Jaden's Play

 We celebrated my dad's birthday on the Sunday following.  Earlier in the day, during sacrament meeting, I looked to see what Jaden was working on.  Usually he likes to draw pictures of army men and tanks.  This time he was writing.  It kind of looked like a play.

Later that day, when we had about an hour before going to my parent's house for dinner and to celebrate Grandpa's birthday, Jaden asked me if I would type his play for him.  He told me he wanted to do a Reader's Theater for Grandpa.  I was a little skeptical, but it was a sweet thought, so I went along.

I typed exactly what he said.  I wasn't sure where this whole thing was going, but by the time we got to the end, I was pleasantly surprised.  It actually made sense!  And it was funny!  Not to mention it flowed pretty well too.

I asked him if he had just made this  up, and he said his class did this story for Reader's Theater and he was just trying to remember how it went.

I'm not gonna lie.  I was impressed.  Next he divied out the parts for everyone but Grandpa.  Grandpa was the audience.  The play was for him.

After that he wanted to find pictures to print out that the characters could hold in front of their faces so Grandpa would know who they were.

Last, when everything was  all done and printed, and we finished eating dinner at Grandma's house,  Jaden held a rehearsal.  He made interjections like, "I need  you to say it with a little more... expression."  Or, "let's try that last part again."  Or, "Grandma, when it says you are walking, move the picture side to side like this."  Or, "Nice and loud, Kaleb."  He was a great little director. :)

Grandpa did his best to follow along, and he really enjoyed his play.

So... here it is...

Oh, and just so you know, the main character's name is pronounced "Aneese"... not-- well, what it looks like.  I tried to get him to change the spelling, but this is how he wanted it.  And now... presenting Jaden's play...
 

Anis and the Talking Melon

                                                                            Narrator 1    Narrator 2    Frog      Anis          Hippo       King

                                                                               Mom               Dad       Jaden   Grandma    Bradley     Kaleb

Narrator 1:  Once there was a spider named Anis.  She was taking a little walk. She got hungry so she found a way to get in to Frog’s garden.  She saw a ripe sweet melon. 

Narrator 2:  So Anis ate the melon.  She was stuck inside the melon.  She was too fat to get out so she waited.

Frog:  I am so good at growing fruit.  Look at these ripe sweet melons.   I think I’ll eat this one.  Eeek!  What was that?

Anis: Frog!  You hurt me!

Frog:  Who said that? 

Anis:  I did.  I’m a talking melon!

Frog:  A talking melon?  I must take this to the king! 

Narrator 1:  So Frog ran to the King’s castle.

Hippo:  Where are you going with that melon, Frog?

Frog:  I am taking this melon to the King.  It talks!

Hippo:  Melon’s can’t talk!

Anis:  Yes we can!

Hippo: Eeek! 

Frog:  See?  They CAN talk!

Hippo:  Can I come with you? 

Frog: Yes you can.

Narrator 2:  So Hippo and Frog made it to the King’s castle.

King:  What are you doing with that melon, Frog?  I already have melons in my royal garden.

Frog:  This melon can talk!

King:  Really?  Can it really talk?

Frog:  Yes!  Yes it can!

King:  Melon!  I command you to speak.  Melon!  I command you to speak!

Narrator 1:  King threw the melon to Frog’s garden.

Frog:  You melons!  I’ll never listen to another word you say!

Narrator 2:  The melon was melon bits and Anis was hungry again.

Anis:  That was a wise decision, Frog.  We bananas should have warned you.  Those melons are troublemakers!