Drama

by

Renea Smith

Central Territory

“Let the Party Begin”

Cast: Doreen—a woman about to hold a neighborhood tea party. She wears a coat and carries a purse.

Sue—owner of a bakery. She wears an apron and carries a clipboard with papers attached.

Props: A conference table, telephone, several bakery boxes and a cash box.

Setting: Sue is working at the counter, taking phone orders. Doreen enters the bakery as if she is in a hurry or excited.

Sue—Let me make sure that I have this right. You want a chocolate sheet cake with yellow frosting, no flowers. It should have a bunch of carpenter tools on the top and the words, “Happy First Construction Day.” (Sue sees Doreen and motions that it will be just one minute.) Okay, the cake will be ready by four o’clock on Wednesday. Thank you for shopping at Sue’s. (She addresses Doreen.) Hi, can I help you?

Doreen—Oh, yes. I ordered some iced sugar cookies for a tea party I’m having. The name is Reinholder.

Sue—(Begins looking through her orders. She finds the order slip.) Here it is. (She picks up a box, frowns and then brings it to Doreen with a sheepish expression.) Perhaps you’d better check this. I don’t remember taking the order. Do you know who you talked to

when you called in your order?

Doreen—I think he said his name was Joe. I wasn’t sure he understood me because I had to repeat it to him a couple of times. I thought maybe he was deaf.

Sue—No, he’s not deaf. He was probably listening to the ball game at the same time. Joe’s my husband and he was here under duress. He had a choice, either work here that Saturday or go with me to my cousin’s wedding. Maybe you’d better look at these and make sure you’re getting what you ordered.

Doreen—(She takes the box, opening it so that the lid hides what is inside from the audience.) Yes, that’s what I wanted—sugar cookies with bright purple frosting, red roses and lime green stems. Aren’t they beautiful?

Sue—Well, I … (Sue is not sure what to say since she thinks they’re ugly.) I’m glad that you are getting what you wanted. That will be twelve dollars.You must be having some kind of party.

Doreen—Oh, I am. My friend, Betty, and I … well, we’re having a tea party. We’ve invited some of our women neighbors. We’ve polished the silver tea service and bought some gourmet teas. It’s going to be wonderful!

Sue—Sounds like it. (Pulls out a cash box and puts the money in it.)

Doreen—Our tea party is a dress up affair. Everyone is to wear a hat. We decided we’ll have it in the garden. That’s why I wanted roses on the cookies and purple is my favorite color. Iadded the lime green for pizzazz!

Sue—I’m sure your guest will enjoy it.

Doreen—I think so. Yesterday, we set up the garden and put streamers from the house to the trees in the yard.

Sue—Hey, I think I passed your house. I was two blocks away, coming down the street in front of the store, when I saw a woman hanging upside down from an oak tree with a whitestreamer in her hand.

Doreen—Oh, that was Betty. She insisted on putting some of the streamers high in the tree. She thought they’d draw attention to the party and we do want our neighbors to come.

Sue—So you only live a couple of blocks from here?

Doreen—Yes. Hey, that means you’re our neighbor too.

Sue—(A little uneasily.) I guess so.

Doreen—Then, you could come to our party. What do you think? It’s going to be so much fun. Betty’s going to demonstrate Tae Bo. You know she’s lost forty pounds punching her fists into the air.

Sue—What are you celebrating?

Doreen—Life! Isn’t it great? Betty and I thought having a neighborhood tea party would be a good way to get to know the women around us. You know there’s nothing like a party to bring people together. Especially if you have good food!

Sue—So, you’re celebrating life?

Doreen—Yes, life and the One who gives it. He brought Betty and I together. God has given us both so much. We are blessed and we want to share it with other people.

Sue—Whatever gave you and Betty the idea to do this?

Doreen—Oh, we talked about it in the women’s group that we attend.

Sue—What kind of women’s group?

Doreen—Well, actually there are all kinds. I go to a women’s Bible study on Mondays, an aerobics group on Wednesdays and Fridays. Betty goes to the same Bible study, but she attends Tae Bo on Monday and Tuesday evenings. The Salvation Army sponsors all

of the groups. All of us decided to have a couple of parties for our neighbors this month.

Sue—I don’t get it. Why?

Doreen—Because we want God to work through us. We want to be a part of something important—reaching out and meeting new people. There are so many women who feel isolated and alone. Some don’t even know that God loves and cares about them. I want to be the one who tells them. Besides, don’t you ever just feel the need to connect with  someone who has the same interests you have—who is interesting to talk with and fun to be around—someone who helps you grow and learn how to be a better person than you are now?

Sue—I never thought about it. Most of the time I’m at home or here at the bakery. I never thought of being a part of anything else. I used to attend church, but I don’t go much  anymore. I guess I haven’t thought much about God loving me in a long time. You really

think He does? Love me, I mean?

Doreen—Yes, He definitely loves you!

Sue—How many women do you think will come to this tea party?

Doreen—We’re hoping for eight or ten. Do you want to come?

Sue—You know, I think I would like to. Can I bring something, maybe some cinnamon tea biscuits?

Doreen—Oh! I never thought of that. Do you think they could be purple?