Photo by Plato Terentev from Pexels
TIME AND PLACE
Present. A park.
Stage right or stage left: Kai’s story of Koi, the mice, the farmer, and the poor old man can be pantomimed concurrently using actors in all black or all white, and puppets.
CHARACTERS
JACK DAWKINS, a child.
SIR, Jack’s father.
KAI, a story-teller.
SCENE – A FOLLOWING SUNDAY AFTERNOON
SIR and JACK are walking through the park together (as they do nearly every Sunday afternoon), when they see KAI sitting on his usual park bench. He sees them, and bows his head. They approach him.
JACK
Good afternoon, Mister Kai. We hoped we would find you here.
KAI
I was just thinking of you. Wondering how you have been.
SIR
We are doing well, Kai. Each passing week, thank you.
And how about you?
KAI
Remembering a friend, from my years in Japan.
And thinking about a cat I saw in the park yesterday.
JACK and SIR sit down on the bench next to KAI.
JACK
The cat makes you think of your friend?
KAI
In a way, yes. But in a strange way.
JACK
And also about Nagasaki?
KAI
Well, yes, Nagasaki too.
JACK
How?
KAI
I can tell you best with a story. Do you mind?
JACK
Mind? I love your stories.
SIR
He does. We both do. We talk about them for days afterwards.
KAI
Do you remember Koko-Chan?
JACK
Of course.
The girl with the kittens who caught a wood fairy like a butterfly in her scarf.
KAI
You have a good memory, Jack.
JACK
I have many good memories of you, Sir. And telling us about Nagasaki.
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