by Elizabeth Gilbert

Created on: December 19, 2008

Scene: Mom is standing at the small table in the kitchen mixing up cookie dough. The children are in the dining room sitting around the table with the little ones occupying the long bench beneath the window.

Characters : Mom (age 44) Martha (13 yr old), Terry & Jerry, (8 yr old twins) Jessica (5 yr old), Angela (3yr old),

Martha: (speaks to her mother as she walks into the kitchen) "Isn't there anything to do? I'm so bored I almost wish holiday vacation was over."

Mom: "'Well, you could clean your room, or take the girls out and help them build a snowman."

Martha: Build a snowman? That's a bit "

Terry & Jerry (interrupted her in unison) A snow fort! (and they headed to the back porch where the coats and winter gear is stored)

Jessica: (runs to the kitchen and tugs on Martha's jeans) "Will ya, sis? Huh? Will ya?"

Angela: (speaks with outstretched arms from the middle of the bench) "Me too! Me too!"

Martha: "Okay, I guess so. Let's get your stuff on. "

(Martha goes to the entry and begins to hand out coats, hats, mittens and boots.)

Jessica: "Where did the boys go?"

Mom: "They were out the door before you got in here. You better hurry up or they'll have it finished before you get out there."

Angela: (starts to cry) "No, I help, I help."

Martha: (as she wipes tears from Angela's face) "Quit crying. You can help. We have to hurry! Get over here. Put your foot up so I can put on your boot. No the other foot. Good. Now the other one. "

Martha: "Let's get this coat on. Put your arm in here. Now the other one." (Angela keeps turning around to look and misses the armhole) "Angela, stand still." (Martha finally gets Jessica's coat on)

Jessica: "Martha, help me I can't stand up." (she has her boots on the wrong feet)

Martha: (Martha moves over and takes them off.) " Jessica give me your right foot, good. Push, no you have to put your foot in straight. There now let's get the other one on.

(Martha turns and sees Angela taking her boots off.) "No Angela leave your boots on!"

Angela "Jessica off."

Martha: " I know she had them on the wrong feet. Come here let me put yours back on you. Jessica, get your coat and mittens on."

Angela: "Me too! Me too!"

Mom: (slowly mixing the dough and chuckling) "And how many children did you say you wanted Martha?"

Martha: (looking up in disgust) None!

Angela: (trying to turn the door knob) Go! Go!

Martha: "You need your hat and mittens first." (Martha grabs the mittens dangling from the arms of the coat) "Put your hand in here. No, your thumb goes in this hole. Mom, how do you get these on her?"

Mom: (washing her hands) "Here let me help. You get a hat and mittens on Jessica and get her outside before she roasts in those clothes."

Martha: "Jessica, look at me so I can get these holes over your eyes and nose. Okay, out you go."

Martha: (As she opens the door the boys are coming in) "Where are you guys going? I thought you'd play with the girls?"

Jerry: (taking off his jacket) "Na, it's too cold out there. We're gonna watch TV

Mom: "Okay Martha, Angela's ready."

Angela: (tugging on Martha's coat) "Go out!"

Martha: (as she's throwing on her jacket and grabbing her gloves) "Come on Angela let's go make a snowman."

Martha: "Okay, let's go." (Again the door opens and in comes Jessica)

Martha: (Sound of frustration in her voice) "Jessica you just got out there!"

Jessica: (Jessica wiggling and holding onto herself) "I have to go potty."

Martha: (still standing in the doorway with the door open) "Now what?"

Mom: "You take Angela out and I'll help Jessica. We'll try to hurry."

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