DAVEY AND THE SLINGSHOT

A Peace Play
By Carole L. Cooney
Setting: A glen filled with bluebells

Characters:
Narrator
Razzle, a twin bunny
Dazzle, a twin bunny
Davey, a neighbor boy
Robby, a little bird
Nadee, a wise American Indian maiden

Narrator: One sunny day, Nadee, a wise American Indian maiden, watched Razzle and Dazzle, little twin
bunnies, hop merrily through the bluebell glen. Suddenly, dark clouds blocked the sun. A cold
wind blew making the bluebells chime. In the shadowy woods a silent shape crept.

Razzle: Dazzle, did you see something crawling along that fallen log?

Dazzle: No. I think you’re seeing things, Razzle!

Razzle: Look more carefully, Dazzle. See! There it goes! Why it’s Davey chasing that little bird down
the bluebell glen.

Dazzle: You know how mean Davey can be to little animals. Do you think we should go help that little
bird?

Razzle: I’m not sure. Davey sure is awfully mean.

Narrator: While the bunnies were deciding what to do, they heard the little bird’s cry. It got louder and
louder.

Dazzle: That cry must be the little bird. Let’s go and see if we can help.

Narrator: Razzle and Dazzle hopped as fast as their little legs would carry them. Suddenly they stopped!
The little bird had disappeared. Standing in front of them was Davey with a sling shot in his hand.

Davey: (shouting) Hold still, you little bunnies. Let me see if my aim is good enough to shoot both of
you with one shot.

Narrator: Zooming out of the tree tops, the little bird flew directly toward Davey landing on his head and
began pecking furiously.

Davey: (swinging his arms over his head) Hey, cut that out! Stop! You crazy bird! Ouch! Stop it!

Narrator: But the little bird kept pecking until Davey threw his sling shot at it and ran away.

Dazzle: Little bird you saved our lives.

Razzle: Thank you very much, little bird.

Dazzle: I’m Dazzle and this is my brother, Razzle. What is your name?

Robby: My name is Robby.

Razzle: Where do you live?

Robby: I live on the tip-top branch of this beautiful tree.

Narrator: It was then that the bunnies saw little drops of blood drip from the bird’s wing.

Dazzle: You are wounded, Robby. What can we do to help you?

Robby: Please call to Nadee, the Indian maiden. She’ll know what to do.

Razzle: (calling) Nadee! Nadee, please come quickly. Robby needs your help.

Narrator: The bluebells shimmered and chimed as Nadee ran through the grass to Robby’s side.

Nadee: Oh Robby, were you flying about helping other animals? Remember what happened the last time.
Now, let me see your little wing?

Robby: (Chirp, chirp.) It doesn’t hurt very much.

Nadee: Robby, you are lucky this time. It’s just a small cut and it will mend nicely. Little bunnies, run to
the bluebells and pick one bluebell flower and one green leaf and bring them to me.

Narrator: Using a bluebell as a bowl, Nadee filled it with a few drops of clear cool water. She tore up the
leaf and placed the pieces in the water, stirring them with a twig.

Nadee: Sit on this branch, Robby, while I put this leaf mixture on your cut wing.

Robby: (Chirp, chirp, chirp!) Oh, that feels so good!

Nadee: You will have to rest today, but tomorrow you should be as good as new.

Robby: Thank you, Nadee! You never fail to help me.

Nadee: Just like your friends and you have helped each other.

Dazzle: What shall we do about Davey? How can we help him?

Narrator: Just then, Davey came running out of the wood screaming and crying.

Davey: (crying) Oh, help me someone!! There’s a great big bee after me! Help! Help!

Narrator: Robby immediately sprang up and flapped his wings getting ready to fly.

Nadee: Robby, please don’t move. Let’s let the bluebells get the bee’s attention. Come little bluebells,
sing out your merry music and pour out your sweet perfume to draw the bee away from Davey.

Narrator: In a flash the huge bee zoomed to the bluebells leaving Davey standing there scratching his head.

Davey: What’s going on? Where is that bee?

Nadee: Davey, the bluebells helped you just like the Robby helped the bunnies. Don’t you think it
would be nice if say you’re sorry to those you hurt?

Davey: (embarrassed) I guess so. I’m really sorry for using my sling shot to hurt you, little bird. And
I’m sorry for scaring you bunnies by trying to hit you.

Nadee: How about promising to use your sling shot only on things that are not alive?

Davey: (shaking his head) That’s what my mother keeps telling me to do. Now I know what she was
talking about. It’s just like when I didn’t want to be hurt by that huge bee. Now I know what it
feels like when I scared or hurt you. I promise to use my sling shot only on things that are not
alive.

Nadee: That’s a great promise, Davey. You learned an important lesson today. Remember, toys are to
play with and are not for hurting others.