Family Sticks Together

A Play by Connie Jamar A.

Jenny:
Jasmine, we need to talk.

Jasmine: 
I know we need to talk.  I want to talk to you too.

Jenny:
Let me go first.

Jasmine: 
No!  Let me go first.

Jenny:
Ok, you can go first.

Jasmine: 
Jenny, I’m so sorry about making fun of you.  I have been jealous of you because you can do things I can’t do.

Jenny:
Like what?

Jasmine:
You can walk and you can swim.  You know how boring it is to be a flower?

Jenny:
Why haven’t you told me this?  I thought we were best friends who could talk about anything.

Jasmine:
I know, but it’s just too hard to tell you this.  I think you might leave me.

Jenny:
I know I know.  I have something to tell you too.  I’ve been jealous of you too for a long time.

Jasmine:be jealous of me?

Jenny:
Because you’ve got a family and I don’t.

Jasmine: (She gasps.)
I didn’t know you felt that way.

Jenny:
Jasmine, I’ve got to tell you something!  The weirdest thing happened today.  The gate was open and I ran out.

Jasmine:
What else happened?

Jenny:
I met a boy dog.

Jasmine:
Tell me tell me!

Jenny:
He asked me to mate with him.  He doesn’t even know me, but he asked me to be his wife.
(She starts crying because she’s so happy.)

Jasmine:
Why didn’t you go?

Jenny:
Because I didn’t want to leave you, cuz you’re my best friend.  You are all I got.

Jasmine:
So you shoulda still went because I have been treating you wrong.

Jenny:
So?  It don’t matter if you been treating me wrong, you are my best friend.

Jasmine:
I know, but if I was you I woulda still went.

Jenny:
Do you wanna know how he looked?

Jasmine:
Ok, let me guess.  He’s big, cute, strong, with a big head and his tail is long.

Jenny:
You are a little bit wrong.  He’s big, cute, he got black fur, and he got a small head.

Jasmine:
So, where is he right now?

Jenny:
He’s outside at the gate.

Jasmine:
Why won’t you bring him in here?  Let me talk to him so we can all get to know each other.

Jenny:
I don’t know about that.  What if Miss Mary comes in and sees him here?

Jasmine:
So?  What is she sees him.  It doesn’t matter.

Jenny:
I think if I bring him here inside the house Miss Mary will flip out and sell me.  You know if I get sold I will never ever see you again, plus we all we got as a family.

Jasmine:
Why are you keeping your feelings from me?  Why haven’t you told me all this?  Best friends talk about everything.

Jenny:
Well, we’ve been mad at each other for like 3 months now because we both was jealous of each other.

Jasmine:
Can I still meet the boy pit?  Won’t you go get him, then we can sit down and really talk about our feelings, then maybe you can make you mind up about leaving here. 

Jenny:

Jasmine:
It’s not like that.  I know how you really feel because you told me.  You really want to have kids and have a family and I think that’s good.

Jenny:se a family is a lot to take care of, and plus where and I going to live if I do have a family?

Jasmine:
What if the gate gets closed and your wish is out there, how would that make you feel?  Would you be mad, sad, what would you do?  Plus, if I was in your shoes I probably would of took a chance.

Jenny:
It’s not like that.  The only reason why I came back is to talk to you and tell you what is going on. 

Jasmine:
Jenny, we knew each other ever since we was babies.  I wouldn’t want you to miss you chance to make your family.  Sometimes God makes choices for you.  I feel real bad right now. 

Jenny:

Jasmine:
Jenny, I’m dying, and this is what I want.  I want your wish to come true.  I’m going to die knowing my best friend had her family.

Jenny:
Did you get enough water?

Jasmine:

Jenny:

Jasmine:
I don’t want you to miss out on your life.  I’m gonna be alright here.  I’m gonna die a happy life.  
                   (The boy dog comes into the house.)

Jenny:
What are you doing here?  
                   (The boy dog comes up and kisses her.)

Jasmine:
Oh my God!  He kissed you!
                   (Jenny starts blushing.  The owner, Miss Mary, walks in and looks at the boy dog and Jenny looks at her.  Miss Mary grabs Jenny by the collar, then Jenny starts walking.  Then the boy dog runs out of the house through the gate.  Jenny shakes free and gets loose.)

Jenny:
Jasmine, what should I do?  Should I go, should I stay?  Please help me!

Jasmine:
Follow your heart!

Jenny:
Follow my heart, but I’m not leaving you!  You made me what I am today.

Jasmine:
I don’t care what I made you, go!  Just go!  Follow your heart and come back and see me.

Jenny:
No, I’m not leaving you, I’m staying here.  I love you!  You’re my family.  I’m not leaving for nothing.

Jasmine:
Jenny, listen to me.  I love you, you’re my best friend.  We’d do anything for each other.  I’m not gonna hold you back from making your family.  So just go!  Just go!

Jenny:
Ok, but what are you gonna do when I’m gone?

Jasmine:
What I’m gonna do?  I’m gonna die knowing that my best friend got her family just like she wanted.

Jenny:
But what if I do leave and come back and you’re dead?

Jasmine:
Don’t worry about me.  Just go, please go.
(Jenny runs out the gate.)  
Come back, come back! 

          (Jenny comes back.)
                   I’ve got something to say to you.  I might not see you again when you come back.  Always remember that you got a friend in heaven watching over you.

Jenny:
(Jenny runs out the gate, stops, and starts crying, and then she runs up the street.)
                   Before I got up the street I had stopped and looked back and I thought I’m really leaving and about to have my family.  But when I come back my best friend’s going to be gone.  But she wants me to follow my heart, and my heart says go and have my family.
(She sees the boy dog.) Yes.

(8 weeks later she came back pregnant.  She came to the gate and the girls, Nikki and Rashawn were standing outside.  They was like her big sisters.  She barked and the girls looked and ran up to the gate.  The gate opened and she ran in.  The girls were happy to see her and they found out she was pregnant because her stomach was round.  Jenny goes back in the house and doesn’t see Jasmine.  She runs to the backyard and finds out Jasmine died. )

Jenny:
My best friend is dead and I know she’d be happy to hear that I’m about to have my own family. 
                   (Jenny reads a poem by Jasmine’s graveside.)

Jasmine, you was the sun that fell from Heaven into my life
Now, I’m sitting here thinking twice
Why I left you here to die

I have my family now
 So you know that I’m making this poem
To let you know that I still care about you
          
And I want you to know that I’m going 
To treat my family right like you taught me
R.I.P. Jasmine

The End