Bob and Marcia's Morning Meditations

Characters:
BOB – Crabby “Archie Bunker” type character
MARCIA – Bob’s curious, sweet wife

Summary:  
Marcia decides to have some friends over for dinner without first consulting with Bob.

(Bob and Marcia are sitting on two comfortable chairs, center stage.  A small table is placed between the chairs with a small lamp, newspaper and two coffee mugs.  With reading glasses, Marcia is reading a section the morning newspaper; and Bob has a remote control in his hand.)

MARCIA
God gave us a WONderful morning, didn’t He?

BOB
(taps the remote control several times as he speaks.) Yeah, yeah, I s’pose.  What channel is that marathon on?

MARCIA
It looks like it’s going to be a nice day, too.  Thank the Lord.

BOB
(taps the remote control a few more times) Whatever.  There—there it is.  My all-time favorite television show ever. 

MARCIA
(lowers the paper and looks over her glasses) The ‘All in the Family’ TV Marathon?

BOB
Yeah, I wanna watch it all day.  (picks up his empty coffee mug and looks in it). Marcia, make more coffee.

MARCIA
Why?  I bought you the entire DVD set for Christmas.  You could watch several shows without commercials.  What’re you thinking?

BOB
(looks directly at Marcia) What do you mean, ‘What’re you thinking?’?  This is my television and my remote control and I wanna watch my favorite show without changing DVDs every five minutes.  (stands up)  I’ll go make my own coffee. (begins to leave, but stops when Marcia replies)

MARCIA
Now you sound like Archie Bunker.

BOB
(mocks Marcia) ‘Now you sound like Archie Bunker’ – Ha!  I guess maybe I do sound like my hero a little.  So, where’d you hide the coffee can this week?

MARCIA
No, Bob, stop: please sit down--you better let me do it.  Otherwise you’ll just complain about having headaches all day again.

BOB
Ohhh, allll-right.  (returns to his chair)

MARCIA
Besides, I have something to tell you.

BOB
I’m all ears. (picks up the remote control and taps it once)  I just turned off my all-time favorite show, just for you. (picks up a section of the newspaper)

MARCIA
I invited my friends over for dinner tonight.

BOB
(slams the newspaper down on his lap) You did what?  Which friends did you invite this time?  Did you talk them into it?  Remember what happened last time?

MARCIA
Joe and Arlene.   Yes, I vividly remember what happened last time.

BOB
I can’t believe this.  You invited two people we hardly know over to my house?  What’re you thinkin’?  Besides, the game’s on tonight. I wanted to watch it.

MARCIA
You could watch the game with Joe.

BOB
(points and taps his forehead)  Think, Marcia, think about what you’re sayin’.  You want me to spend my Saturday night watchin’ the game with someone I hardly know?

MARCIA
Or, you could watch the marathon with Joe.  Bob, Joe’s a really good guy, once you get to know him a little.  Remember what you told me last time?  You were going to try harder to be friendly with some of my friends, too?

BOB
Oh… yeah, I forgot about that.   

MARCIA
Okay--remember when you kicked all the ladies out of the house?  You didn’t like what they were teaching in our Bible Study.

BOB
They were talkin’ about Jesus.  All that stuff about Him dyin’ on the cross got me upset.

MARCIA
I think you were just afraid.

BOB
Afraid?  I ain’t afraid-a nothin’.

MARCIA
Okay:  Prove it.  Joe and Arlene are good friends from church.  Ask them a Bible question, and they’ll answer it for you.

BOB
I won’t wait for tonight.  (pulls a cell phone from the pocket in his robe and opens it)
Okay, what’s their number?

MARCIA
555-2777

BOB
(taps the phone seven times) Got it. (holds phone to his ear) Ha-hello?  Joe?  This is Bob, you know, Bob and Marcia? (pauses)  Yeah, that’s right—you’re comin’ over tonight.  See, I have a Bible question, is that okay? (pauses, then speaks to Marcia) He seems nice.

MARCIA
He’s very nice.

BOB
Okay… ready?  Here’s my question:  Does God think? (then, to Marcia) Haha- he’s thinking about it. (pauses) Yes, I’m still here.  (pauses, then repeats it to Marcia) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11.  Thanks. (closes the phone) Wow!

MARCIA
Yep, that’s what I think about God every day.

+++

Reference:  Jeremiah 29:11 (New King James Version)

--bro. tim pickl   
Sunday September 5, 2010 A.D.

Originally posted on FaithWriters -- Check it out:
  http://www.faithwriters.com/wc-article-level3-previous.php?id=36836

Return to Tim Pickl's Poetry Page