by Monique Nelson

Created on: December 10, 2008

The Christmas Sweater

Characters:

Mom, Julie (8 year old daughter), Tom (a stranger), Mark and Samantha (Tom's brother and his girlfriend)

Scene: Christmas morning, in a shabby living room where a mother sleeps on a couch beside a meagerly decorated Christmas tree.

Julie: Mommy, mommy, wake up! There's a present under the tree this year! Santa didn't forget about us! Mommy, wake up!

Mom: (Yawning) Good morning Julie. You're right, it looks like there is something under the tree. Santa must have remembered our address this year. Why don't you go get it?

Julie: (runs to the tree, picking up the box wrapped with newspaper. She shakes is, smells is, listens to it, and generally examines it). There's a card; can I read it?

Mom: Of course. It's definitely for you; Santa knows I don't need anything. I hope you remember though, that Santa has a lot of little girls just like you all over the world to take care of, so he might not have brought too much for you. Why don't you read what that card says, honey.

Julie: (reading) Merry Christmas, my dear Julie. I know what a good girl you have been this year, so I have brought you a little something to keep you warm this winter. I hope you like it. Love, Santa. Ho Ho Ho.

Julie: Something warm! I bet its a sweater! Wouldn't that be great Mom, then you wouldn't have to worry about me being cold anymore!

Julie (opens the box, carefully opening the tape and folding the newspaper) It is a sweater! Look, mom! Its got a snowy mountain on it! Oh its beautiful!

Mom (with tears in her eyes, she hugs her daughter) It is beautiful, Julie. Do you want to wear it right now?

Julie: Can I bring it with me over to the kitchen when we go tonight?

Mom: Of course, honey; it's yours and you can wear it whenever you like.

Scene: It is close to 5 PM and Mom and Julie are getting ready to go to the local Soup Kitchen for Christmas dinner.

Mom: Julie, don't you want to wear your new sweater?

Julie: I'm going to carry it for now, so that I can pass it around at the Kitchen in case other people want to feel it. Then I can wear it home when it gets really cold.

Mom: All right, if that's what you want.

Mom and Julie (walking towards the soup kitchen they cross a crosswalk. Once they reach the other side, they see a gentleman jogging with a limp towards the crosswalk trying to catch the light. He falls just before he reaches the street and lets out a yell)

Julie: (Gasps and runs to his side) Are you alright Mister?

Mom: (Runs to Julie's side and kneels down beside the man)

Man:

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