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10min Play - In a small town, main floor café

In a small town main floor café, seated at a little round table next to a low lying window are two people. One younger man in his late twenties and the other man wizened with wrinkles of experience. The younger is lost in life, troubled, concerned and a bit burned out; looking for some helpful advice from his companion. They are both having coffee, black; the cup sitting in front of the younger is twice the size of his companion and there is an empty one on the sill beside him.

Older: looking out the window

You see the weather, the ways it’s changing?

Younger: Yea…

Looking into his coffee cup

Winter’s on its way.

O: furrows brow and looks at man across from him

Not the season. Not the big, obvious changes that smack you in the face screaming “Here I am! Winter is here! Ta-Da! You’ll never see summer again!” No…

sigh

(Softer) It’s the little changes. The ones you can only see if you slow down for a while and open your eyes; the hints that guide you and help you to prepare for the coming seasonal changes. Have you noticed them?

Y: glancing up at the old man

Oh, I guess so, sure…

O: reaches over and touches other’s shoulder while directing his attention to the ground outside the window

Look there on the grass. When it rains, the water splashes through that calamity of weeds and gives itself over to the earth which nourishes the plants and lets them grow. Do you see what it’s doing now?

Y: scrutinizes grass halfheartedly

Only some are reaching the ground, the others are clinging to the blades.

O: nods

Well now, that little change has made a big difference in the lives of those plants. It’s getting cooler and the rain is so cold that it’s turning into sleet. So, instead of falling to the ground, like it had during the warmer months, it holds onto the grass with all its might and tries to resist the inevitable fall.

Y: Okay?

Pause

Older looks out the window as though waiting. Wanted silence seems implied so the youth waits impatiently, fidgeting with the lip of his coffee cup

Y: Huffs and leans over the table toward counterpart

So what?!

O: Did you look at the sky in these last few evenings as it’s started to get colder with the sun setting early?

Y: fidgeting with his cup

Why does it matter? - No, I haven’t; I don’t have time to look at the sky. I’ve got bigger things on my plate right now than star gazing!

Knocks the bottom of his cup on the table

O: connects gaze and speaks while emphatically waving finger in his company’s direction

That’s your problem. You haven’t noticed how those chilly wet drops have resisted the earth even further. They begin to get lighter and lighter as they freeze and are able to ride the breeze for as long as they possibly can, avoiding the inevitable, before landing on the grass and reluctantly plunging into the dirt. With each change in their environment, they find more and more ways to fight their way through their intended journey to the ground.

Y: Oh great!

Getting up with his empty coffee cup in hand, the younger begins to head for the door, stopping only to raise his arms in exasperation while addressing the other man.

That’s my problem, rain turning into snow. Winter’s coming so I’d better pay my heating bills; thanks for the tip but there’s no one there anymore but me. In case you haven’t noticed, mum’s gone and there was nothing I could do about it. What’s it matter if the heat’s on anymore? I certainly don’t care!

Starts to leave

O: Older takes younger’s arm and gently seats him down. The waitress brings another cup of coffee.

Now, now, wait a minute, hold your horses; don’t go getting your knickers in a knot. Drink your coffee and sit awhile. Listen to this old soul for once in your life! You guys… kids your age… always in a hurry, jumping out of your seat just like you jump to conclusions! You’re so clever – so quick – you wind up missing the point; losing sight of things that are right in front of your face.

Y: Throws arms into the air and then folds them on his slouched torso

Like what?! What point? If you’re talking about… (huff ) I did my best for mum with you gone. Now she’s been gone for over a year… You don’t need to remind me, I know; I missed so much time with her before she got sick… but kids grow up, I wanted to live my own life. Besides, it’s not like I can go back! I don’t even feel like I can go forward, for crying out loud! I came here for help – advice – where to go next! – not a… not an... an old guys story about rough Canadian weather. I grew up here, I know, it’s cold and it snows… a lot!

