Hi, everyone. This is theme #1 of a 5-skit ebook that I will be doing. The topic is something positive & hopeful.
Here are the characters.
1) Woodford Branch
2) Winford Branch (Woodford's younger brother)
3) Kelly Branch (Woodford's daughter & only child)
4) Millicent (Millie) Branch (Woodford's wife)
5) Freddie Lynne Lowe Branch (Winford's wife)
6) Taupe' Branch (Winford's son)
Title:
PATIENCE FOR THE PRIZE
Woodford:
(Wakes up, rolls out of bed & then stretches & yawns. Speaking in his STRONG, country Mississippi accent)
Baby, do you smell that?
Millie: Smell what? I can't smell. You know ain't nobody in this house got the nose of a bloodhound, like you do!
Woodford: Baby, I KNOW you smell that!
Millie: Smell what? (Shrugs shoulders)
Woodford: Dang, it girl! Well, go walk into the kitchen & smell for yourself.
Millie: I sho' ain't got time for no mess this morning.
(She mumbles, "Lemme see what this dude's talking about".)
It smells like something is BURNING!
Taupe', is that you burning something?
Taupe': Ahahahaha! I got'cha. No, ain't nothing burning, Aunt Millie. I made this prank spray to make you THINK the kitchen was on fire!
Millie: Boy don't play with us like that. I almost had a heart attack!
Taupe' wants to run a business, making prank sprays, such as smoke smells, fart smells, chitterling smells, etc. Anything that will gross you out. He's only 14. Woodford doesn't think that's a good idea.
Woodford: (Folds his arms)
I got a better idea. Why try to run a business that upsets people & gets you into trouble, when you can do something meaningful, productive & worthwhile?
Taupe': Like what?
Woodford: I see, cats like you don't enjoy working. Do something old-fashioned, like washing cars, cutting grass or cleaning windows.
Kelly: (Runs into the kitchen)
Ooh, daddy. I want to sew clothes by hand, style hair, weave baskets or grow a garden. How about all 4?
Winford: Hehehe! Kelly's always been the Jill of all trades. Pick one.
Woodford: Get your son. He's talking about wanting to start a business, pranking people with bad smells.
Taupe' chuckles in the background.
Winford: Son, the way police are nowadays, & as many Karen's & Daren's out there. That's not a good idea. Nor is it safe. It's the worst out here for us Black folks. You don't wanna be the next victim of police brutality. Now, listen to your uncle.
Taupe': But it's better than trying to be the next Tik Tok star or rapper!
Freddie Lynne: You don't get it! Do you, boy? Do you? We didn't raise you to play pranks, be a Tik Tok star OR be a rapper! We're raising you to be a productive spotlight in this dying generation. We have to be separate from the world. God is sifting the wheat from the tares.
Woodford: Ooh! That's right, Freddie Lynne. Tell him.
Taupe': I have an even better idea. Let's start an interactive after school nonprofit organization where teens can do jobs, such as weaving baskets, sewing clothes, cutting grass, cutting & styling hair, growing a garden, etc. Bring people back to the old days. Now, I know NOTHING about the old days. Only what y'all have told me.
Winford: Oh, I see. You want to combine everything. That DOES sound like a better idea than starting a business, selling offensive items that could upset people & land you in jail or hurt.
Kelly: Let's call the nonprofit, "Trade the Days". That way, we could do something more productive & spend less time on social media. Spend less time, being brainwashed. Less time getting into trouble. Keep down teen pregnancies, drugs, youth incarceration & overall crime.
(They get the nonprofit organization going, yet hardly anyone wants to get involved. Kelly gets anxious & discouraged.)
Freddie Lynne: Kelly. Listen to Aunt Freddie Lynne, ok. It takes time. Be patient. Go into your prayer closet & pray. All will be well. I promise. Ask God, & you shall receive. Include God, have faith & pray in Jesus' Name. It will all come to fruition.
(Before you know it, the cause went viral, & many people are abandoning social media & entertainment to participate in this fruitful cause.)
The entire Branch family is happy that God answered their prayers & kept not only Taupe' out of trouble, but other teens, as well. The "Trade the Days" organization overturned the school to prison pipeline, & less teens have mental health issues. God bless the Branch family.
THE END