A Play by Anthony

CHARACTERS:

Ati, the Ant (4 years old)
Pretty, the Ant his mother (36 years old)

SETTING:

In a redwood tree high in Yellowstone park.  It’s Huge!!!  Wide…W I D E!!!!  Brown.   A hole in the bottom where they come in and out of.  There’s grass around it where the “Grassy Restaurant” is located.

TIME:

In the late winter, December 29th 1994, at 6 pm.

AT RISE:

A river near the grass and tree.  Ati’s walking alone thinking to himself.  Talking to himself.  Pretty is on the the branch looking at him.


Ati:  (thinking to himself)
Man how am I going to change?  Moms  really trippin off me.  I need to get to work and find my cure for my Antibetes.

Pretty:
(Comes out of the tree)  Mijo come here.  What I tell you about being outside.  Come help with these chores.  If not pow pow.

Ati:
Okay mom, I’m coming.  Yes?  Que paso?

Pretty:
Check your antennas for your sugar level.

Ati:
Oww!  It hurts though Mom!

Pretty:
I know Mijo, you have to get to used to it though.

Ati:
I know.  I know.  Can I go out after I eat?

Pretty:
No!  The last time you went out you ended up at the Ant Justice Facility and I don’t want you there no more.  I don’t trust you

Ati:
Come on mom. I promise I’ll be good.  I don’t hang out with the groupies no more.  Trying to get my life together.

Pretty:
I can see that but I’m still not convinced.  Well, you can go outside for like two hours but if you mess up I’m not gonna go see you there.

Ati:
OK mom.  Thank you.  I love you my Queen.  (he thinks to himself) Wow, mom’s really giving me a chance now.  So I have two hours.

Pretty:
You  done with your chores and your dinner mijo?  It’s getting late and I don’t want you put past dawn.

Ati:
Yeah mom I’ll all done.  I’ma  go now ‘k?  I’m not gonna get in trouble I promise.  I know it’s hard tryin to raise a man by yourself so I’ma  prove to you you’re doin a good job mom.

Scene 2 -Ati’s walkin and he looks at his reflection in the river & the reflection talks to him)

Ati’s Reflection:
Look Ati, there’s a bee a couple miles away at a magical place.  It will take a couple hours to get there.   If you want to be cured with your sickness you’ll be risking your life by getting stung by the bee.  Good luck.  (Image of Ati in the river vanishes)
(Ati’s starts walking back to the tree) 

Ati:
Wow.  Can’t believe it.  Did God just send me a message through the river?  I gotta tell mom.  (Ati’s running to the house).

Scene 3 , Boom! Ati races through the door.

Ati:
Ma! Ma! Ma!

Pretty:
Que paso?  Que paso?  The bug force ain’t after you are they?

Ati:
Naw.  No. No. No. Not at all.  Get ready in half an hour, I’m taking you out to eat at the Grassy Restaurant. 

Pretty:
OK.  It better be worth  it though because I’m sick I just took my meds and I’m gonna fall asleep in a couple hours.  Don’t wanna fall asleep on your ass.

Ati:
‘Kay Mom.  Don’t worry.  Hurry.  Hurry.  Hurry.  Hurry.

Pretty:
Hush boy, don’t rush me!

Scene 4, at the Grassy Restaurant

Pretty:
(to waiter) Yeah, sound like the skittle salad with water.

Ati:
I’d like the poo poo platter with a cup o honey.

Pretty:
Mijito, you know that all that sugar is goin to effect you.

Ati:
(tchh) Mom, you won’t have to worry ‘bout that no mo!

Pretty:
What are you talkin’ about Menso?

Ati:
I know how to get cured mom.  You might not believe it but you’re gonna have to.  Pues si mom?  With or without your permission I’m going to a magical place miles away.  I’ma have to get stung by a bee mom.

Pretty:
WHAT?  No, no, no, no.  You ain’t goin no where!  I don’t believe that!

Ati:
Nah! Fo reals ma.  I got proof, mom.

Pretty:
Prove it!

Scene 5

Ati:
Let’s go ma.  Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go.  Come here.  Come here ma.  Look at my reflection.

Pretty:
I’m lookin at it but all I’m seein is your ugly butt.

Ati:
Just wait, Just wait.  Wait mom.  Gosh, it’s not working.

Pretty:
Mijo, you crazy o something? What’s wrong with you?  I’m worried.

Ati:
Nah, mom for reals.  I’m not lying I put that on R.I.P.C.J.

Pretty:
Let’s go.  I’m goin home.  Time to recheck your antennas.
(next scene – While at home Pretty is thinking to herself)

Pretty:
Is my son crazy or something or was he telling the truth?

