Child of Wonder
A modern Christmas drama in one-act
by
Cast of Characters
(In order of appearance)
BROTHER ANDREW (a monk)
NICK EAST (a guest living at the monastery)
JULIE LEWIS (a social worker)
CASSIE (a young girl)
Scene I
THE SETTING: A man is seated on a bench in a garden at a monastery in Florida. He is clearly deep in thought as he gazes into a small pond. A monk approaches him.
ANDREW: Narcissus contemplates himself.
NICK: If that were the case, I would not even be aware of your presence, Brother Andrew.
ANDREW: I come seeking your wisdom, so I guess that I shouldn’t begin our conversation by insulting you.
NICK: No offense taken, my friend. But you are the wise monk while I’m merely the layman who is visiting.
ANDREW: Do you still consider yourself a visitor?
NICK: Two years is a rather long visit, isn’t it?
ANDREW: Has it been that long?
NICK: You and your brothers are patient to allow me to sit on the fence for so long.
ANDREW: If monks can’t be patient, who can?
NICK: True.
ANDREW: It takes some persons longer than others to find their vocation. If God wants you to join our community as a religious brother, He will let you know. If He has other plans for you, He’ll let you know about those, too.
NICK: Well, in either case, I’m grateful for your hospitality. Before I came here, I was adrift like a ship at sea. You have given me a safe harbor in which to moor.
ANDREW: I came out here to ask your opinion about a subject that came up during my class earlier today. However, I’ll only ask if you promise not to use any more sailing metaphors.
NICK: I’ll try to restrain myself.
ANDREW: We’ll see how long that lasts.
NICK: Really, I certainly won‘t use any more. I’d sooner raise my spinnaker sail during a hurricane or walk the plank into a shark infested sea.
ANDREW: About five seconds. A new record.
NICK: Those weren’t metaphors.
ANDREW: Hmmm. In any case, the subject of our class discussion today was the problem of pain. Why does God allow suffering in the world?
NICK: I get all the easy questions.
ANDREW: Actually I don’t think it’s that difficult a question. Many of the best Christian thinkers have written about it. C.S. Lewis wrote an entire book about the problem of pain. Saint Thomas Aquinas wrote many pages about it.
NICK: Thomas Aquinas wrote many pages about almost every topic.
ANDREW: True. Well, are you going to put in your two-cents worth?
NICK: The popular response is that suffering builds character. The more religious response is that when we unite our suffering to the suffering of Christ we draw closer to Him. By uniting our suffering to Christ’s suffering, in some mysterious way, we participate in the Redemption of creation.
ANDREW: So I guess that settles that.
NICK: What did your class think about it?
ANDREW: The class discussion focused on how God always brings good out of evil. Sometimes we see the good results in this life. However, often we don’t see the good results until we enter into eternity.
NICK: “God writes straight with crooked lines.” Who said that?
ANDREW: I believe that it’s an old Portuguese proverb.
NICK: Those old Portuguese knew a thing or two.
ANDREW: Indeed.
NICK: Good Friday is the ultimate paradox. The Crucifixion brings about the Redemption of mankind.
ANDREW: Christmas also shows good coming out of evil. Original sin made the Incarnation necessary.
NICK: As a result of Adam eating the apple, Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
ANDREW: The New Adam. The perfect Adam.
NICK: Paradox upon paradox. Mystery upon mystery.
ANDREW: Well, I’d better allow you to get back to your contemplations. Thank you for your words of wisdom.
NICK: See you later, Brother.
(ANDREW exits. NICK resumes gazing into the pool of water. Some background music could be played during this period. After about thirty seconds, ANDREW returns. NICK looks up as ANDREW enters.)
NICK: Back so soon? You want still more words of wisdom tonight?
ANDREW: That would be great, but at the moment, I’ve just come to tell you that you have a visitor. A Miss Julie Lewis is waiting inside for you.
NICK: Julie Lewis. The name doesn’t ring any bells.
