The Christmas Apple

Datum: 11. Oktober 2010 Autor: SpeciAL Kommentare: 0

Zusätzliche Informationen:

Diese Kurzgeschichte kann in der vorweihnachtlichen Zeit im Englischunterricht auch als Rollenspiel verwendet werden.

The Christmas Apple

Characters

Sam
• 10 years old
• goes to school
• Jeremy is his friend
• lives with his mother
• parents are divorced for 4 years
• is very serious for his age
• mentality of a grown-up

Jeremy
• 10 years old
• goes to school
• Sam is his friend
• wealthy parents
• wants a bicycle, computer games and a trip to Disney Land

Mother
• 32 years old
• single parent
• divorced
• loves her son
• does not earn much money

Story/Play

Narrator:
Today is the day before Christmas Eve. Sam and his best friend Jeremy, both ten years old, are sitting in Sam's room. They are talking about Christmas and possible presents.

Jeremy:
My parents buy everything that I like. I think I am getting a BMX bike, a computer game and a trip to Disney World in Florida for Christmas.
Sam:
That sounds great... [with a sad voice]
Jeremy:
Yes, I think so! And what are you going to get from your parents... erm... mother? [knowing he has touched a sore spot]
Sam:
Hmm... I don't know. Maybe... Hmm... You know that my mum and my dad haven't lived together for, I think about 4 years. I haven't seen him since I was 6 years old. That makes me very sad.
Jeremy:
That's a great pity, Sam. I didn't want to...
Sam:
[interrupts Jeremy] The only thing I want for Christmas is that my dad comes back and stays with me and my mum for the rest of my life. [with tears in his eyes]
Jeremy:
[stands up] I think I have to go now. My mum folds me to be late at home today. See you, Sam! [leaves the room]
Sam:
[talking to himself] But... I think I will get nothing. Nothing special - a plate full of nuts, cookies and an apple, like always!

Narrator:
Sam lay down on his bed and cried himself to sleep. The next day Sam was woken up by his mother.

Mother:
Good morning, darling! Wake up, today is Christmas.
Sam:
Good morning, Mum! [with a sleepy voice]
Mother:
Can you help me with the potato salad for Christmas dinner?
Sam:
Sure... What am I supposed to do? [getting dressed]
Mother:
Could you go to Mrs Bender and get some mayonnaise? I forgot to buy some yesterday...
Sam:
Of course! Bye Mum!

Narrator:
Jeremy came back and gave his mother the mayonnaise.

Sam:
Hey Mum, I'm back! Mrs Bender says hello to you.
Mother:
Sam! Hurry up and come into the living room.
Sam:
But Mum, I was never allowed to enter the living room
before Christmas Eve!?
Mother:
Yeah, well... But today you are allowed. [smiling secretly]

Narrator:
Still a little bit confused Sam tiptoed to the door of the living room and opened it carefully. All he could see was the table and one lonely apple lying on the plate. No nuts, no Christmas cookies - nothing else...

Sam:
Mum? [with an enquiringly voice, nearly crying]
Mother:
Sam, you know that we have only a little money. The apple is my Christmas present for you. I know it's not much but it's a present with all my heart.

- Silence -

Mother:
Don't you want to taste it? [looking at her son anxiously]
Sam:
Sure! [taking the apple and biting into it]

Narrator:
Suddenly Sam stopped chewing and took something out of his mouth with his fingers.

Sam:
What's that, Mum? Look!
Mother:
Hm... Looks like a piece of paper. What's on it?
Sam:
I don't know. [wondering] Wait a minute...
Mother:
Hm... Looks like a piece of paper. What's on it?
Sam:
[unfolding the piece of paper and reads it out loud] "In Mum's room is a surprise for you!"
Mother:
Go and find out what it is, Sam! [excited and smiling]

Narrator:
Sam ran into his mother's room and in the middle of it stood a brilliantly decorated Christmas tree, under it a lot of presents and everywhere the smell of cookies.

Sam:
Mum... Mum... Why? ... What? ... [with an astonished voice] Are all these presents for me? [looking big-eyed at the scene]

Narrator:
Suddenly, a man came out from behind the curtain. Sam recognized him.

Sam:
Dad? Dad! [wrapping his arms around his father] I'm so glad you're here. [with tears of joy in his eyes] Did you know that this was the only wish I had for Christmas? I can't believe it... and now it's true!
Dad:
Well Sam, your mother and I, we decided to live together again.
Sam:
Mom, I swear - that was the greatest apple I ever had for Christmas!

-THE END-

Recommendation

The play "The Christmas Apple" could be performed by an 8th class for younger pupils at Christmas time.

I think that it could be fun for young children and it also addresses everybody (except Jewish and Muslim pupils). Naturally, all children are really looking forward for Christmas. They are excited what presents they will get. Nowadays, one the one hand most pupils have prosperous parents who are able to buy everything, but on the other hand there are still pupils whose parents do not have money.

For those children the littlest gift is a great one. They are simply happy about being loved. Unfortunately, some children do not understand this. They provoke the needier children and want to make them jealous of them. In other cases the wealthier children just want to make the other ones sad and laugh at them.

For this reason, the play permits all pupils to project their thoughts on the characters and to identify with them. As a conclusion they might see that Christmas time is not only the time of lavish presents and gifts. I think that the pupils realize that Christmas is also the time of happiness and love.