Picnic (a short play)
A family gathers in anticipation of their picnic. One of the short plays that will be featured in my upcoming collection 99 Massively Tiny Plays.
10/17/20231 min read
A HUSBAND, SON, and WIFE, dressed festively for a picnic. They’re sitting comfortably on a blanket, a basket and a small banquet of food laid out.
HUSBAND
It’s a family gathering, really.
SON
The whole town comes together.
HUSBAND
Folks will lay out a blanket. There’s food.
WIFE
We make it into something special.
HUSBAND
The preacher says a prayer before we break bread…
WIFE
We’re god-fearing folk.
SON
There’s music, dancing.
WIFE
It’s a very festive occasion.
HUSBAND
A photographer will eventually show up, usually from a larger town. We like to get a nice spread for the papers, maybe a postcard to remember the good times we had.
WIFE
At a certain point, they’ll cut him down, display the remains.
HUSBAND
Like many, I always take home a souvenir.
SON
Some of the women look away.
HUSBAND
It’s a celebration of our nation’s values.
SON
It’s about justice.
HUSBAND
It’s about protecting our race.
WIFE
We have to draw the line someplace.
END
Ruben Carbajal
Writer / Storyteller
reachruben@gmail.com
+1(917)701-3409