Miscellaneous - http://phatbowling.com/perrymeridian/The_Bad

The Bad Seed
By Maxwell Anderson

RHODA- Mother, you know we didn't really have our lunch because
Claude Daigle was drowned.

CHRIS- I know. It was on the radio

RHODA- He was drowned, so then they were all rushing and calling and hurrying
to seee if they could make him alive again, but they couldn't so then they said
the picnic was over and we had to go home.

CHRIS- I'm glad your home!

RHODA- so could I have a peanut butter sandwhich and milk?

CHRIS- Did you seem him dear?

RHODA- Yes, of course. then they put a blanket over him.

CHRIS- Did you see him taken from the water?

RHODA- Yes, they laid him out on the lawn and worked and worked. but it didn't
help.

CHRIS- I want you to get those pictures right out of your mind. I don't want
you to be frightened or bothered at all. These things happen sometimes and when
they do we simply accept them.

RHODA- I thought it was exciting. could I have the peanut butter sandwhich,
now?

CHRIS- Yes, I'm getting it ready for you. here dear. Darling you're
controlling yourself very well,but just the same it was an unfortunate thing to
see and remember. I understand how you feel my darling.

RHODA- I don't know what you're talking about. I don't feel any way at all.

CHRIS- have you been naughty?

RHODA- Why, no mother. what will you give if I give you a basket of kisses?

CHRIS- I'll give you a basket of hugs!

RHODA- I want to skate on the asphalt

CHRIS- Then you should dear.

RHODA- Mother, could I sit under the scuppernong arbor for a while and read my
book?

CHRIS- Of course, Rhoda.

RHODA- It's shady there and I can see your window, and you can watch me from the
window, and I like to be where you can see me.

CHRIS- Is it a new book?

RHODA- yes, It's Elsie Dinsmore. The one I got for a prize at Sunday School.

CHRIS- I'll be here.

RHODA- I'll be right there all the time

* Transition*

RHODA- Did you want me to come in, mother? When you waved?

CHRIS- So you had the medal after all, Claude Daigle's medal.

RHODA- where did you find it?

CHRIS- How did the penmanship medal happen to be hidden under the lining
of the drawer of your table, Rhoda? Now tell me the Truth.

RHODA- hen we move into our new house can we have a scuppernong arbor mother?
can,we, mother? It's so shady and pretty, and I love sitting in it!

CHRIS-Answer my question. and remenber I'm not as innocent about what went
on at the picnic as you think. Miss fern has told me a great deal. So don't even
bother making up any story for my benefit. How did claude's medal get in your
drawer? It certainly didn't get there by itself. I'm waiting for your answer.

RHODA- I don't know how it got there, Mother.
How could I?

CHRIS- You know. You know very well how it got there. Did you goon the
wharf at any time during the picnic at any time?

RHODA-Yes,mother I went there once.

CHRIS- was it before or after you where bothering Claude?

RHODA- I wasn't bothering Claude, mother. What makes you think that?

CHRIS- Why did you go on the wharf/

RHODA- It was real early. When we first got there.

CHRIS- Why did you go on the wharf. you knew it was forbidden.

RHODA- One of the big boy said there were little oysters that grew on the
pilings. I wanted to see if they did.

CHRIS- one of the gaurds said he saw you coming off the wharf. and he says
it was a little before lunch time.

RHODA- I don't know why he says that. He's wrong I told miss fern he was wrong.
He hollered at me to come off the wharf and I did. I went back to the lawn and
thats where I saw Claude. But I wasn't bothering him.

CHRIS- whta did you say to Claude?

RHODA- I said- if I didn't win the medal I was glad he did.

CHRIS- Please, please, Rhoda. I know you're an adriot liar. But I must
have the truth!

RHODA- But its al true,mother. Every word.

CHRIS-One of the monitors saw you try to snatchthe medal off claude's
shirt. Is that true every word?

RHODA- Oh, that big girl was beth Musgrove. She told every one she saw me Even
leroy knows she saw me. Yoe see, Claude and I were just playing a game we made
up. He said that if I could catch him in 10 minutes and touch the medal with my
hand it was like prisoner's base- he'd let me wear the medal for an hour. How
can Mary Beth say I took the medal? I didn't.

CHRIS- She didn't say you took the medal. She said you grabbed it and
that Claude ran away down the beach. Did you have the medal even then?

RHODA- No, mommmy. Not then.

CHRIS- rhoda, how did you get the medal?

RHODA- Oh,I got it later on.

CHRIS- How?

RHODA- Claude went back on his promise and I followed him up the beach. Then he
stopped and said I could wear the medal if I gave him fifty cents.

CHRIS- Rhoda, stop that! Is that the truth?

RHODA-Yes, mother. I gave him fifty cents and he let me waer the medal.

CHRIS- Then why didn't you tel this to miss fern when she questioned you?

RHODA- Oh. mommy, mommy! mis fern doesn't like me at all! I was afraid she'd
think bad thing about me if I told her I had the medal!

CHRIS- Rhoda, you know how much Mrs. Daigle is heart broken over Claude's
death. It's destroyed her. I don't think she'll ever recover from it. Do you
know what I mean?

RHODA- Yes, mother I guess so

CHRIS- No. You don't know what I mean.

RHODA- But it was silly to want to bury the medal pinned on Claude's coat.
Claude was dead. He wouldn't know whether he had it pinned on or not. I've got
the sweetest mother. I tell every body I've got the sweetest mother in trhe
whole wide world!- if she wants a little boy that bad why doesn't she get one
from the orphans home?

CHRIS: get away from me! Don't talk to me. We have nonthing to say
to each other!

RHODA- Okay, okay mother

CHRIS- rhoda did you have anything to do, anything at all, no matter how
little it was with claude getting drowned?

RHODA- What makes you ask that, mother?

CHRIS- come here, rhoda, look me in the eyes and tell me, I must know!

RHODA- No,mother I didn't

CHRIS- You're not going back to the fern school next year they don't want
any more.

RHODA- okay

CHRIS- I-ll call Mi-s fern and ask her to come over.

RHODA- SHE'LL THINK i LIED TO HER.

CHRIS- You did lie to her.

RHODA- but not to you mother! Not to you!

CHRIS- Hello,fern school . MIss Claudia Fern ,please. No ,No message.
She's not home yet.

Sign Guestbook

View Guestbook

Visitors: 00027

Page Updated Wed Nov 16, 2005 7:22pm EST