Dad: Remember this one, Kris?
Kris: My first two wheeler! I remember it like it was yesterday. Do you know how heavy that bike was?
Dad: Was it?
Kris: My friend, Melissa, had a brand new bike instead of a used one. Hers must have been about ½ as heavy as mine was.
Dad: Really?
Kris: I remember trying so hard to learn to ride that two-wheeler but it was so heavy I could hardly hold it up!
Dad: Look at this one.
Kris: Oh, my gosh – both of my front teeth are gone. What a smile!
Dad: I used to tell you if you smiled wide enough we could get an airplane to land in there.
Kris: Very funny. Look at this, Dad. Where did you get that suit?
Dad: I think your mother bought that for me out of revenge for giving her a vacuum cleaner for her birthday.
Kris: Then I guess you deserved it. Did she force you to wear it, too?
Dad: Actually I remember thinking I looked pretty cool in bright green polyester.
Kris: Thank God styles have changed.
Dad: Here’s one of you and your brother.
Kris: Who?
Dad: Come on, Kris, you do still have a brother you know.
Kris: Not as far as I’m concerned. After what he did to you and mom I don’t ever want to see him again.
Dad: It’s not good to hold grudges, Kris.
Kris: I’m not, Dad. I just don’t think about Kenny any more.
Dad: Well, maybe you should.
Kris: What do you mean?
Dad: I mean, what if Kenny wanted to come home and be a part of this family again?
Kris: Fat chance. We haven’t heard from him in 7 years!
Dad: Actually I talked to him yesterday.
Kris: What? Dad how could you? After what he put us through!
Dad: He spent his time in prison, Kris. I think he’s a changed man now.
Kris: Dad, he stole from you and your business partners. He lied and cheated and ran. When he was finally caught he blamed you and mom for not giving him enough money of his own.
Dad: I know, Kris. I was there.
Kris: It took us, all three of us, four years of working day and night to pay back what he stole. Now you say you THINK he’s a changed man! How can you even talk to him?
Dad: Kris, I didn’t tell you, but Dr. Sax called me 2 days ago. Your mother and I don’t match well enough to be donors.
Kris: I see.
Dad: There’s still an outside chance that some stranger will be a good enough match but the chances are slim that the person will be found in time to help you.
Kris: So you got a hold of Kenny, is that it? (Angry)
Dad: The truth is, Kris, that he got a hold of me.
Kris: He called you?
Dad: Yes, he heard about your health problems from Larry Walters. They’ve kept in touch over the years.
Kris: And now he wants to help, is that it?
Dad: He thinks he owes it to you.
Kris: Well, he’s right, Dad. He does owe it to me. He owes it to me and to you and to mom. He owes it all right but I don’t want his help.
Dad: Kris, no matter what happened in the past you need his help now if you want to live. I need his help now because I want you to live! Please, Kris, try to forgive and accept what only Kenny can give you.
Kris: Dad, don’t you remember how we had to sneak into our own house to avoid the press?
Dad: Of course I remember.
Kris: And the tabloids; they were the worst. Our faces were all over them for months. I couldn’t go into a grocery store without seeing headlines, awful untrue headlines over our pictures.
Dad: Yes, I know.
Kris: And Jerry couldn’t take the strain anymore so he broke off our engagement and finally married Nancy Lester.
Dad: I know.
Kris: Now you want me to just forget all about that stuff and accept Kenny back as my long lost brother?
Dad: Kris, I know what you suffered through. I was there too, honey. You and your mom and I, we all suffered together but now I’m afraid I’m going to lose you. Kris, Kenny is your only real hope.
Kris: Well, I’d rather die than take anything Kenny has to offer me!
Lights out.
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Copyright John & Joanne Miller, all rights reserved.
This script may be performed free of charge, provided no charge is
made for entrance or for programmes. In return, the
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contacted at: joannesmiller65@gmail.com.