"Noah's R"
written by
Cheryl A.Taylor
Copyright - January, 2002

(The children are getting ready to go on stage to present their Easter Program, but Noah has decided he is not going. The children all have their signs and are nervously moving around, getting ready as the Director enters.)

Director:     OK, everybody. It's Easter program time! Gather ‘round for the final pep talk! You       have learned your parts, practiced, practiced, and practiced again, and now its time to face the audience! Everyone get your letters and line up in the order that you will enter. I will give you the signal when its time to go onto the stage. (Director leaves.)

Noah:     I'm not doing it.

Letter H:     Beg your pardon?

Noah:     I said, I'm not doing it.

Letter H:     Not doing what?

Letter A:     Are you guys nervous? I wasn't until I looked out a few minutes ago
and saw the crowd!

Letter P1:     We'd better get lined up before Mr(s). ________ comes back in. (Looks at Noah) What's wrong with him?!

Letter H:     He's not doing it.

Letter Y:     Doing what?

Letter H:     I don't know! I can't find out because everyone keeps interrupting!

Letter P1:     Well, excuse me!  I guess your H stand for your Highness!

Noah:     I'm still not doing it!

Letter Y:     Doing what?!!!!

Noah:     I am not being the "R" in the Happy Easter program.

Letter A:     You have to! The program has already started!

Noah:     Well, I'm sorry, but it can start and end without me! Now!

Letter T:     You can't do that!

Noah:     Yes, I can.

Letter P2:     Why didn't you tell us that you didn't want to be in it before now? We have practiced for weeks now and you haven't said a thing!

Noah:     I just realized that I am last!

Letter E1:     Well, of course your last. The last letter in Happy Easter is the "R"!

Noah:     No, that's not what I mean. Well, it is, but...

Letter Y:     Man, I am really confused.

Letter A2:     I think we all are!

Noah:     What I am trying to say is I am tired of being last.

Letter S:     You're not always last.

Noah:     Yes, I am. When we spelled out Merry Christmas last year I was the letter "S". When we spelled out Thanksgiving, guess who was the "G"?!

Letter T:     That's just a coincidence. You're being silly.

Noah:     Am I? Do you remember a few years ago in the Christmas program
when we were dressed up like the animals in the stable?

Letter Y:     Yeah, that was funny! I was a camel!

Letter A1:     (Speaking to E2) We were the sheep with those fuzzy costumes that made us itch! Remember?

Letter E2:     How could I forget? Everytime I see anything that is a light pink color - even strawberry ice cream!, I think about that icky ‘ol medicine we had all over us for days!

Letter A1:     Oooh! And right before it dried it was real stickey and gooey!

Letter T:     Hey, that's the play that had that hilarious donkey in it! We cracked up laughing everytime he did that crazy "Hee-haw, Hee-haw!"

Letter P1:     Yeah, that was Joey from down on Main Street. I think he lost weight in that donkey suit. He said it was like an oven in there!

Letter H:     That was Joey Burdette, wasn't it? We haven't seen him in a long
time, have we?

Letter P2:     We should probably check up on him to see if he is going to church anywhere.

Noah:     Excuse me people! I appreciate you doing your Christian duty, but I
thought I was the one having the crisis now!

Letter E1:     Sorry! (To others) We'll get back to Joey later. (To Noah) Now what were you saying about the animals in the stable? By the way, what
animal were you? I don't remember!

Noah:     I never get a part that anyone remembers. I don't know if you would call it "an animal" or not, but I was the Spider.

Letter H:     The spider! Now I remember! All the legs were sticking out all over! (Waves arms wildly out to each side)

Letter S:     A spider in the manger scene?

Letter P2:     Mr(s) __________tried, but couldn't come up with another animal costume that would fit. Noah was a lot younger and smaller at the time. The Spider costume was the only one left that would fit.

Letter A2:     I'm not even sure there were spiders in the manger.

Letter E1:     Of course there were. There have been pests around forever. I mean...

Noah:     See, that's what I'm talking about. Mr(s) ________ has it in for me. And, you know, when we play any games at Youth Group I am always picked last.

Letter Y:     Oh, Noah, I don't think that's on purpose. Nobody really cares if they win or lose at some crazy game at Youth Group meetings.

Noah:     They don't, do they? Then why wasn't I picked to be on your volleyball team last week? You were the captain - the one who got to choose the team!

Letter Y:     Well, truthfully, the last time I picked you the ball came across the net and bounced off your head, that's why!

Noah:     I can't help it that I'm not coordinated! Or, tall enough to dunk the ball, or strong enough to hit a homerun, but I could have been a good...uh...

Letter A1:     A good what?

Noah:        Uh, well, oh never mind. You all don't care.

Letter H:     We do, too, care. What did you say?

Noah:     I said, I could have been a good H!

(End of excerpt)

Note:  I realize that the kids sound like they are arguing all through this excerpt, but at the end Noah realizes that the R is the best letter there is.  R stands for Resurrection and Noah and all his friends agree that the Resurrection is the best part of the story!