Short Dramas and Plays

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Violets and Roses
An original skit
By: Richard Adams

The Scene

George Brown is a somewhat paunchy and ill kept middle aged man; he stands by the sink of his compact Galley style kitchen whistling a happy tune while rinsing out a tall frosted glass. He has on his favorite Sunday outfit; an orange and black tiger striped XXXX Bengal’s jersey with the words WHO DEY across the front and knee length Kentucky Blue and white shorts with the letters UK on his left hip. Worn black slip-on sneakers help balance his frail chicken legs that appear too sticklike to support such a bulging upper torso. There is a feeling of anticipation in the air as George shuffles around the 4’X 6’ floor between the counter top and the range; busily getting out the necessities for a healthy dose of Pop Corn and peanut butter and jelly, a tall diet Pepsi on ice and who knows what for dessert.

He takes a moment to peek through the cut-out window above the sink, checking on something happening in the adjoining living room where the TV announcer is introducing the defensive line for the Cincinnati Bengal’s; George does a little “mock” goal line jig as he hums joyfully; he slaps the “Lazy-Suzan” below the counter top, spin-dialing a package of Orville Redenbacher’s Movie House Buttered Popcorn. Ripping open the cellophane to get at the prepackaged popcorn George stands in front of the microwave reading the instructions off the bag, for the ten thousandth time. He gently places the bag in the proper position and slams the door shut.

Shifting his attention toward the camera, he nonchalantly drops his head slightly to peer over the top of his dark rimmed reading glasses, precariously perched above his button nose, which is dutifully upheld by a rather neglected silvery mustache.

I bet you are wonder why I’m so happy today, with a sheepish grin, and a somewhat refined southern accent, he lets his glasses slip down, dangling from the tacky blue and white eyeglass support around his neck. You think it’s that the boys are going kick the ’pig’ out of the Browns today, well you’re wrong. Without emotion he leans back against the counter to watch his popcorn spin around inside the microwave.
It’s not that at all, but I’ll tell you why; it’s because I’m SO BLESSED! Yes sir, BLESSED BY GOD! AMEN! as he raises his hand up toward Heaven and bows his head momentarily.

Let me tell you all about it, you’ve got time and that game will be going on for quite a while yet.

Well, its been over twenty years now, no….its been almost twenty FIVE years, PRAISE THE LORD, since me and Violet first got together, yes sir. Twenty five years, my-oh-my. Back in those days things were a lot tougher, you know what I mean. I didn’t have a very good job so I didn’t have a lot. But I saved up some money and got a really nice couch, still got it! It was at that same time I found Violet, and we had something special, and PRAISE THE LORD we STILL DO! She is ALL CLASS, you know what I mean; she’s just too good for me.

Why we’ve gone through everything together, and Violet never did anything but support me in whatever I tried to do.

Well, a little while ago I started noticing Violet’s been kind of fading out on me, now don’t misunderstand me she’s still my greatest supporter, but it’s been kind of different and I’ve changed too, I’m getting older and a little grumpy sometimes. So I went out one day to go see if I could find something to bring a spark back into our relationship! I thought about flowers and thought I could bring home a puppy maybe, or some kind of new furniture, and I ended up at that “VC Boutique” place you know; Value City!
I wondered around in there for hours, looking here and there and picking up this and that, when out a NOWHERE something I never expected happened! I wasn’t LOOKING for it to happen, I’m not like that at all but, there she was! I watched as different folks would go over where she was; I couldn’t take my eyes off her, I felt so ….ashamed! But at the same time there was something telling me it was OK, so I got up my nerve and made my way over to her. I sat down there by her and started up a little small talk. Pretty soon we were closer together, and before I knew what happened she was right there NEXT to me!

Her name is Rosie; she’s a little smaller than Violet, but FIRM, soft and pretty; lord she’s pretty! I just couldn’t help myself. I was just POWERLESS, and totally overcome by infatuation I guess! We left the store together and I don’t know what made me do it but I snuck her into the house and told her stay there on the chair downstairs while I went to see Violet.

“When I went up stairs Violet was where she always is, with the day soap’s blasting on the TV she was just waiting for me to pull her close and snuggle for a while, so I did. Eventually, I told Violet to stay put, I had something I wanted to bring up stairs for her, and I ran down and got Rosie and brought her up. “LOOK, I said with Rosie by my side, you think it would be OK if she stays?”

“I could barely believe it, I sat Rosie down right here next to Violet on the couch and they snuggled right up with each other! Now, wouldn’t you say I’m BLESSED! Yes, I SURE WOULD!”

“Now, as soon as I get this snack ready, we’ll go out there and watch the game. I’ll have Violet and Rosie right there beside me, and everything will just be PERFECT!”

George skips across the floor to the “frig” and slams his glass under the ice maker. A loud grumble breaks though the silence of the room as the machine inside pops and snaps a crispy block of ice into bits that jingle into his glass, next comes the cold diet Pepsi and he’s on his way to the living room humming that same happy little tune as he hurriedly sets the tray with a huge bowl of popcorn and “PBJ’s” on the coffee table.

The camera swings around between the TV and the couch to reveal Violet and Rosie patiently waiting there for George. He flops himself down right between them.

Violet is clearly older and quite a bit more refined, classy like George said, well formed but slightly wrinkled and definitely faded, though still a deeply rich Violet; missing a few buttons and some of her tassels but the aged satin piping that holds her ruffled fluting is still in great shape; a fine specimen from the 80’s; a wonderful pillow.

Rosie on the other hand is voluptuous, firm and perfectly rounded but definitely smaller than Violet. Her gathered bunches of rich Rose Red velvet encircle the deep red button in her gathered center, that’s why they named her Rosie I’ m sure; the perfect compliment for a classy Violet.

George draws them close to him; with one on each side he takes his Bible from the lamp stand and opens it to read his favorite verse, Hebrews 11: 1 “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
George looks up to heaven, someday Lord, you’ll send her, won’t you?

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