Scene 3: [Hugh enters peach grove alone, carrying the basket of apples.]
Hugh: I must be early, that’s good. I’ll hide this basket of apples behind this tree and when Chloe arrives I will first make her guess what I’ve gotten her. There. This will be good fun, let’s see if she can guess correctly. She is a very clever girl, and she knows me well. It won’t take her many guesses. [He climbs into the hammock.] I’ll just rest here until she arrives.
[After several moments, Chloe arrives and notices Hugh from a distance.]
Chloe: Ah, there he is now, the dear. Asleep under the trees. He must have worn himself out looking for my gift. But where is it? It must be small. Oh! Maybe it’s a ring, and he has it in his pocket. That would be dreadful. He wouldn’t propose to me, would he?! How dare he even think of it! I wouldn’t like that one bit. But look at how peacefully he’s sleeping. He’s like a big bear. Look at that belly sticking out, eww, he should do more sit-ups. I’ll have to have him work on that. But these adorable cheeks, and this thick hair; yes, he’s the perfect one for me. Wake up, you!
Hugh: [Startled.] Chloe! You’re here!
Chloe: Yes, and I can’t wait to see what you’ve gotten me!
Hugh: You’re in luck, it is exactly what you wanted, sweet and very romantic! Guess what it is.
Chloe: [Delighted.] Oooh! I know. Can I carry it?
Hugh: Yes, you can!
Chloe: Hmmm, do you put things inside it?
Hugh: I suppose. Well, part of it.
Chloe: It’s that cute handbag I saw at the market!
Hugh: What? No!
Chloe: [Aside.] It must be those cute shoes. The ones that girl was wearing at the market. [To Hugh.] Okay. Are they red?
Hugh: On the inside.
Chloe: Inside!? [Aside.] I suppose the soles are red. I guess that is also inside. [To Hugh.] Do I put them on my feet?
Hugh: That’s strange! I suppose you could.
Chloe: Well, yes or no, Hugh. It’s pretty simple!
Hugh: I don’t know, that seems weird. But maybe…
Chloe: Maybe?! Why wouldn’t you know if you put them on your feet or not?
Hugh: You mean like at a spa or something? Like those cucumbers that people put on their eyes? Like you’d slice them up and put them on your feet?
Chloe: Slice them up?! Are you nuts?
Hugh: Okay! I don’t know!! I guess you could mash them up, for like a facial or something?!
Chloe: Mash them?! Have you lost your mind?! Those shoes are worth a fortune!
Hugh: What shoes?! What are you talking about!?
Chloe: The gift you got me! Duh!!
Hugh: I didn’t get you shoes!
Chloe: What did you get me then?! I wanted shoes or a handbag!
Hugh: [Gets the basket from behind the tree.] I got you these apples. They’re Hidden Rose. They look ordinary on the outside, but inside they are rosy pink! It’s a surprise! And they’re sweet and sour, like you! It’s romantic! But not too romantic.
Chloe: No, it’s not! They’re not romantic. And what are you saying, I’m sweet and sour?! That’s what I am?!
Hugh: They were supposed to say romance.
Chloe: That’s just stupid, Hugh, they don’t say that at all. Do you want to know what they say? They say that my boyfriend, after all the years that we’ve been together, still doesn’t know me at all! They say that my boyfriend is clueless! That’s what these stupid apples say.
Hugh: I wanted them to say that I love you.
Chloe: How can you?! That’s why I was talking about the handbag and the shoes the whole time we were at the market. I was giving you hints the whole time! I was talking about them while you were there with me! I never talk about handbags or shoes when you aren’t with me, Hugh, you should know that!
Hugh: How could I possibly know what you aren’t talking about, when I’m not with you? To know what you are saying when I’m not around would be difficult enough, but to know what you aren’t saying at all, when I’m not there, seems nearly impossible!
Chloe: Well, you would know if you were paying attention.
[Silence.]
Chloe: I think you need to think long and hard about what you’ve done, Hugh. I really don’t know if we can be together. [She starts to leave.] I don’t want to see you again until you’ve thought about this, and until you have a good answer for me! [She exits.]
Hugh: A good answer? An answer to what? What’s the question?
[End of Scene]
~FS
Prayerful Life 