The Snow Kids

A Puppet Play by Karl A. Matz

Students can create puppets by drawing Snow Kids and pasting them onto sticks.

Characters:
Bobby
Sanford
Connie
Gina

(The four puppets are standing still and quiet as snow people do. Gradually, we hear a muffled whisper.)

Bobby: Hey! Hey! Can you guys hear me?

Connie: I hear you. Be quiet. You're a snowkid. You're not supposed to talk!

Bobby: Well, neither are you!

Sanford: You two quit arguing. Someone might hear!

Bobby: I don't care who hears. I'm sick and tired of standing around all day like . . . like . . .

Gina: Like a snowkid?

Bobby: Yeah! I want to be FREE ! I want adventure.

Gina: Adventure? Like what? You're made of snowballs!

Bobby: Well--Don't you ever wonder what's over there?

Sanford: You mean over that hill by that green house?

Bobby: Yeah! I've been standing here for days, freezing my carrot nose off, and just staring at that hill. I'm sick of it. I want to see what's on the other side.

Sanford: But what if it's something dangerous?

Connie: Yeah! There could be something hot that would melt you.

Sanford: Or maybe some water! If you fell in, you'd be slush!

Gina: Do you think you could do it, Bobby?

Bobby: If I could, would you come, too?

Gina: You bet! I'm sick ofjust standing here, too.

Connie: GINA! What are you saying?

Gina: Come on, Connie. Aren't you just a little curious?

Bobby: Well, if you want to go, then let's get started!

Gina: How can we?

Sanford and Connie: You can't!

Bobby: (groaning as if trying to lift something heavy ) UUUHHHHGGGG!

Gina: What are you doing?

Sanford: Stop it, man!

Connie: You're scaring me.

Bobby: UUUUUNNNNNGGGGG!

Gina: You moved, Bobby. I saw it!

Bobby: (working hard) You've got to get yourself rolling a little.

Connie: How do you know this?

Bobby: I've done it before!

Connie: (angry) When?

Gina: (thrilled) Yeah! When?

Sanford: I know. It was last night. I. saw you. You went out to the street and back.

Bobby: You could have told on me and you didn't! What a pal!

Sanford: Who would I tell? I'm a snowkid.

Bobby: You've got a point. Well, just a little more. (breaks free) THERE! Here I go! Who's coming?

Gina: ME! UUUUUNNNNNGGGG! 000WWWW! UMPH! I'm free! Bye, Connie! Bye, Sanford! (Bobby disappears)Wait, Bobby! Wait for me!

Connie: GINA Q. SNOWKID, YOU GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!

(Gina disappears following right behind Bobby.)

Sanford: Come on, Connie. Let's go with them.

Connie: But you never know what could happen over there!

Sanford: I know what's going to happen here. We'll stand here until March and turn into a pile of slush, then we'll be gone. That's if some kid doesn't kick us over first. No thanks! I'm leaving.

Connie: Sanford, NO!

Sanford: UUUUMMMMPH! Just -- got -- to -- get -- rolling! UMPH! THERE!

Connie: Sanford, STOP!

Sanford: Bye, Connie! I'm off to see what's on the other side of the hill.

Connie: But what if someone sees you? (Sanford is gone.) Sanford? (long silence). Sanford? Bobby? GINNNNNAAAAAA! Heey, you guys! Wait for me! UUUUUGGGHHHHHHH! How'd they do that? HEY? 00000FFFFFF! HERE I COME! (she disappears)

Excerpted from: Themes and Bulletin Boards Across the Curriculum.