Short Dramas and Plays

The Demons Annual Ping Pong Tournament

by Terry Barlow
07/20/19
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Narrator announces the following: “Wanted: an ample supply of ping pong balls for the coming tournament. Can you imagine Wimbledon not being well stocked with tennis balls or the world series without a like supply of baseballs? Of course not.

Well, the demons from hell are holding their annual perennial ping pong tournament and they don’t want to run short of ping pong balls. That would be tantamount to running out of wine at a wedding. As the best wine is saved for last, so the highest quality ping pong balls are typically saved till the end. The most battered and dented are laid aside in favor of the newest ones, fresh out of the box.

Oh, in case you didn’t know, the demons’ ping pong balls are actually the minds of immature believers whatever their age.”

Two figures representing demon spirits with ping pong paddles are batting the mind of a weary believer back in forth in a spacious room. As he approaches one figure with a paddle the one behind him is asking, “Have you ever wondered what Pastor Barnes really thinks of you?”

As the other figure swats at him he begins traveling back in the direction from which he came as the other figure now behind him states, “You know social security is pretty shakey and could be depleted soon.”

As he is batted back toward the other demon player again he hears behind him a voice asking, “You know you’ve been forgetting important things lately, what would happen if you forgot all your pin numbers and your social security number?”

Another swipe from the paddle sends him back in the opposite direction again with an unrelated query, “I wonder what that persistent pain in your side means, better get it checked.”

Finally the believer rebels, halting and crying out, “No, stop, enough of this, I’m quitting this tournament! I’ve been batted and battered more than I can stand! (The demons are staring in wide-eyed amazement at him and each other.)

“I’m going to start filling my mind with something different. (Holds up a Bible. The demons block their eyes unable to look at it.)

“Like what’s in this book for example.” (Flips it open spontaneously to the Psalms and proclaims out loud.) “Keep me O God, for in you I have found refuge, in You I will put my trust.” (The demons plug their ears from hearing the unbearable and the unbeatable.)

” I need a change of focus…….no, I need a focus period. I have no focus….and I need to confess, I haven’t had one for a long time. None except myself that is……..”

(At this point the two demons come together and face the audience. One says, “This is serious situation. As you can see we have no ping pong ball. But our tournament must go on….so would you like to provide a fresh mind for our next ball? Can we use your mind (looking intently at someone in the audience) You can think out of the box....." (chuckle chuckle)

(After an uncomfortable pause the other demon asks someone else in the audience) “Can we use your mind, please…..I’m asking you very politely…….”