Play #27

Bumble Bear

__________________________

A short play

By Joseph Frost

Originally written as a part of

31 Plays in 31 Days

September 1, 2022

Contact:
710 Newland Dr
Jackson MS 39211
FrostJosephD@gmail.com
*member, Dramatists Guild
 A married couple, CHAD and LESLIE.

CHAD
It’s on ice.

LESLIE
Good.

CHAD
Finally an evening alone.

LESLIE
Quiet.

CHAD
I would say too quiet...

LESLIE
But the kids are at my mom’s house tonight.

CHAD
All night.

LESLIE
And we are all by ourselves.

A moment of realization.

CHAD
You packed the night lights.

LESLIE
Yes, I did.

CHAD
Katie can’t sleep without it.

LESLIE
I know that. Night lights, puppy, smiley cat.

CHAD
Kevin has his blanket from the van Horton family.
 2.

LESLIE
The dinosaur on with the blue edge.

CHAD
I though they gave us the red trim one.

LESLIE
The blue edge.

CHAD
You sure?

LESLIE
I’m very sure.

CHAD
If it’s still here, they’ll call for it.

LESLIE
Honey, I got it.

CHAD
Ok. Ok. I’m sorry. Let’s relax.

They try.

LESLIE
Snuggle time.

CHAD
When was the last time we--

LESLIE
Had this kind of time?

CHAD
Seems like forever.

LESLIE
And a day.

A moment.

CHAD
I put an extra diapie in the bag.
 3.

LESLIE
Just in case.

CHAD
I did.

LESLIE
So did I. She’ll be all set.

CHAD
Oh, Katie bug. She’s a sweet little stinky boo.

LESLIE
Kev didn’t want his bear.

Chad’s eyes widen.

CHAD
He didn’t?

LESLIE
I asked and he said he didn’t. Weird.

CHAD
You let him leave without his bumble bear.

LESLIE
He’s eight years old.

CHAD
So?

LESLIE
We backed the bag together. He agreed to it.

CHAD
He was lying. To himself and you.

LESLIE
No.

CHAD
This is gonna be the thing.

LESLIE
He wanted to show gramma he’s a big boy.
 4.

CHAD
But he’s not.

LESLIE
This is what he wanted to do. His idea.

CHAD
I can’t believe you would run this risk tonight.

LESLIE
It’ll be fine.

CHAD
For about forty five minutes until he--

LESLIE
You’ve got to settle down.

CHAD
No.

Chad stands.

LESLIE
Where are you going?

CHAD
I’m taking bumble bear to gramma’s right now.

LESLIE
You’re not.

Chad exits. He returns with a bear in a

bumblebee costume.

LESLIE
It’ll take you an hour to drive over there.

CHAD
And an hour back. It’ll go quick.

LESLIE
That’s two whole hours.
 5.

CHAD
Which we wouldn’t have lost if you hadn’t--
(beat)
Never mind.

LESLIE
Say what you will.

CHAD
I don’t wanna say.

LESLIE
It’s not all my fault.

CHAD
It is not your fault. I also blame Kevin.

LESLIE
You do.

CHAD
Be back soon.

Chad leaves.

Lights down.