By Heather Adams
A young woman discovers the Fruit of the Spirit have to be lived out in daily experience.
Kathy (a young woman)
Elderly man
(Scene: Kathy, a young woman, sits on a park bench. She holds a paper, which she has been studying. She is determined and serious about her task.)
Kathy: (reciting to herself)Love, patience, peace, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, goodness, self-control and...and...(looks at her paper)...joy. (thoughtfully) Joy. Figures I forgot that one: it's been so long since I felt that way!
(She sighs, and returns to her paper. An old man enters. He slowly makes his way to Kathy's bench. He has an air of lonliness about him.)
Kathy: (reciting again) Love, peace...
Man: (interrupting her with an overly loud voice)Excuse me, young lady, is anyone sitting here?
Kathy: (looks at the bench, then the man, joking) No one besides me. (goes back to her memorizing)
Man: (doesn't get the joke) I see.(pauses, uncertain)So you wouldn't mind if I sit down here?
Kathy: (distracted) Not at all.
(The man tries to sit, but has trouble. Kathy almost drops her paper, but holds on to it as she helps him sit. She is starting to get annoyed at the interruption, but still tries to be polite.)
Man: (as he settles in) It's good of you to help me.
Kathy: (quickly smiles, then determined) Love, peace, goodness...
Man: Quite a day, don't you think?
Kathy: (more annoyed) PATIENCE, SELF-CONTROL...
Man: (oblivious) Reminds me of summer days as a boy flying kites in the park near my house.
(Kathy stops, and looks at her paper, taking a deep breath)
Man: (after a moment) That's where I met my sweet Kathy.
Kathy: (amused, in spite of herself) Kathy? That's my name.
Man: (lost in his memories) What a wonderful girl. I knew the moment I met her that she was the one for me.
Kathy: Really? How?
Man: Something in her eyes, or the way she smiled. She was beautiful: I mean in here, (indicates his heart) you know. (pauses, embarrassed) Listen to me: I sound like an old record.
Kathy: You sound sweet. The two of you must be very happy.
Man: (wistful) We were.
Kathy: (realizes what he said, is a little chagrined) Oh, I'm sorry.
(As the man talks, she unconsciously puts down her paper, caught up in his reverie.)
Man: Fifty-two years of happy: I shouldn't complain. We did everything together. Raised four children and three dogs with no money. Even built our own house: and she was right there pounding nails with me. But that's just the way she was.
Kathy: She sounds very special.
Man: A treasure. These summer days make me remember how much I miss her. (sees her paper as if for the first time) But I'm keeping you from your reading.
(Kathy looks down, realizes she's put her paper down)
Man: I think I'll just be getting along: find someone else to bother.
Kathy: (disappointed) Oh: please stay.
Man: (starts to get up) No, no, I won't wear out my welcome.
Kathy: (more insistent) No, really: I'm enjoying this. (he looks at her, wondering, and sits back down) My love life hasn't been too terrific lately. It's nice to hear that there are still happy endings.
Man: You're too young yet to give up hope: and too nice. (he gets up, helped by Kathy) You remind me just a bit of my wife, you know.
Kathy: I do? How?
Man: You listened to me ramble on. I used to drive her crazy with all my stories, but she always listened. (Kathy laughs, he smiles) Sure was nice to talk about my Kathy again, though. Always makes me feel better. Thank you, young lady.
(He starts to go on his way. Kathy reaches down for her paper. He stops and turns back to her.)
Man: Say, what's on that paper of yours, anyway?
Kathy: (looks at it for a moment) Oh, just a...list of things I want to do.
Man: Well, I hope you get all of them done. Goodbye, Kathy.
Kathy: Goodbye. (She looks at her paper,mutters) All of them? Maybe.
(She looks after the man again, catches him before he is gone)
Kathy: Wait! (he stops) Do you come this way a lot?
Man: Often enough, I suppose.
Kathy: Maybe I'll see you here again sometime.
Man: Maybe you will. (he tips his hat, and exits)
(Kathy watches him go. After a moment she sits and picks up her paper to read it again.)
Kathy: Now, where was I? Love, patience, peace, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness (with growing confidence), goodness, self-control and...(with a small smile)...joy.
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© Heather Adams 1998
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.
She may be contacted at: hadams63@yahoo.com