MIKE: I’m stuffed. That’s what I like about leftovers they are even better the next day. I could eat turkey and all the fixings everyday.
MONICA: (looks at her husband)
MIKE: Well, you know what I mean, the event. Having people over, the decorations and everything.
MONICA: (keeps on looking at husband)
MIKE: What?
MONICA: (listing off on her fingers) Who prepares the meals? Calls the babysitters? Puts up the decorations? Cleans up after everybody (MIKE starts to interrupt with some “I help out” type of response but is interrupted by MONICA before he can say a word) while the boys watch football?
MIKE: What I mean is the Christmas atmosphere. Friends, family and fellowship. That type of thing.
MONICA: I know what you mean.(smugly)
MIKE: I mean really. We don’t have to just do those things at Christmastime/Thanksgiving.
MONICA: We don’t just do those things at Christmastime. (with a smirk) That’s what the other holidays and birthdays are for.
MIKE: Monica.
MONICA: I hear you, dear. Would you like some more coffee? (MIKE nods, MONICA gets more coffee) And I really enjoyed seeing my sister’s family this year.
MIKE: That’s what I’m talking about. This year. They only live across the county. We should have them over to go to church every once in awhile.
MONICA: (making her point) They go to church on Saturday.
MIKE: Exactly, they’d be able to join us then. Or we’d could go visit them at their church, on Saturday. (MONICA turns to give MIKE that “you’re kidding” look) What? Would that be such a bad thing?
MONICA: That’s just the point. (crossing over with coffee) I don’t want to confuse Brianna.
MIKE: (I surrender) I’m lost.
MONICA: It’s just that they do things different than we do. That ‘Saturday’ thing is just one instance. It is so important to them and they never miss the opportunity to tell you why. They are very vocal about their beliefs. (MIKE sips coffee, winces a bit, needs sugar) At their church, they don’t do things orderly like it says in the Bible.
MIKE: Orderly? Or the same order as we do it?
MONICA: (tries to look at MIKE, but can’t quite make eye contact) And they baptize infants.
MIKE: We dedicated ours.
MONICA: That’s not the same thing and you know it.
MIKE: True enough. What are you really concerned about, Monica? (adding sugar) Do you think that they aren’t really believers?
MONICA: (standing) No, I didn’t say that. I just wonder if they really have a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ.
MIKE: (turning in) Do we have a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ?
MONICA: Of course we do? Why do you ask such a question?
MIKE: What is that relationship based on? (while walking over to couch) Is it the church we go to? The songs we sing? What day of the week we go to church on? By the fact that we home school our children? How many times we sin during a week?
MONICA: No. (thinking)
MIKE: It’s based entirely on what Jesus did on that cross and our faith in him.
MONICA: (clarifying her thoughts) OK. It’s not that they don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s just that maybe they are not as close to him. (gets up to put coffee cup back on counter)
MIKE: (standing) Honey, how can you say that?
MONICA: I just don’t see how they can have a relationship with the same Jesus that we do and still come out with a different understanding.
MIKE: The same Jesus? They believe in the same one that we do. They believe that he died for our sins and rose again and that he is the only way to eternal life.
MONICA: And a bunch of other things.
MIKE: So do we.
MONICA: I love my sister and her lovely family. I’m sure that their church is somehow serving God’s purpose, but we are very different parts of Christ’s body. They are doing their thing and we are doing ours. It’s just that every time we start talking about our lives, church and Jesus comes up.
MIKE: And so it should.
MONICA: But so do the differences. And it says in the Bible that we should not be angry with each other and get into disputes about matters that are not central issues.
MIKE: Exactly. We are to love each other. That’s how they will know we are his.
MONICA: (a bit defensive) Are you implying that I’m the one who focuses on the differences.
MIKE: (Trying to figure out how he might put this cat back in the bag) Now . . .
MONICA: (crossing over to Brianna) Now, Brianna it’s time to go to bed.
BRIANNA: But, it’s only 8 ‘o clock.
MONICA: Brianna Renae.
BRIANNA: OK. (pause) Mommy, do you still love aunt Karen?
MONICA: (gives MIKE that “see what you started” look) Yes, honey, of course I do. I just love her at a distance.
BRIANNA: Oh. (turns to exit. MONICA rises with arms crossed, looking at MIKE. A small war just may break out here. BRIANNA stops, turns in.) Mommy.
MONICA: Yes, honey.
BRIANNA: What does “at a distance mean”?
MONICA: Well, it means that I love her. (tears welling up a bit, this hurts) It’s just that I don’t need to be around her all time.
BRIANNA: (innocent and not knowing better) Is that kinda like how Jesus loves us?
MONICA: (rushing over to BRIANNA and hugging her) No, no, honey. He loves us like I love you. Real close.
BRIANNA: Goodnight mommy. Goodnight daddy. (starts to go, thinks better and turns in, genuinely and innocently happy) Mommy and Daddy, I’m sure glad that you don’t love me “at a distance”.
(The tears come from both as MONICA and MIKE embrace with very understanding
smiles on their faces)
....................................................................................
© Eric Stapleton, 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: eric_the_nomad@netzero.net