Sara's Easter Gift

By Glenn A. Hascall (adapted from an original story by Ida Mae Kemple entitled "What was in Jeremy's Egg" a story that was originally published by Nascent Press.

Summary

A very sick girl teaches her classmates about God's best gift.

Cast

Narrator
Miss Johnson (Teacher)
Sara and no less than four
4+ other students - use more if available.

Script

(Children enter and sit at desks)

(Class sings a cappella - Jesus loves the Little Children - all except Sara)

Narrator: Miss Johnson's class had begun for a new day, but it was one little girl named Sara that caused Miss Johnson the most concern.

Miss Johnson: Good morning class, please take your math books and begin with worksheet 17.

(Miss Johnson takes a seat and two children begin talking)

Reece: I don't know why Sara even comes to school.

Ethan: Yea, she's just so stupid...

Arthur: I don't think she even heard Miss Johnson, just look at her sitting there.

Jessica: She ought'a just stay home.

Narrator: Sara heard her classmates and even though she didn't say anything or even look at them, their words hurt her badly. She didn't choose to be slow, she didn't wake up one morning and ask to be sick. But she was. The doctors said that one day she would go to be with Jesus, until then, the medicines that helped her bear the pain also made it hard to participate in class. And Sara really wanted to participate.

Kelsey: I don't know why they don't just put her in a special school.

Danielle: Or better yet, just keep her at home.

Raymond: She just slows the rest of us down.

Phillip: Why can't she be like the rest of us.

Narrator: But Sara was not like everybody else. She tried so hard, but her movements were stiff and her mind couldn't seem to make her body do what it needed to do.

Miss Johnson even had difficulty knowing just what to do to help Sara, but was surprised one morning when Sara walked awkwardly to her teacher's desk and said...

Sara: (slowly) I love you Miss Johnson.

Miss Johnson: (with emotion) I love you too, Sara.

Alan: Did you hear that, Sara spoke!

Amanda: I don't think I've ever heard her speak before.

Alex: I didn't think that she could.

Katie: Me either.

Miss Johnson: Settle down class. As you know Easter is coming up this weekend and tomorrow I want you to bring those plastic eggs that I sent home with you last week. Inside the egg should be something that shows new life. Easter happens in spring when grass begins to grow. So, remember your egg should contain something that shows new life.

Class: (Speaks to each other excitedly)

Miss Johnson: We'll see you all tomorrow.

(Class leaves as narrator speaks)

Narrator: The children went home keeping secret what they would have in their eggs. The next day, children took turns placing their egg inside a basket Miss Johnson had brought for the occasion.

Narrator: As Sara placed her egg in the basket, Miss Johnson remembered that she had forgotten to call Sara's parents to tell them about the egg project and was concerned about what she would find in the little girl's egg, but it was too late - there was nothing she could do about it now.

Miss Johnson: Let's take a look at the eggs that you all brought today.

Class: (Murmurs excitedly)

Miss Johnson: (Opening the first egg) why look it is a flower - that certainly shows new life doesn't it?

Paris: I picked it just this morning Miss Johnson.

Miss Johnson: New flowers poke through the ground each year and they are true signs of new life. Let's look at our next egg. (Opening egg # 2)

Dylan: That's my egg, Miss Johnson.

Miss Johnson: Why look it is a plastic butterfly. We learned about the butterfly in science didn't we?

Elizabeth: They start out as a caterpillar, don't they?

Miss Johnson: That's right. And then they change into a...

Class interrupts: (together) butterfly. (Laughter).

Miss Johnson: Very good class. Now how about this one (Opening a new egg). Why here is a rock.

Arthur: My dad helped me with that one.

Miss Johnson: So how does the rock show new life?

Arthur: See the moss?

Miss Johnson: So, even on a hard rock life can grow. All right, let's take a look at this egg (opens and looks embarrassed then sets the egg aside).

Sara: Don't you like my egg.

Miss Johnson: But honey - your egg is empty.

(Class giggles)

Sara: (determined) I know, but Jesus tomb was empty. That's what you told us.

Miss Johnson: (very compassionate) and why was the tomb empty Sara?

Sara: Jesus was killed and that's where they put Him. Then His Father brought Him back to life and He went to Heaven.

Miss Johnson: (Smiling, but emotional) Very good, Sara, very good.

Narrator: Just then the school bell rang and the children went outside to play. (Children leave) From that day on, her classmates treated Sara differently, and Sara enjoyed school. But, as time went on Sara got much weaker. She stopped coming to school. Some of her classmates would visit her. Then Miss Johnson received a note that she read to her class.

Miss Johnson: Dear Miss Johnson, Thank you for loving Sara. We will always be grateful that you were our only child's teacher this year. It was clear to us that Sara loved you. Last night Sara went to be with Jesus, we wanted to let you know that you and your class helped take her mind off of her pain. We miss our little girl already, but want to thank you and the children in your class for seeing more in her than most people ever took the time to see.

(Miss Johnson continues looking at the paper)

Kelsey: Miss Johnson can we give Sara one last gift.

Miss Johnson: What do you mean?

(Kelsey takes her egg and removes the contents, puts the egg back together and places the egg back in the basket - the other children watch and each one does the same.)

..........................................

Copyright Glenn Hascall, all rights reserved. This script may be used free of charge, provided no
charge is made for entry. In return, the author would appreciate being notified of any
performance. He may be contacted at glenn.hascall<a>gmail.com