by Rita Chandler

Created on: December 16, 2008

CHARACTERS:

CASSI - a three year old inquisitive, impish female.

JINGLE - Cassi's ten pound, year old, black and white Ragdoll cat.

DADDY - Cassi's sleepy, confused father.

MYSTERY MAN - man in red sitting in Cassi's living room.

SCENE I - Pre-dawn Christmas morning in the upper hallway of Cassi's house. She and Jingle have just exited her bedroom.

CASSI - (She talks in a very soft voice) Hush Jingle. We need to be very quite.

JINGLE - (The cat shakes his collar until the attached tinkling bells echo down the hall.)

CASSI - Jingle! I mean it. If you can't be quiet, you will have to go back to bed. I know if I wake up Daddy again to tell him someone is downstairs, he will be very upset and will give all my presents to derving [deserving] little boys and girls.

JINGLE - M-e-o-w

CASSI - S-h-h-h. My goodness, Jingle, I never knowed you was so noisy. If you wake up that cry baby, I'll give you to Grandma Ally and you know how many cats she has already. If you think she will let you sleep on her bed, you are wrong! Now come on, and be quiet.

(Cassi starts down the hall but Jingle doesn't follow. He just sits in the hallway and meows. Cassi rushes back to him and picks him up, staggering under his weight.)

CASSI - Hush, Jingle or you will wake up Badley. I know his name is Bradley but I think he should be called Badley. He is just an ole poopie, cry baby. Now, hush. I will take you downstairs with me if you will be quiet.

SCENE II - Pre-dawn Christmas morning at the top of the stairs leading from the upper hallway in Cassi's house. She and Jingle are easing down the steps.

CASSI - (She talks in a very soft voice) There is nothing to be afraid of Jingle. Daddy is just a scream away. I mean, if there was anything downstairs to be afraid of. I'm not scared of anything and hardly ever scream, do I Jingle?

(Jingle meows and tries to scramble up Cassi's neck.)

CASSI - Oh, Jingle, I never knowed you was such a scaredy cat. If I had knowed this, I would have left you in bed.

(A cough echoes up the stairs. Cassi and Jingle are two steps from the bottom. Cassi freezes.)

CASSI - (Cassi takes a loud gulp. Her voice is noticeably quivering.) Jingle? Did you hear that? That cough was deeper than Daddy's so I know that is not him downstairs. I told you I heard something but you didn't believe me. Now I will have to show you.

(Cassi shifts Jingle into a more comfortable position, straightens her shoulders and boldly walks down the remaining two steps. She is ready to face whoever is in the living room.)

SCENE

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