Bud, Not Buddy
Script by CB

This Script has Four Characters: Narrator, Bud, Mr. C. and Jimmy

Narrator: When we finally got back to Grand Calloway Station Mr. Jimmy helped us unload the car. Finally, I decided that Mr. C had waited long enough, I stuck my rocks in his face.

Bud: See, I told you I had some rocks like those, the only difference is mine say, ‘flint m dot eight dot eleven dot eleven’ and gary in dot six dot thirteen dot twelve.’

Mr. C: Where did you find these? Didn’t I tell you not to do any rummaging around in that room you been sleeping in? Well? Where’d you get these? Answer me, where’d you take these from?

Jimmy: Herman? What’s this? What’s wrong?

Mr. C: I told you about this boy from the word go. He’s been snooping through things in the house that he’s got no business being in, he stole these.

Bud: No sir, I did not.

Mr. C: Then where’d you get them? I’m not going to ask you again.

Jimmy: Flint, Michigan, August eighth, 1911, and Gary, Indiana, July thirteenth, 1912? That’s more than twenty-five years ago. Son, where’d you find these? Just tell me the truth.

Bud: Mr. Jimmy, I didn’t find them or steal them from nowhere, these’ve always been mine. I got them from my momma and that’s the swear-‘fore-God truth. Now could I please have my rocks back, sir?

Mr. Jimmy and Mr. C: Your momma?

Bud: Yes, sir.

Mr. Jimmy: Bud, where did your mother get these?

Bud: I don’t know, sir. She always had them.

Mr. Jimmy: Bud, what did you say your momma’s name was?

Bud: No one ever asked me, sir.

Mr. C: You throw a lot of ‘sirs’ around but you’ve still got a real strong, real smart-mouthed, disrespectful streak in you, boy. Now you answer the question or I’ll----

Bud: Angela, sir. Her name is Angela Janet Caldwell.

Mr. Jimmy: Lord have mercy.

Narrator: Herman E Calloway’s pipe dropped out of his mouth and he stumbled and fumbled into Grand Calloway Station, feeling his way like he’d been struck blind. He was Bud’s grandfather and Angela Janet Caldwell was his daughter.

Our Only May Amelia
Jennifer L. Holm
script by PB (based on p 81-84)

Characters: Kaarlo (9), Pappa (8), May (4), Narrator (2)

All: I’m _____ and I’ll be playing the part of ______.
Narrator: The Jackson family is just sitting down for dinner. Seven brothers and May need a lot of food. Matti, the oldest brother, is having his last meal with the family before moving out to Astoria. Kaarlo, the second oldest, has an important announcement. Let’s listen in:

Kaarlo: A bunch of boys are leaving for Alaska tomorrow on account of the gold rush. I’d like to try my luck
May: Care for some more laksloda? Uncle Aarno gave us some Royal Chinook salmon. Very delicious.
Kaarlo: It’s a good opportunity. Besides, Matti’s getting to go to Astoria.
Pappa: (Bangs fist on table) Kaarlo, that gold rush is for fools with no sense. Cant’ you see that we’re barely making ends meet. There’ll soon be a new baby. You might as well shoot your poor mother; it’ll be the same thing as letting her lose a son to some foolishness.
Kaarlo: She ain’t my mother. My real mother’s in Vancouver.
May: Kaarlo! How can you say such a cruel thing?
Kaarlo: I don’t care.
Pappa: Don’t speak in that tone.
May: You know that she loves you. Don’t say such things.
Kaarlo: Well it’s the truth. She’s not my ma, and you’re not my pa. I don’t have to listen to you!
Pappa: You do so! (pause) We’re the only kin you have left in this world.
Kaarlo: What do you mean?
Pappa: Your ma’s dead. And your pa. And the children too.
Kaarlo: Dead? All the children?
Pappa: They’re all dead. They got the fever. Nearly half the town is dead.
May: When?
Pappa: Six months ago.
Kaarlo: Why didn’t you tell me?
Pappa: We did what we thought was right.
Kaarlo: AAAahh! (fading as running away)
Pappa: You children leave him be, you hear me?

Narrator: Will Kaarlo go to Alaska? Will Matti go to Astoria? What will happen to May when the new baby is born? These questions and more are answered in Jennifer Holm’s award winning book “Our Only May Amelia.”

All: Read Our Only May Amelia today!