Drama: Raking leaves

Setting: The father is raking leaves from a giant magnolia tree in their front yard. His fourteen year old son, Bobby has just come out of the house to join his father in this chore that both dread doing. The father hopes to use times like this to bond with his son and get to know him better.

Characters: Father and Bobby, fourteen year old son.

Father: 'Bobby, you really hate raking leaves, don't you?'

Bobby: " You can say that again!"

Father: "But, today, you could have easily gotten out of this because your Grandmother asked you to go to the beach. Why didn't you take her up on that? You knew we would let you".

Bobby: "Gee, Dad. Well, see. I would rather go to the beach with Mamaw. That's for sure! And if she had asked me to do something to help her I would have done it in a heartbeat. But I knew she mainly asked me because she knew I like to go to the beach."

Father: "OK. So, if she asked you and you really enjoy going, then why didn't you do that? I'm just curious."

Bobby: "Well, I guess it's like this. If you really liked to rake leaves then I would have probably gone. But I know you hate raking just as much as I do but you were going to rake them anyway because they really are a mess. I knew you wanted to play golf with Uncle Roger this afternoon. So, I thought maybe, if I helped you then you would have time to play golf too. And maybe I could still go to the beach for a little while if Mamaw still has time."

Father: "Wow, Bobby, I really appreciate your thoughtfulness. That is really neat thinking on your part. In fact, that is what grown ups call mature thinking."

Bobby: "Cool. So that's good?"

Father: "Oh, it is very good, Bobby! It is the kind of thinking that I hope you will always strive for. It's the kind of thinking that teachers like in their students. It is what bosses like when they hire you for a job. And it's what coaches look for in the players on their team."

Bobby: "That's really cool, Dad. What about girls, do they like mature thinking?"

Father: "Oh, Yea. Girls go for it in a really big way! Some day you are going to meet a girl that you want to spend the rest of your life with, like me and your mother and like Papaw and Mamaw. And you are going to ask her to marry you. She is going to make up her mind on lots of things, like how you look and your personality, how she enjoys being with you and then, especially, if she loves you a lot. But, along with all of that she is going to be asking herself if you can think maturely or not."

Bobby: "So you think I am doing some of that mature thinking already?"

Father: "Oh, absolutely, Son!"

Bobby: "Hey, that's cool! That's really cool! Eh, do you think maybe I'm thinking maturely enough for us to go over to Papaw's farm on Sunday and for me to start learning how to drive the car?"

Father: "Eh, did I say Mature? Oh, what I meant to say was pre-mature thinking. You see, Pre mature thinking is what fourteen year olds have as they are becoming fifteen. Then, when they get to be sixteen, THEN they go into Mature thinking! Whew! I'm glad we got that straightened out! I would have hated to mislead you on that!"

Bobby: "Sure, Dad. Yea, I really am glad you got me straightened out on that. Oh, is it OK if I go give Mamaw a call?"

Learn more about this author, Donald Hancock.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Drama: Raking leaves?
We want to hear your view. Write now!