A Play by Josh

CHARACTERS:

Black the Blue Nose Pitt-   Age 3 years old.   He’s dirty looking really skinny, crust around the eyes and smells.
                      
Peaches the Red Nose Pitt-Age 5 years old.  She’s a light brown with hazel eyes and she’s well built with a big head.

SETTING:

Black and Peaches are next door neighbors. Black’s backyard: it’s really junky with a lot of weeds and unwanted furniture.  It’ s a lot of trash, dog dumping and it really stinks.  It’s an old tire that Black plays with and chews on.  Peaches backyard: Good grass, a garden around the perimeter of the backyard.  In the middle of the backyard there’s a statue of Peaches’ mom with water coming out like a waterfall. They got a tent area that holds all of Peaches belongings like water, food, toys, and some places for her to rest in the shade.

AT RISE: It’s Sunday, 12pm, 90 degrees and it’s really humid.  Black’s on his side of the fence and Peaches is on her side of the fence


Black
(Aside, yawns) It really hot today I can’t wait until that human boy comes to get me so I can go away from this unsanitized filthy backyard. Them Smith’s done moved out of the house and done left me here for a whole week with nothing to eat and nothing to drink.  I can’t believe it.
(to Peaches) Peaches, pssst, pssst, Peaches you back there let me get some water please it’s hot back here and you know it aint no shade over here.

