top of page
Writer's pictureDr. Simon Olatunji

I Owe My Mom Everything!

A Mother's Day Drama


(C) 2024 House of Prayer Evangel Church Women of Excellence Discipleship Resources: A short playlet written and directed by Pastor Doris Olufunke Olatunji for Mother's Day Celebration of the year 2024.



CAST


Introducer - Bose Adegoke

Mom - Stella Ihemereze

Stephanie - Peju Oni

Angie - Taye Adeoye

Mom's Inner Voice - Esther Nnoli


(The lights come up on a young lady, Stephanie and her friend Angie, who are sitting and chatting and has some other boxes scattered around them. If possible, there is a dresser with several drawers open, but that’s not necessary. Stephanie is holding some scraps of paper, a large pad of paper, and a pen or pencil. She is looking off into the distance. Her mom enters. Mom is rushed, distracted, and a bit annoyed at Stephanie.)


Stephanie & Angie: Chatting and ranting excitedly about current affairs and general ladies interests.


Mom: [breezes in yelling Stephanie's name from outside or behind the curtain] Stephanie, what are you doing? You haven’t even cleaned out your dresser yet! We’re never going to get you off to college if you don’t get these things boxed up!


Stephanie: (She looks at her mother with a sentimental smile.) Sorry, mom. I got…distracted. (Hands her the small scraps of paper.) Do you remember these?


Angie: [Rises up, greets mom, announces departure and steps out]


Mom: (Still rushed and a bit annoyed, but the scraps do bring back a fond memory.) Wow. These are from quite a while ago, aren’t they? (She reads one.) “I owe you 75 cents for a Coke.” (She reads another.) “I owe you one dollar for an ice cream cone.” (She reads one more.) “I owe you two dollars for a set of barretes.” These are the IOUs you wrote me back when we gave you an allowance.


Stephanie: Yes. I would spend all my allowance money and then want something else. You wouldn’t give me any more money until I wrote out an IOU. I guess I didn’t pay many of them back, did I?


Mom: Actually, you paid back more than I ever expected.


Stephanie: I remember being so proud each time I paid one back. I would hand you the IOU and the money, and you would then say, “This IOU is paid in full.”


Mom: I was proud of you, too. I was trying to teach you to be responsible with your money, and every time you paid me back, I thought the lesson had sunk in…at least a little. (Pause) So this is what has been distracting you?


Stephanie: Not really. When I found all those IOUs at the bottom of my dresser drawer, I felt like I had to write one more. (She hands her mom the large pad of paper.) Here. Read this.


Mom: (She starts to read in a businesslike way.) Dear Mom, I owe you for the following services:


Janitorial – You washed all my clothes, picked up after me, and dealt with my messes for 18 years, without a single “Thank you” from me.


(She gives Stephanie a look that says, “It’s about time you admitted that.”)


Uh huh.


(As she reads the next line, she goes from being businesslike to being touched. The more she reads, the more emotional she becomes.)


Recreational – You made this house a fun, happy, and safe place for me and all my friends – even the ones you didn’t like very much.


Psychological – You gave me great advice that I couldn’t get anywhere else. Even though I didn’t always listen, I now know how valuable it was.


Medical – You kissed away every “boo-boo” I had, held my hand through nights that I thought I was too sick to sleep, and made me feel better than the best doctor in the world.


(She moves over to Stephanie and puts her arm around Stephanie’s shoulder. Stephanie holds the hand that is on her shoulder.)


Emotional – You rejoiced with me in the happy times, cried with me in the sad times, and carried me through those times I couldn’t have made it on my own.


Spiritual – You showed me the kind of unconditional love that Jesus has for me. Without your example, I don’t think I would have ever come to realize how much He loves me.


In short, mom, I owe you everything.


(By this time, mom is about to lose it. In order to get herself under control, she walks a few steps away and then turns around to face Stephanie again. She gets herself under control and with a genuine smile she says:)


Well, I guess it’s time to collect on this one.


Stephanie: (Stands up) What? I can’t possibly pay you back for all of that.


Mom: Hmmmmmm [She walks up and down to think about Stephanie's speech]


Mom's Inner Voice: [From Under the curtain... continues Mom's thought on microphone. Reading Proverbs 31:10ff] If I am truly this woman I think...


Mom: Stephen, of course you can. (She opens her arms.)


Stephanie: (Gives mom a hug. She says her line while the embrace is still going on.) I love you mom.


Mom: (She gives her line while the embrace is still going on.) This IOU is paid but to pay it in full, you have to also be that wife, I mean that mother of a noble charater.


Stephanie: (Gives mom another hug. I promise mom) And I love you mom.


Mom: And I love you more.


(The lights fade out.)


THE END


All women file out, singing: "The House that Jesus live, happy happy home, happy happy home. The House that Jesus live, happy happy home.

16 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Kommentare


bottom of page