The Green Monster

Summary

A lesson about jealousy and the difference between want and need.

Bible Reference

Hebrews 13:5

Characters

Bazill

Alex

Teacher

Props

Watch

Setting

School grounds

Staging

None

Script

BAZZIL is up. Lights come up. ALEX enters…

ALEX:

Hey, Bazzil! Wanna play some kickball?

BAZZIL: looks toward ALEX; half-hearted

Oh, hey Alex.

BAZZIL looks towards audience.

ALEX:

Whoa! What’s up with you?

BAZZIL:

Nothin’.

ALEX:

You forget who you’re talkin’ to? This is Alex, remember? Your best buddy? I know when somthin’s up. Now, come on, what gives?

BAZILL:

Just leave me alone, all right?

TEACHER: entering behind ALEX

Hey Alex. Bazill. You guys gonna come join us for kickball?

BAZILL just stares forward.

ALEX:

I tried askin’ him already. He says nothin’s wrong, but I don’t believe him.

TEACHER crosses to other side of BAZILL.

TEACHER:

Is Alex right? Is something bothering you?

BAZZIL takes in a deep breath and then blows it out.

BAZZIL:

All right, I’ll tell you. Tommy got a brand new bike for his birthday and all I got was a stupid watch!

ALEX:

So?

BAZILL:

So? It’s not fair! I asked my parents over and over for a new bike! It’s just not fair!

TEACHER:

Seems like Bazill is looking a little green, Alex.

ALEX looks BAZILL over.

ALEX:

That’s funny – he looks royal blue to me.

TEACHER:

No, no, no. I mean, he’s been bitten by the green monster.

ALEX: losing it

Ah! Quick! Someone call 911! We got a get him to a hospital!

TEACHER: shouting over ALEX’s hysteria

Calm down! I’m talking about envy!

ALEX: trying to calm down

Envy? What’s that?

TACHER:

It’s when you want something that somebody else has.

ALEX:

Ooooh.

TEACHER:

See, Bazill really wanted a new bike, but got a watch instead. When he sees Tommy on his new bike, it makes Bazill wish he had it. (To BAZILL) Isn’t that right?

BAZILL: still pouting

Yeah.

ALEX:

Bazill, didn’t you get a bike for Christmas last year?

BAZILL:

Yeah.

ALEX:

So what’s the big deal? Is there something wrong with it?

BAZILL:

No. It’s just Tommy’s is cooler. He got the brand new style with the cool grips and stuff. Mine is last year’s model.

ALEX:

Well, you were lucky to get one for last Christmas. I haven’t gotten a new bike in a few years, but mine still gets me around okay.

TEACHER:

And some kids don’t even have bikes. (Pause) Do you remember our Bible lesson from a couple of weeks ago? We talked about God wanting us to be happy with the things we have.

ALEX: thinks for a moment

Oh yeah. We need to be happy with what we have knowing that God will supply all our needs.

BAZILL:

So God’s going to give me a new bike?

TEACHER:

Do you really need a new bike or do you just want one?

BAZILL:

What do you mean?

TEACHER:

There’s a big difference between the things you want and the things you need.

ALEX:

You know…like we need food to survive, clothes and shelter to protect us from the weather…

TEACHER:

That’s right, Alex. Bazill, I can understand you being disappointed about not getting what you wanted, but wishing you could have something that someone else has is wrong. As a matter of a fact, God made it quite clear by putting it in the Ten Commandments: you shall not covet…or want…anything that belongs to somebody else.

BAZILL thinks it over.

BAZILL:

I guess my bike is nicer than most kids. I don’t really need to have the coolest bike in town, huh? (Pause) I’ve been kinda silly, haven’t I?

TEACHER:

That’s all right, Bazill. We all have moments when we let our wants get carried away. We just need to catch it before it gets too far and ask God to forgive us. Would like to do that now?

BAZILL nods his head, then ALL bow heads.

BAZILL:

God, I’m sorry I wanted Tommy’s new bike. I was wrong. I know that you will give me everything I need. Help me to trust in you more and to want things less. Please forgive me. Amen.

TEACHER and ALEX:

Amen.

TEACHER:

Feel better now?

BAZILL:

Yeah. I sure do. Thanks.

TEACHER:

You’re welcome. Now, how about joining the rest of the class in kickball?

BAZILL:

All right. (Begins exit running.) But I get to pitch…

ALEX: chasing after him

Hey, I called it first…

TEACHER: following

Now boys!

Lights out.

THE GREEN MONSTER