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Who Cares? Package

by Alan R. Wolcott

Youth group has been instructed to bring something to contribute to a “missionary care package.” A couple kids are talking...each has a package at her feet.

Jen:

Where is he, Amanda? I thought you said he’d be here tonight?

Amanda:

Take it easy, Jen! You know that laser brain; he’s just late. He said he’d found something he wanted to send to Papua New Guinea...

Travis stumbles as he comes in toting a grocery bag.

Girls:

(together) What on earth?

Travis struggles toward them.

Amanda:

Oh, it’s just you, Travis. (To Jen) See, I told you he’d get here. (To Travis) Did you have a nice trip?

Travis:

Cute, Mandy!

Jen:

I guess that makes two. (coyly) Hi, Travis.

Travis:

(drops the load abruptly) Hi, Jen. What are you doing here? I mean, you’re here to help with the care package, right?

Jen:

Sort of. Amanda said that your youth group was putting together a package to send to her cousin, the missionary kid that was here a while back. She said you each were supposed to bring one or two things to send. I thought of something I could send, and when I found out who comes, I decided to visit tonight...it’s nice to see you here, Travis.

Travis:

(gulps) Thanks. (nervously) Where do we put this stuff?

Amanda:

(pulls over a gigantic box labeled “Care Package”) What-cha got? I think it all goes in here.

Travis:

(proudly) I’ve got Popsicles! (pulls one out of his bag)

Girls:

Popsicles?!

Jen:

Aren’t you forgetting something, Travis.

Amanda:

No. There never was much up there to forget in the first place. You know, nice house but nobody home, so to speak.

Travis:

What do you mean? Didn’t Alicia say in her last letter that it was always hot? What could be better on a hot day than a watermelon Popsicle? Huh, Smartie?

Amanda:

Maybe a root beer float. But either way, how are you going to get it there, Einstein?

Travis:

I guess I never thought about that. How about putting them in a cooler? That should get them to Popeye New Guinea.

Jen:

Only in cartoons. And isn’t it Papua New Guinea—unless you’ve got spinach for brains? But, want to know what I brought to send?

Amanda:

Sure.

Jen:

I brought a curling iron (produces it). There’s nothing worse than being in a hot, humid place without one of these.

Travis:

Is it 220?

Jen:

Is it what?

Travis:

220?

Jen:

220 what? I admit this isn’t the most expensive curling iron I own, and one setting doesn’t quite work, but it’s still pretty good. It’s given me a lot more body...

Travis:

220 volts. It’s probably made to run on our electricity which is only about 110. So if it got plugged into 220...you might be able to brand cattle!

Jen:

Ouch! That’s not much good. I wish Alicia was here so we could ask her what she’d really like to get.

There’s a loud thump at the door. Amanda goes to open it and Alicia is there.

Amanda:

Alicia! What, er, how did you get here?

Alicia:

I’m not sure, but Dad has this friend in the French Merchant Marines, a Captain Pick-a-card. We were going down to see him at the wharf when his ship came to harbor. As I started up the gangway I heard some fighting in the street below. A sailor in one of the tailor shops, I think. Anyway, I heard him scream, “Make it sew, before I transport you out of here, by your chin!” Next thing I knew I banged into that door, and well, here I am.

Jen:

Some force was with you!

Alicia:

(rubs chin) I’ll say...(looks around) What are you doing?

Travis:

We’re trying to put together a care package to send to you, but can’t seem to figure out what should go into it. Maybe you could help us.

Amanda:

Do you think you could use a picture album? I put one together with pictures of our friends and place we used to hand out when you were here. I thought you might like to be reminded of home...(pulls it out).

Alicia:

That’s a great idea, Mandy. (turns to the others) What did you guys come up with?

Jen:

Not so good. He, wanted to send you Popsicles—which might be okay if your friend Captain Pick-a-card can work his sleight of hand again. But I thought you could use one of these (waves the curler).

Alicia:

(laughs) Well, I appreciate the thought. Unfortunately American curling irons aren’t good for much more than branding in PNG. They’re not wired right for our power. The Popsicles remind me of the time somebody send a birthday cake in the mail—chocolate is my favorite, but not after 6 weeks!

Amanda:

That really happened?

Alicia:

Yeah, and people have really sent dried, used tea bags. You get some weird care packages.

Jen:

So what would you like?

Alicia:

That’s easy. Personal cards, letters and news are always fun to get. So are pictures—we can play videos, too. We have a computer, so e-mail works, and if you find some really good software—that’s fun. Once we got true voice mail—some friends sent us a tape which they talked on. It was great. Even books, or magazines that you like would be interesting. Don’t send food, except maybe hard candy or gum, but my folks don’t like that...

Travis:

How about if I put a freeze pack in with the Popsicles?

Amanda:

Beam me up, Scotty, there really is no intelligent life on this planet. Let’s go, guys, youth group’s about to start. Boy will they be surprised with you, Alicia... (exit).