by JRR

Created on: August 09, 2009

Cast of Characters: Tony and Jen- parents
Dante and Lyssa- 6 year old twins
Katie- older sister of Dante and Lyssa
Gary- Katie's husband

Scene: Nighttime. The family is seated on the front porch. Tony and Jen are sitting on the porch swing, Katie and Gary in chairs close by. The twins, playing with toys on the porch at their parent's feet. The adults, not having seen each other in a while, had been talking amongst themselves, catching up on each other's lives. A comfortable silence falls over them as they watch the twins play. Suddenly a loud clap of thunder shatters the quiet.

Lyssa: (Screaming as she runs towards Tony, climbing onto his lap.) DADDY!

Tony: (Speaking to her softly as he puts his arm around her.) It's ok little one, it's just thunder.

Lyssa: (Trembling visibly and crying.) It's loud, I'm scared. Let's go inside please Daddy.

Dante: (Continuing to play.) Stop acting like a baby Lyssa.

Katie: She's not being a baby, Dante. Lot's of people are scared of storms.

Jen: (Looking at Katie and laughing.) I seem to recall a certain someone who was worse than Lyssa.

Lyssa: (Finally calming down in the safety of her Daddy's arm.) Who?

(The thunder continues to rumble as brilliant strikes of lightening cut across the sky, brightening the night like the noon day sun.)

Gary: (Reaching over to take Katie's hand.) Katie used to be terrified of storms.

Jen: (Smiling at the memories.) Especially when she was little. It took her a long time to get over it.

Tony: (Laughing) She never has.

Katie: (Laughing with him) Daddy!

Dante: Why were you scared?

Katie: We had a really bad storm when I was little. It did a lot of damage and it scared me really bad. It's not as bad now, but since then I have been very scared of storms. (Looking at Lyssa) Sometimes now I'm still scared.

Lyssa: (Forgetting the storm with this new information, hopes off Tony's knee and goes over and climbs up on Katie's lap.) How did you get not scared?

Katie: (Speaking in a low voice like she was sharing a secret.) Mommy used to tell me the thunder was just God moving furniture. Your Uncle Kevin would tell me it was the angels bowling. And the lightening was God taking pictures.

Dante: Is it really?

Gary: Could be.

Lyssa: Mommy says she loves storms.

Katie: She didn't until she met Daddy. She wasn't scared of them, she just didn't like them.

Dante: (Looking at his parents.) Why did you start liking them after you met Daddy?

Jen: (Snuggling close to Tony.) Partly because he makes me feel safe. Partly because...

Tony: (Laughing, interrupts his wife as he pulls her closer to him.) You will have to ask when you are older.

(The storm fades into the distance as the adults laugh at the private joke.)

Lyssa: Is that why my middle name is Rayn?

Jen: (Smiling up at Tony.) Yes, because we love the rain. We decided a long time ago to name you Rayn.

Katie: (Hugging her baby sister before standing her on the floor.) And it suits you perfect.

(The scene closes as the twins go back to playing quietly. The adults content in the company of one another, watching the children play. The storm rumbling faintly in the distance, stars once again fill night sky.)

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