A Play by Michael J.
| CHARACTERS: |
JERICHO the Lion Cub, Age 15 SASHA the Lioness, Age 36, the Mother
|
| SETTING: |
Africa, Nigeria. A dry savanna, tall trees where there are zebras, giraffes, and buffalos |
| TIME: |
9:19 am Sunday, July 15th |
| AT RISE: |
JERICHO’S laying down and SASHA is talking to herself.
|
SASHA
(To herself)
What’s wrong with that cub? Jericho he’s been talking crazy these last few days talking bout being grown. He don’t know the first thing on how to be grown, he better stay in a cubs place. I ain’t got time to be arguing with him. (EXITS)
JERICHO
(To himself)
Man, this is a pretty bright day, maybe just the day that I can go out and be grown. It felt so good seeing my father the other night. I’m just wondering how I can tell my mom? I mean it’s going to be a lot for her to take in being the fact that he abandoned her without a word, but I wonder why? There has to be a good reason why he abandoned the both of us to start a new family but I don’t care as long as I get to see him now. But what do I do about that proposition he offered me going to Liberia with him where he can teach me how to become an adult lion.
SASHA
(Enters from hunting with food)
Jericho come get your breakfast! And you better eat it all too.
JERICHO
(To himself) Why does she always got to treat me like a baby? “Jericho come get your breakfast and you better eat it all too.” Who does she think she’s talking to. I should put her in her place. (To SASHA) Coming Ma, what did you get this time?
SASHA
(Curious) I got raw buffalo your favorite, but tell me something. What’s been bothering you lately, I can see in your eyes that you want to tell me something, that your building up the courage to say but don’t know how to come out with it. And don’t lie to me because I was once in your paws. I was a cub once upon a time myself and I know what’s it like to want to do things. I’m your mother, you can tell me anything.
JERICHO
(Looking innocent) Well I don’t know, it’s kind of difficult to just say because it won’t benefit you, it might just make you upset, figuring you have an anger problem. But tell me this, whatever I tell you won’t get mad at me, you won’t go yellin and screaming at me because I’m tired of the way you be treating me, like I’m some sort of a baby because I’m most certainly not.
SASHA
(Surprised) Is that all you wanted to tell me. You’re my cub and I’m your mother. You get treated how you act and lately you been talking and acting crazy so guess what, you get treated crazy and if you feel like your getting treated like a baby maybe you’ve just been acting like a baby along with crazy. So is that all you wanted to tell me cause I’m telling you now, don’t hold nothing back from me I’m your mama I’ll accept anything that you say cause you my cub and can’t nobody take that away from me.
JERICHO
(Tense) Alrite, I guess I’ll just come out with it all. You said “HOLD NOTHING BACK”, ok, well I’ve been seeing my father and he’s leaving in 2 hours to Liberia and he said if I come with him he can show me how to be an adult lion and.
SASHA
(Cuts him off) Jericho shut your mouth right now speaking of that no good, ooooh don’t you ever speak of him in my throne again, I could slap the taste out of your mouth trying to go to Liberia with him to be an adult, you don’t know the first thing
JERICHO
(Yells) Slap the taste out my mouth, is you crazy? I’m going to be an adult either way it goes so why not start now besides you can’t possibly teach me all the things it takes to be an a adult lion when you merely a female.
SASHA
(Overwhelmed) I’ve raised you 15 years and you going to call me crazy. Jesus bless me before I sin and kill him because he talking like he lost his mind. How dare you insult me you ungrateful little…
JERICHO
(Angry) You know what I’m tired of arguing Ma. I’m tired of you babying me, I’m tired of living the same lifestyle, I’m looking for something new and guess what this is something new that I want to do for me and that’s to be on my own. I understand that you’re scared for me but he’s my father and I feel a connection with him and it’s getting stronger by the minute and now I have one hour to leave with him so…
SASHA
(Sad) So nothing I’m your mother and you’re going nowhere because I said so. Your father is not going to come barging in your life 15 years later thinking that he can come teach you how to be an adult lion when he ain’t one his damn self. So Jericho I’m saying this loud and clear you ain’t going nowhere and if you do I will ring yours and your fathers neck, you my child and nobody’s going to take you away from me until you turn 18years old.
JERICHO
Well mom, sorry to say but you just might have to ring my neck because no matter what you say it’s not going to stop me from going, I’ve made my decision and that’s
SASHA
(Cuts him off) Why Jericho? Why is it that you won’t listen to me I’ve dealt with your father before. He’s nothing but bad news he has nothing but tricks up his fur. I know that I’ve never told you this but I love you. You’re my only son that I have and I don’t want to lose you, you’re the only thing that I have and if you leave me now I’ll be all alone. I’ll have no one to talk to, no one to play with or anything. Don’t leave me son I love you SO MUCH.
JERICHO
(Happy) I don’t know, I don’t know what to do Ma. I’m scared at the same time, I don’t want to leave but I do and you never told me that you love me. I feel butterflies running all in me this is to much to take in but this changes everything.
SASHA
What’s the changed?
JERICHO
I think me leaving, you telling me all this is so overwhelming. I think that I’ll just stay with the one that I truly love and that’s you mom not some stranger that’s trying to call himself my father 15 years later, that makes no sense. I love you to mom.
THE END
