards (A is slightly more colourful, B a little more reverent)
A: There you are... welcome back! How did you get off Temple duty?
B: Believe me, I wasn't trying! Had a prang.
A: Ooo - nasty.
B: Yup, but the other guy's worse off - he had an import. Llama, or something.
A: Write off?
B: No, but a couple of flat hooves and boy, was he spitting.
A: Well, you missed a beauty. Should have seen who we had here in the Temple.
B: Who?
A: This young couple, all gooey over their firstborn.
B: What's so unusual about that? Get those all the time. Makes me ill, all that mushy stuff.
A: What was different was, you know those two old cranks who always wander around in here.
B: Yeah, I know them, but be a bit nice - they may be a little nutty, but they're God-fearing folk. And didn't anyone ever tell you to respect your elders?
A: Yes, and I'm older than you, so watch it, baby-face!
B: Oh.
A: Anyway, these ... ahem, dear people (glare)... started spouting off about the little tyke, as if he were the greatest thing since unleavened bread.
B: That good, huh.
A: yeah. Ol' Simeon even said, 'This is it!'
B: What, you mean his time had come!?
A: Actually, that's more or less what he did say.
B: Go on!
A: Na, he said, 'let your servant depart in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation'.
B: Simeon said that about this baby?
A: Yup.
B: Some baby!
A: What do you make of it?
B: Donor kebabs, mostly.
A: Not the pita bread, you unleavened Levite ... the baby!
B: (is thoughtful for a while) Simeon was always hanging out for - for the birth of the Saviour. (They look at each other silently for a moment.)
A: (shakes his head curiously) Naa ... (B nods frantically, A nods too) Yeahh...!
B: The Messiah!
A: The promised One.
B: That changes things around here a bit, doesn't it.
A: What do you mean?
B: When he grows up and comes here...
A: ...God's house ...
B: ...it'll seem a bit like... home, if you know what I mean. And isn't it going to be a bit strange, praying to heaven when this Saviour's right here with us?
A: Come on, it's not like this kid's God or anything.
B: (laughs shallowly) Yeah... naa... yeah...naa...well (sobers) ... maybe. Yeah! (they look at each other wide-eyed)
A: God, here on earth? (At length, turning to exit) Well, this changes things...
Narrator: (as they cross stage) And the word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only son of the Father.
A: (exiting) What did the little fella look like?
B: Beautiful, he had the cutest nose...
A: Yeah?!....
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© Warren Judkins
All rights reserved
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that copies are
not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged.
In exchange for free performance, the author would appreciate being notified
of when and for what purpose the play is performed.
He may be contacted at: jd@middleton.school.nz