Ati:
Mom I gotta be there by 2 hours.  I know that you don’t trust me but I’ma prove you wrong.

Pretty:
Mijo I don’t want you leavin.  I almost lost you once and I don’t want that stupid bee stinging you.  I love you.  You’re my big boy.

Ati:
But mom, if I do this I’ll be cured I don’t know this 100% but I have an 80% chance that this will work.  I’ma  get cured mom for the first time you wouldn’t have to worry about working anymore.  You could finally rest and not have to worry about your so called “big boy”.  I’ma  get what you want and what I’ve dreamed for.

Pretty:
What about the other 20%?  Mijo, (She starts to cry, in tears) I don’t  wanna lose you.  Remember when  I found you on the bathroom wood past out.  I was scared that I had lost you.  Antbulence said you could of died in 10 minutes if I never called it in.  Mijo, I went through pain giving you life and I don’t wanna go through pain seeing you go.  You’re supposed to bury me not I bury you.

Ati:
Mommy please…I’ma just listen to my gut and my gut is telling me to go.  So good bye Mom.  I’m wasting time. 

Pretty:
Mijo no.  Get back here.

Ati:
(hailing bug taxi) Ladie bug-axi!!!! Lady bug-axi!!!! (to mom) Bye.  Be Back.

Scene 6  (Pretty is praying to God to take care of her baby.)

Pretty:
Dear God.  I come to you today and ask you to watch over my sons head.  To keep him safe.  To cure him.  And I ask that you don’t take him from me.  Not now.  Not ever.  It’s not his time.  Thank you for understanding.  Amen.

Ati:
(on Lady bug taxi) Hurry hurry hurry hurry Lady.  (sees the bee) STOP!  Thank you.  Here.  How much?  5 dried baby flies?  Damn…whatever.
(Ati goes to the bee that’s flying around Bzzzz.  Bzzzzzz.)
Hey, Hey Bee.

Bee:
Yeah, what can I do for you lito boy

Ati:
Can you cure me?

Bee:
Cure you how?

Ati:
With my Ant-ibetes.

Bee:
Wait.  Who sent you?

Ati:
God sake!  Can you yes or no.

Bee:
Because I’m giving up my own live to save another.

Ati:
God did.

Bee:
Hmmm!  Prove it?

Ati:
My reflection in the river.  Am I right?  (to himself) Please say yes.  Please say yes.

Bee:
Yeah, your right.  So now close your eyes lay down and I’m warning you might not wake up.  So youre doing this at your own risk.

Ati:
Okay.

Scene 7

Ati:
Ow. (knocks out for 5 seconds) Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.  Bee wake up!  Wake up bee!  Please wake up.   If you can hear me, thank you bee.  I don’t feel the difference but I can feel the change.
(Ati comes home)  Mom, I’m back.  Look at my stomach I gotta big bruise.  I got stung but I’m alive Mom.

Pretty:
Mijo, you made it.  (to herself/God) Thanks God for hearing me. (to Ati) I was worried.

Ati:
Mom, give me a cup of honey.

Pretty:
Why??

Ati:
To see if it worked.

Pretty:
Okay.
(10 minutes later)

Pretty:
Check your antennas.

Ati:
Mom it……WORKED!  My level is fine.  YAY!
(Ati’s back in school.   Joined a Antball Team.  Changed his whole life around.  His mom stays home now with the rest of the fam bam.  Ati’s healthy as can be.)

Scene 8 ( Pretty is in bed praying)

Pretty:
Dear God, Thank you for helping me raise this young man.  It’s been hard but you’v e been there with me through thee end.  I’m happy and proud of him.  Thank you God.  Amen y amen.

Ati:
Mom wake up.  Wake up.   Mom!!!!!!!!  Mom!!!!!!!  Please wake up.  (on the phone) Help! Help!  Somebody!  Yes my name is Ati and my mom ain’t waking up.  Please I need your help. 

Ati called the Antbulence and is now waiting in the Sandy lobby for the Anter.
Anter:
Ati?

Ati:
Yes, Anter?

Anter:
Sorry !  But she didn’t make it.  It seemed she died in her sleep of old age.  Sorry.”)

Ati:
No. No. No. No.  Please not me. Not me.  Not her.  My mommy.  She’s gone. (he thinks to himself)
My mom was the most important woman in my life.  She’s the one that gave me birth.  Without her there would be no me.  She was always there no matter what the situation.  At least she died happy and proud knowing I’ve changed and got cured.

The End.



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