Peaches
Okay go to the spot where you dug up at on your side of the fence and I’m going to give you some.
Black
Thanks Peaches you’re a really good friend.
Peaches
Awww Black you’re so sweet.  So Black who was that Boy you left with yesterday?
Black
(Aside, mumbles) How did she know that I left.
Peaches
You say something Black?
Black
Naw, naw I ain’t say nothing.  But what did you just ask me a second ago?
Peaches
(Aside) He trippen, I know he heard me.
(to Black) I asked you who was that boy you left with yesterday?
Black
Oh him (smiles) that was the answer to my prayers.
Peaches
(Aside) Did he just say the answer to his prayers?
(to Black) The answer to your prayers huh? So what exactly is that suppose to mean?
Black
Exactly what it sounds like Peaches.
Peaches
I wouldn’t have asked you what it meant if I would have known Black.
Black
Do I hear hostility in your voice Peaches?  You know that’s not good for you.Peaches
Living in that Backyard I don’t see how you can talk.
(Aside) He really trippen talken to me like he crazy.
Black
Peaches babe.
Peaches
What Black?
Black
That boy you asked me about you really want to know who he is?
Peaches
Duh Black that’s why I asked you in the first place.
Black
I bet you do.  hahahaha.  Now that was funny.
Peaches
You want to know what else is funny Black?
Black
What else is funny Peaches?
Peaches
When I go inside my garage and come out with some BBQ Rib bones and some cold ice water and eat it in front of your face.
Black
Ooo oooo you got some BBQ rib bones?  Let me have some please babe.Peaches
Do you really want some of those big juicy BBQ rib bones and some ice cold water?
Black
Yes. Yes.
Peaches
I bet you do. Hahaha now that’s funny because I don’t even got none and if I did I wouldn’t give you any.
Black
You real cold Peaches, you real cold for playing like that.  Get serious now Peaches I need to talk to you about something
Peaches
Talk.
Black
Chill out with the attitude cause this effects you just as much as it effects me.
Peaches
Okay babe but are you going to tell me about that boy that came and got you?
Black
That’s what I want to talk to you about.
Peaches
So Black who was he?
Black
That boy wants me to come and live with him
Peaches
Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Black
It’s good very good but on the flipside it bad very bad.
Peaches
So what is it?  How does your problem you’re having effect me?
Black
Well I really don’t know how to say this uh…
Peaches
Don’t beat around the Bush just tell me straight up.
Black
Okay well you see, you know I’ve been living in this backyard for a long time and you know I want to leave and be a watch dog like my mom and this is a perfect chance for me to go. Babe.
Peaches
So you saying you gone leave me and YOUR puppies and just up and go with some boy you don’t even know?
Black
So you don’t care about my feelings and what I’ve been through.
Peaches
I do Black, but what about you being a dad for you puppies?
Black
I want to be there for them but look at how I’m living.
Peaches
So what are you going to do?
Black
I really don’t even know yet.
Peaches
You don’t know, how hard is it to know that you have a responsibility that needs to be take care of?
Black
So you want me here.
Peaches
Of course I want you here.
Black
So you want my puppies to look at their Dad and see a unhealthy, skinny, dirty dog is that what you want Peaches?
Peaches
So you’re just going to bounce and leave your puppies without a Dad?
Black
You didn’t even answer my question.
Peaches
No.
Black
Okay then.  I want to be there for them and teach them things but I do want to leave and be able to clean myself up and feel better about myself.
Peaches
Wow, I can’t believe your just going to leave.
Black
Not necessarily, I was thinking maybe you and the puppies can come with me.
Peaches
And when did you get the idea that I wanted to leave my house?
Black
This is a really hard decision to make and your not making it any easier.
Peaches
It shouldn’t be that hard, you should stay and be a Dad.
Black
Put yourself in my position and tell me you can make this decision off top!
Peaches
Your being really self-centered and you don’t even know it.
Black
I can’t believe you said that, weren’t you the one who use to tell me when your opportunity comes run and don’t look back?
Peaches
Yea.
Black
You think I want to leave you my puppies and the place that’s been my home for 3 years?
Peaches
No
Black
Why don’t you and the puppies come with me?
Peaches
So I’m just going to walk in the house and say, “Mom I’m leaving with my puppies and not coming back?”
Black
If that’s how you want to say it.
Peaches
No, I’m not going to tell her that.
Black
So what you going to tell her then?
Peaches
Have you ever thought about if the boy can really take care of you?
Black
I’m pretty sure he could do better than what I’m doing right now.
Peaches
I really don’t know what to tell you.  Take some time and think about it.  What’s so special about this boy anyway.  So what’s he done for you in one day to make you think that this is the best decision for you.
Black
Are you questioning my intelligence?
Peaches
Maybe I am.
Black
He took me on a long walk, he gave me a hot bath with some smell good dog shampoo, he gave me some cold water, some chicken bones, he played with me, and he let me sleep in his room.  That’s much more than what anybody done for me.  Especially the Smiths and you know it.  Let me tell you something, Miss “I got my mama, I live in a good house.”  You don’t know nothin’ about making decisions.
Peaches
And you do?  What decisions have you made?  What makes you any better than I am?
Black
This is not about who’s better than who.  This is about survival.  I’m really tired of livin’ in this backyard.   Like they say, no guts no glory.
Peaches
So if I go with you what happens if the boy doesn’t even take care of us?  What happens if he tries to sell my puppies?
Black
Well we won’t know until we go.  You gotta at least give it a chance.  And if it’s as bad as you think it is we’ll just come back.
Peaches
So this is what you really want to do huh? (sighs)  I don’t know you gotta give me some time. 
Black
How much time do you need?
Peaches
Enough time to convince myself and my mother that this is the right thing for me and for my puppies.
Black
Well you only got ‘til tomorrow cause that’s when he’s coming to get me.
Peaches
‘Til tomorrow that’s not enough time for me to convince myself and better yet my mama.
Black
What, you think your mom wants to watch you and our puppies? I’m pretty sure she had a hard enough time raising you.
Peaches
So you saying my mama don’t want my puppies?
Black
What I’m saying is she doesn’t plan on taking care of you any more, you’re grown enough to have puppies you grown enough to move out.
Peaches
How do you know that, if your mom was still alive you wouldn’t even say that.
Black
You know what I’ve been trying to keep this as simple as I can but you bringing my mama in this is going to end NOW.
Peaches
The Smiths loved your mama, they let her sleep in the house, took her on them trips, and always provided for her, but you, they let you rot just as bad as that backyard you live in.
Black
You know what forget it I’m leaving with or without you.  That’s the last time you say something putting me down.  Hope you and your mamma take good care of them puppies.
Peaches
You know what we will. And you know what else Black you ain’t gone never be no watch dog like your mom cause you too small and you ain’t got no heart.
Black
You don’t know anything bout no heart girl.  If you were in my paws for a week you would go crazy. You can’t leave because you don’t have enough heart. Your afraid to be on your own you want to be mama’s little girl forever. (pause) Hope you feel the same way when your mom passes away then you’re going to be forced to be on your own and you ain’t gone make it 48 hours.
Peaches
Well that time ain’t here yet. I got everything you want, good house, mom, love from everybody.  You don’t even have a bowl of food you can go to, when you hungry you ask me.
Black
I won’t be asking you anymore.  Because I’m leaving and it’s final.
Peaches
So you gone leave your puppies?
Black
Leaving you too and this life first thing in the morning.  This conversation is OVER.
(Black walks to the other side of the backyard and lays down.)
The End



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