The True Gift of Friendship

Based on a true story.

Act One

Setting: School Fair. Children are crowded around the ‘Jar of Stuff’ table trying to see into the glass jars. The band can be heard playing in the background.

George (grinning): See that jar?! I want the one with the Hot Wheels cars.

Betty (pointing): I want the one with the jellybeans.

Madeleine (peering into the jars): I can’t believe it! There is a whole jar filled with plastic bugs. I want to win that jar.

Madeleine watches as Martin trades in 3 tickets for a number.

Mrs. Potato (looking concerned): Martin, are you sure that you want to play again?

Martin (looking determined): I have to get the Pokemon cards. Come on number 42.

Martin reaches into the bag and pulls out a number. By the sad look on his face, it is evident that he didn’t get the number that he wanted.

Mrs. Potato (smiling reassuringly): Number 33. You have just won a tube of gift bows. Maybe you can trade one of your jars with someone else.

Martin sighs as he adds the gift bows to the 4 jars that he has already won. He remains at the table, weighing whether to try again.

Madeleine (shouting excitedly to her mother): Mom, Mom, it’s my turn. The bug jar is number 17. I hope I get number 17!

Madeleine hands in 3 tickets and takes a number. It is not number 17. Mrs. Potato hands Madeleine a jar full of pretty rainbow coloured erasers. Madeleine is seen running off with the jar. She comes back a few minutes later, empty-handed.

Ms. Yorke (looking and sounding perturbed): Where is your jar, Madeleine?

Madeleine: I gave it to Gloria. She is leaving in a few days and I gave it to her as a going away present.

Ms. Yorke (looking far less perturbed and sounding rather pleased): That was a nice idea. Good for you for being such a good friend.

Act Two

Setting: About 10 minutes has passed. Only a few jars are left on the ‘Jar of Stuff’ table.

Gloria appears at the table, ready to trade 3 tickets for a chance to win a jar.

Gloria: Can I pick a jar?

Mrs. Potato (still smiling): Of course you can, sweetheart. Just give me 3 tickets and you can pick a number.

Gloria reaches into the number bag and pulls out number 17. Mrs. Potato hands her the coveted bug jar!

Gloria takes the jar and runs off into the crowd.

Act Three

Setting: East side of school. Children can be seen playing games, painting t-shirts and eating cotton candy. Music is playing and children are shouting.

Gloria spots her friend Madeleine, who is watching some kids toss beanbags at Sponge Bob. She heads in that direction.

Gloria (huffing and puffing from running): Madeleine, I won the bug jar.

Madeleine (looking admiringly): Wow. You are lucky.

Gloria (gesturing for Madeleine to come closer): Would you like some of the bugs? We can share them.

Madeleine (grinning from ear to ear): Yes please!

Gloria and Madeleine hurry over to the skateboard arena and sit down on the bench. Gloria opens the jar and takes out the bugs. She keeps a few of the ‘friendlier’ looking ones and gives Madeleine a grasshopper, a spider, a centipede, a roach, housefly, a dragonfly and a wasp.

The girls hug each other and go off together to play games, each hoping that they can do this again next year.