What's better than Nutrigrain in the mornings?

A short skit for church use.

          

 

Scene: The Johnson household kitchen or dining room. Four chairs are placed around a table, which is set with 3 plates and a bowl. It is morning.

 

Characters:       Mom                          30-ish, warm and friendly.

                        Dad (Ryan Johnson)     Same age as Mom, dressed in a suit ready
                                    to go to work.

                        Emily Johnson             Age about 12, typical kid, with a good heart

                        Jennifer                      Emily’s friend, who stayed over last night while

                          they worked on a school project.

 

At opening, Mom is bringing a baking dish with cinnamon rolls to the table with hot pads and a spatula.

 

 

Mom	Breakfast!
Emily	(from offstage)Coming!
Dad	(enters) MMMM something smells good. Cinnamon rolls?
Mom	Yes, for the girls. You get oatmeal, dear.
Dad	Not even one?
Mom	Not even one. Oatmeal. For your cholesterol.
Dad	(Sighs) OK.
Emily	(entering, with Jennifer) Wow, Cinnamon rolls! Great!
Jennifer	Does your mom do this every day?
Emily	No, usually we just have cereal or a bagel, and stuff.
Jennifer	You’re lucky. All my mom ever does is stuff a Nutrigrain into my backpack on my way out the door.
Emily	Really?  That’s sad. My mom says breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Mom	It is. Here you go, girls. (smiles, hands them each a plate with a cinn roll)
Dad	(to Jennifer) Did you sleep well?
Jennifer	Yes thanks.
Dad	And did you get your project all finished?
Emily	Yup. And it’s great. We’ll get an A for sure!
Dad	Good for you!
Mom	(hugs Emily and goes to sit down, with cinnamon roll) You both worked hard. We’re proud of you.
Emily	(A little embarrassed now) Thanks.
Dad	All right, time for devotions. (Explaining to Jennifer) We have devotions every morning. It starts the day off right. Anyone have any prayer concerns?
Emily	Our project. And, I have a math test tomorrow.
Dad	Ok, prayers for school work and tests.
Mom	Your cholesterol, dear.
Emily	And don’t forget to pray for the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Dad	(to Jennifer) Do you have anything we can pray for?
Jennifer	(bites her lip, then quietly) Could you pray for my Grandma in Ohio? She’s been really sick.
Mom	Of course, dear. And for your whole family.
Dad	Now our verse for the day, is (reads from a devotion book, or a slip of paper which says) “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”- Ephesians 4:2
Mom	That’s a good reminder for all of us.
Dad	(smiles) Yes, it is. I definitely need the reminder when I go to work today. There’s some people there I don’t always want to “bear with.”
Emily	Yeah, I’m not always very patient. I guess we need to pray for that too.
Mom	5 minutes till the bus comes.
Dad	Let’s pray, OK? (as the family bows their heads, Jennifer follows a little more slowly)
	Dear Lord, You’ve heard our prayer requests.. Please guide and direct us today, help us to be patient and bear with others in love as You showed us. Bless the girls at school today, and help them to learn as much as they can. Thank you for the soldiers who serve and protect our country, and may they be protected by Your loving hand. Put your healing touch on Jennifer’s Grandmother and all those in need of healing. Bless us all, in Jesus’ name.
All	Amen.
Mom	Ok, finish up your cinnamon rolls and juice. The bus will be here any minute now.
Jennifer	Can I come and stay over again tonight?
Mom	Do you have another project to work on, dear?
Jennifer	Um, no. Just … .well, if I can’t stay overnight, could I come for breakfast?
Emily	Yeah, you could make cinnamon rolls again, Mom!
Mom	I can’t promise that…
Jennifer	It’s all right, Mrs. Johnson. You don’t need to make anything special. It’s just �" well, I liked, you know, the devotions.
Mom	I’m glad, dear. You know, breakfast may be the most important MEAL of the day, but devotions is the most important PART of the day.
Dad	Amen to that!
Emily	Oh, look! There’s the bus! Hurry! (both girls run off stage)
Mom	And PS, Lord… may Ryan’s cholesterol go down, so that we can have many more happy years together.
Dad	(Sheepishly, as he hugs mom)  Amen.

 

Reviews

[D.J. Lutz]

I liked this very much. The point isn't pushed too hard, but it evident. Excellent character development (in so few words, too) of Jennifer. I can see this as a mini-production at any church.

[Ruth Carter]

Short, sweet and to the point. This is a good use of words. One of the things I've been trying to learn is word economy while maintaining strong writing. I think you've got a handle on that.