O: Shakes head with a knowing smile as the waitress brings yet another coffee

tsk, tsk. See, you’re so excited – in so much of a hurry – that you fail to realize how I haven’t even mentioned it snowing yet. Since you haven’t noticed any of the other telling changes in the weather, I’m not surprised you didn’t notice that we haven’t even had our first real snow fall of the season. You always noticed it for her and she loved you all the more for it, you were, and still are, her pride and joy. You used to see those little things that mattered; like the first big snowfall that hasn’t come yet…

Looks over glasses

But when it does, oh boy, will it play a vital role in this old guys useless story about Canadian winters.

Silently looks out the window

Pause

Y: tips head back and rests it against the wall in defeat

What’s the snow’s role in the story dad? How will it make a difference?

Fallows father’s gaze out window

O: (serious) Everything makes a difference; every single little thing.

Y: (sits up in his chair at the change in his father’s tone, looks quizzically at him) How?

O: Look, snow, as its falling, floats still slower than its predecessor. When it finally lands, it holds its companions above the earth in a feeble act of rebellion. It’s beautiful, natural, and all that can be expected after submitting it to such a frigid and difficult environment. But in the end spring comes, things warm and snow melts. Then we’re back to rain; water, falling from the heavens feeding our beautiful earth.

Y: So, your advice to me is that I should be water?

O: Oh, come on now don’t be a smart alec, just listen. Those little drops of water have a big effect on the world around them. They nourish the grains of dirt which then sustain the plants which further provide for other living things which provide for others and others… you get the picture. It never stops, the picture is always growing, and it’s a very big picture. But it would all crumble into nothingness without all the little elements doing their part and not giving up during tricky situations.

Y: So…

O: (frustrated) You should be yourself! Stop sulking and man up! There’s a big world out there with lots of obstacles for everyone to hurtle over in some way shape or form…

Sigh

What I’m trying to say is that even though your environment changes, often against your will and maybe for the worst, it may produce some challenging differences in your life and within your very being but you can make the most of what life throws at you by sticking to your roots and helping where you can.

Y: Like the way you did. You left us and I thought it was because you didn’t want to be part of the family anymore… but really you had to go; for us and everyone else who wanted to keep the lives they had worked so hard to get. You were always so strong; wise… you always knew what to do. I’ve just barely survived this far trying to walk in your shoes… I --

O: Walk in your own shoes. You are a great man who is going through some difficult times but you wouldn’t have been put through them if you couldn’t handle them. Remember, there is a higher purpose guiding and shaping you that is always working toward the greater good. You may not realize it at the time; in fact you may not ever know throughout all of your life’s travels; but in the end, if you keep your head up and be the best you can be, through the hard times as much as the easy ones, you will wind up where you were meant to be; where you can do the most good and fulfill your true purpose in life.

Y: (Contemplative) The most good… just being myself… staying true to my roots…

O: (standing) And maybe, just maybe, if you take a time out and slow down just a tad to notice those little things, those important but easy-to-pass-by little things, you might just be able to open your eyes wide enough to catch a glimpse at the greater purpose that your little, seemingly useless at times, story is working toward. It is those beautiful little moments that make not knowing the meaning of this vast universe so worthwhile. Don’t pass up on an opportunity to be happy.

He gives his son a wink and a gentle pat on the back as makes his way slowly out the door

Pause

Y: Rises and leaves money on the table for the waitress before heading for the door

Waitress: Thanks hun!

Waves over to him

Hey… are you going to the cenotaph today for the memorial service? I know you haven’t really gone because… but since…

Y: looks back with a contemplative, yet knowing smile

Yeah, I think I just might. With mom gone now, someone has to lay the wreath on dad’s cross.

W: I’ll see you there then! It’s been so long since you’ve come, everyone will be glad to see your friendly face again.

She gives him a warm smile

It’s cold out there so I’m bringing a few carafes of hot chocolate and coffee for those in attendance.

Y: turns around and smiles a little bigger

You know what, let me help you with those, they look heavy and I’ve got a hunch that our first snow fall could come anytime now. These veterans are going to need all the hot drinks they can get.

W: Every helping hand makes a difference.

end

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