Sad Mandy (or my version from the Grade 4 English book)

Sad Mandy

Character list:

Mrs. Ndongana

Mr. Mofolo,

Mandy Thola

Thola’s mother

Thola’s dog

Mrs. Rametse

Act 1, Scene 1
Characters: Mrs. Ndongana, Mr. Mofolo, Mandy, Thola
Setting: It’s a Monday, the beginning of a new school week at a South African primary school, a pretty 10-year old girl with sad eyes walks up to an English class with the school principal.

Mrs. Ndongana: Knock, Knock! Mr. Mofolo, can we come in?
Thola (struggling to read and standing up): “One day a bear met a fox who came slinking along…” (Fade out voice and sits down)
Mr. Mofolo: Please, please do come in Principal Ndongana.
Mrs. Ndongana: Good morning class! I have a new student to introduce to you all. This is Mandy, class. She is from Polokwane, but she will be part of this class now.
(Mandy looks scared)
Mr. Mofolo: Welcome to the class Mandy! Please sit right in front of this young gentleman, Thola.
Mrs. Ndongana: Thank you Mr. Mofolo! Please continue with your class. (She exits)
Mr. Mofolo: Thola, please continue where you left off in the text.
Thola (Stands up): “One day a bear met a fox who came slinking along…”
(School bells rings)
Mr. Mofolo: Saved by the bell, Thola! Have a good afternoon students!

(Everyone exits from the scene)

Act 1, Scene 2
Characters: Thola’s mother, Thola, Thola’s dog
Setting: It’s a Monday afternoon. School has let out and we are now at Thola’s house, where his mom has 22 chickens, which lay eggs every day.

Thola (enters from the front door): Hi mom!
Thola’s Mother: Hello sweetheart - how was school today?
Thola: School was just okay, but my class got a new girl added today.
Thola’s Mother: Oh really?
Thola: Her name is Mandy.
Thola’s Mother (reaches for basket of eggs and hands it to her son): Well, can you take these 6 eggs to Mrs. Rametse? She tells me that her granddaughter from Polokwane is staying with her now. Her mom and dad have both died, poor girl, and she has nobody else to take care of her.

(Everyone exits from the scene)

Act 1, Scene 3
Characters: Thola, Thola’s dog, Mandy, Mrs. Rametse
Setting: Thola has his basket filled with eggs and heads to Mrs. Rametse’s home with his dog.

Thola: Knock, knock! Is anyone home?
Mandy (shyly she opens the front door): Hello. Can I help you?
Thola (almost dropping his basket of eggs): Yes. I am looking for Mrs. Rametse. I have 6 eggs for her from my mother.
Mandy (she takes the basket of eggs): One moment please. Granny! Granny! Someone is here with eggs and their dog!
Mrs. Rametse (gives Thola the money): Oh hello Thola! Here’s your mother’s money. Thank you for delivering these!
Thola: You’re welcome! I didn’t know that Mandy was living here with you.
Mrs. Rametse: Yes, this young one is my granddaughter.
Thola: Oh well then tomorrow I will come and walk with her to school.
Mandy (smiles): Thank you. That would be nice of you.

(Everyone exits from the scene)

Act 1, Scene 4
Characters: Thola, Mandy
Scene: It’s morning and Thola has come like usual to pick up Mandy and walk with her to school.

Thola: So tell me, Mandy. What happened to your mom and dad?
Mandy: My mom and dad had AIDS. They used to be healthy and my dad even had a small tuck shop where he sold fruit and vegetables. It was only in the last few years that my parents became so sick. They became thinner and thinner. Last year they told me that they would die soon. My mom died first this year, and then my dad died. I miss them very much.
Thola (looks shocked and sad): Wow. I’m very sorry for your loss, Mandy. Thank you for sharing with me. I can’t imagine what life would be like without my mother.

(Everyone exits from the scene)

The End.