This was a play written by my English Club students when I was a teacher at Korogwe Girls Secondary School. I dutifully typed it for posterity.
SCENE 1
(Uncle, George and Charity are sitting in their house. Enter Auntie and Fanta, Auntie consoling Fanta.)
AUNTIE
(to George and Charity)
Now as you know, your cousin Fanta is coming to live with us because her parents have died. George and Charity, I want you to treat her as your sister.
GEORGE AND CHARITY
Yes mother.
UNCLE
You are welcome in our house
FANTA
Thank you.
SCENE 2
(Students enter the classroom laughing and talking, take their seats, and then the teacher enters.)
TEACHER
Alright class, today we are going to continue with our lessons on biology. Who can give me the definition of Biology? George?
GEORGE
Past, present, and future.
TEACHER
No. Anyone else?
STUDENT 1
Biology is the reaction between an acid and a base.
TEACHER
Another empty head. Come on you guys, this is material I have already covered. Does anyone know the answer?
FANTA
Biology is the study of living things.
OTHER STUDENTS
No, no, no.
TEACHER
Very good, Fanta, that is correct. Now, can anyone tell me the two branches of biology?
STUDENT 2
Acids and bases
GEORGE
Respiration
STUDENT 1
Parliament
TEACHER
No, no no. You guys! You haven’t been studying at all! All of you must study harder. Can anyone give me the correct answer?
FANTA
Zoology and Botany.
TEACHER
Thank you.
OTHER STUDENTS
No, no no.
TEACHER
Yes, the correct answer is Zoology and Botany. Now can anyone give me the definition of Zoology?
GEORGE
But sir, there are no zoos nearby.
TEACHER
No, George, that is not zoology. Anyone else?
STUDENT 1
Zoology is the name of a zoo.
TEACHER
No! Anyone else?
FANTA
Zoology is the branch of biology concerned with animals.
TEACHER
Yes, that is correct. But it looks like the time is finished for today. I want all of you to be sure to study what we have learned today.
(Teacher and other students leave the classroom, except George and Fanta.)
GEORGE
Wait Fanta, I want to talk to you.
FANTA
Yes?
GEORGE
I just want you to know that I want us to be close.
FANTA
Yes, I want us to be close too.
GEORGE
I want us to be close like husband and wife.
FANTA
What?!
(Teacher enters.)
TEACHER
What are you two still doing here? It’s time to go.
(George leaves, Fanta starts to leave but Teacher stops her.)
TEACHER
Wait, I want to talk to you.
FANTA
Yes?
TEACHER
I…love you.
FANTA
What?!
TEACHER
I want you to be my lover
FANTA
I don’t understand.
TEACHER
Come to my office tomorrow, and I will explain it to you.
FANTA
No, please, I don’t understand.
TEACHER
Just come to my office tomorrow.
SCENE 3
(Charity and George are in the house. Fanta enters.)
CHARITY
You, girl! What were you doing with my teacher?
FANTA
What? Nothing!
CHARITY
Stay away from him!
(Charity leaves.)
GEORGE
What’s wrong?
FANTA
(stares at the floor, doesn’t answer)
GEORGE
Just tell me. I’m your brother and I can help you.
FANTA
It’s our teacher. He says he loves me and he wants me to be his lover.
GEORGE
And what did you tell him?
FANTA
I said no!
GEORGE
Ahh, I see. So, I think I can help you, but if you want my help you must love me as a wife.
FANTA
No, George!
GEORGE
In this house I am your brother, and you must do what I say. If you don’t, you will be chased from this house, and chased from school. Now I am going out, and when I come back I want a positive answer.
(George exits. Auntie enters.)
AUNTIE
You, girl! Why haven’t you done your chores? I gave you a lot of chores to do, and you haven’t done any of them yet. Go and do them!
FANTA
Yes Auntie.
SCENE 4
(Uncle and Auntie are sitting in the house. George, Charity and Fanta enter.)
UNCLE
Why haven’t you gone to school? You are going to be late!
GEORGE
It’s your fault. You haven’t given us any money.
(Uncle gives each of them money.)
GEORGE
What is this? You expect me to go with the same amount as my sisters?
(Uncle gives George more money. George, Charity and Fanta leave.)
AUNTIE
Okay husband, let me go and fix you some tea.
(Auntie leaves. Fanta enters.)
FANTA
I forgot my pen.
UNCLE
Wait, come here. Do you think the money I gave you was enough? Here, take some more, but don’t tell your Auntie.
FANTA
No, thank you.
UNCLE
Here, take it. You are such a pretty girl. Take it.
FANTA
No, uncle, please.
UNCLE
Take it! If you want to live in this house you will take anything I give you, and you will do anything I want you to do!
(Uncle leaves. Fanta starts crying and wailing in a really disturbing way. The rest of the cast enters.)
NARRATOR
So this is the situation. Imagine if you were in that situation. How would you feel? What would you do?
