be overdone and made to sound ridiculous. He stands in a perfectly straight manner and his mouth moves like one would expect a statue's mouth to move.) Thanksgiving by Edgar A. Guest Thankfulfor the glory of the old red, white and blue; For the spirit of America that still is staunch and true. (These words must be overemphasized) Bill: (Jumps up still holding the newspaper in a reading position.) Oh no! I just can't believe it. (He is overjoyed.) Texas A.&M defeated Colorado State. That means theyll have a chance for the Rose Bowl. Pamela (He yells to his wife from the hall.) Brad: (Continues to recite his poem but not so that it is too audible to the audience.) Pamela:(Enters from hall.) What? (She is dressed in a suit, heels, ect. She is putting on an earring.) Bill: oh! (He is stunned like when you are yelling to someone and they are close.) He again remembers his excitement.) Texas A. fa M. can still be in the Rose Bowl,honey. That means we're going to California for the holidays. Pamela: (really uninterested) I don't know how you are going to afford it. It's really silly when you can watch it on T.V. Brad: (He quits reciting his poetry when his mother enters. He stands watching them until this last speech, then he hops over to his mother and hands her the pine cone.) Here, fix this. Daddy's too dumb. And when are we all going to have dinner? I have a poem I learned in school that I want to say for our Thanksgiving prayer. We can say a prayer can't we? When we're all at the table eating turkey, cranberries, and the pumpkin pie you cooked? 32 Pamela: Yes, dear, if you like. (She puts the tail in the turkey and gives it back to Brad.) Why don't you try to finish this? Brad: (He walks back to his craft tools in the middle of the floor, sits down and begins to cut more tails. Pamela and Bill continue discussion.) Pamela :(Takes the paper from him, folds it and puts it back in the magazine rack. Bill follows her.) Besides, we couldn't take Linda or Jerry with us because they have to be back in school on the second. Bill: But you know how I've wanted to go. Isn't their someway..... Pamela: Shhh. Here come Jerry and Linda now. We will talk about it later. (Jerry and Linda enter from back stage right entrance(kitchen). Linda is in high school and Jerry, a freshman in college. They are taking off their coats as they enter. Bradley looks up and sees them. He grabs his half made turkey and runs over to Linda.) Linda: (Throws her coat on the dining room table. Hi, Twerp. (She pulls his hair.) Brad: (Shouts in pretended pain.) Ouch! Key, you wanta hear my poem I get to say at dinner? We're all gonna eat together. We are gonna have turkey and pumkin pie an.... Linda: I'd like to but...... Brad: O.K. (Again takes the statue like position) Thanksgiving.....by Edgar A. Guest. Linda: (She starts to leave but stops a moment and partially listens.) Brad: (He recites the first stanza and begins the second, when Linda starts to leave.) Hey, where ya going. I thought you were gonna listen to my poem. 33