by Rhodora Fitzgerald

Created on: December 14, 2008

Characters: 16 yr old John and his 15 year old sister Penny, 16 yr old Jeremy and grumpy old neighbor Mr. McDoogle (aka Mr. McDufus)

Scene 1: The sun has just come up and it's a wintry Monday morning in northern Michigan. John and his sister Penny are walking to the bus stop, accompanied by their new friend Jeremy who moved in next door over the weekend. As they walk by one of the houses, the blind goes up in the front window and an old man stands scowling at them. There are several keep out' signs lining the front of his yard.

Jeremy: "Wow, who's that?"

John: "Oh, just ignore him. He's the grumpy old man that hates everyone in the neighborhood."

Jeremy: "He does look pretty ornery and he obviously doesn't want anyone in his yard." (pointing to the signs)

Penny: (wincing) "He kinda scares me."

John: "Eh, he isn't so scary. He's just old and crotchety. We call him Mr. Dufus."

(both boys laugh)

Penny: "John! Jeremy, his name is really Mr. McDoogle. Anyway, we better hurry it up or we'll miss the bus."

(The three teenagers pick up their pace and reach the corner just as the bus arrives.)

John: "So, what classes are you scheduled for Jeremy?"

Jeremy: "Um, I'm not sure. I was just told to report to Miss Amy's class 1st hour and I would get my schedule from her."

John: "Sweet! I'm in her class first hour too. You'll like Miss Amy. She's cool."

Penny: (snickering from the seat behind the boys) "John has a crush on Miss Amy."

John: "Stop it! I do not!"

Scene 2: It's the end of the school day and the three teenagers get off the bus at their street corner. As they approach Mr. McDoogle's house they notice him outside clearing the snow from his driveway with a shovel. He pauses, leans on his shovel and watches them pass by.

Jeremy: "Did he just grunt at us?" (nudging John with his elbow)

John: "Yep, that's what he does. He never speaks, just grunts."

Penny: (nervously dashing off ahead of the boys) "See ya later!"

Jeremy: "What's her hurry?"

John: "She's afraid of the dufus."

Jeremy: "He's really not that scary."

John: "Oh, I know, but you know how girls are."

Jeremy: (laughing) "Yeah, I guess. By the way, do you think there will be school tomorrow?"

John: "Sure, why wouldn't there be?"

Jeremy: "They are predicting a heavy snowfall tonight. Down south, where I'm from, we never had school if we got much snow."

John: "Ah, well around here, it takes an ice storm to keep people off the roads."

Jeremy: "Oh, ok. Well, see ya in the morning then." (turns and heads up the driveway to his house)

John: "Bye!

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