ANDREW: She said that you don’t know her. Miss Lewis said that she’d like to speak with you in private.
NICK: Well, this is all very mysterious. I wonder if Her Majesty’s Secret Service has a new assignment for me.
ANDREW: Apparently you’re about to find out, Mr. Bond.
JULIE: Brother Andrew, I’m sorry to come barging out here, but a whole family just came into the visitors’ lounge, and I thought that Mr. East and I could have more privacy out here.
ANDREW: That’s fine, Miss Lewis
JULIE: Mr. East?
NICK: Yes. You can just call me Nick.
(They shake hands.)
JULIE: Julie Lewis.
NICK: What can I do for you?
(Julie glances at Brother Andrew.)
ANDREW: If you will excuse me. Evening prayer is about to begin.
(ANDREW exits.)
NICK: So how may I be of service, Julie?
JULIE: This is a bit complicated. I am a social worker from Florida. The case that I am working on at present involves a lady named Melanie Vogel. I understand that you dated her.
NICK: Yes. Melanie worked on a cruise ship. She was in charge of entertainment.
JULIE: Do you enjoy going on cruises?
NICK: I went on a few some years ago. I was married for a couple of years, but I could never get my wife to go on a cruise. She was too much of a workaholic. After our divorce, I decided to do some things that she never wanted to do.
JULIE: Like go on cruises.
NICK: Yes. And go to Europe. I traveled for quite a while, but I eventually got tired of it.
JULIE: Did you and your wife have any children?
NICK: No. She wanted to delay having children because of her career. I wanted a child right away. That was probably our major disagreement. If we had had a child, I think that we would have stayed together.
JULIE: I see. And I’ll bet that you’re wondering what all this has to do with Melanie.
NICK: You read my mind.
JULIE: Unfortunately, I have some sad news about her. About three years ago she was killed in a traffic accident in Key West. Apparently alcohol was involved. The police were never able to determine who was driving.
NICK: I’m very sorry. I always liked Melanie. I met her a few months after my divorce, and she had just broken up with someone. She had a good sense of humor. Spending time with her helped me during a difficult period. I like to think that I helped her get over her break-up.
JULIE: So neither of you considered it to be a serious relationship?
NICK: Neither of us wanted another intense relationship at that time. If we had stayed in touch, I believe that there is a possibility that we might have married someday.
JULIE: So you lost contact with Melanie?
NICK: Yes. I went to Europe and traveled around for several months. When I got back to Florida, I stopped by the cruise ship to see her, but she no longer worked there. No one on the ship had her new address.
JULIE: You never saw her again.
NICK: No. We only knew each other for a few months. There must be some additional reason for your visit here today.
JULIE: Yes. A big reason, though, actually she’s rather little. You see, I didn’t come here alone. My companion is back in the visitors’ lounge, playing her “Hi-Ho Cherry-O” board game with two of the monks.
NICK: And the child is … ?
JULIE: Melanie’s daughter. Since her mother’s death, the girl has lived with several different foster families. Her last foster family was a good placement, and they were almost able to adopt her.
NICK: What happened?
JULIE: The foster mother’s health was poor, and things didn’t work out. I was assigned to the case three weeks ago. I have made this my top priority.
NICK: As I recall, Melanie didn’t have much of a family. There was a sister someplace.
JULIE: Yes, someplace. We haven’t been able to locate her. But I spent more time tracking you down.
NICK: Because?
JULIE: Because you are the girl’s father.
NICK: Her father!
JULIE: Melanie placed your name on the birth certificate, naming you as the father.
NICK: This is amazing.
JULIE: We could have some DNA and blood tests done to determine whether you are actually the father.
NICK: Yes. Yes. Of course.
JULIE: I didn’t know how you would react. Some men reject the children when they are informed of their fatherhood. This can be quite traumatic for the child.
NICK: It would be. That would be awful.
JULIE: I’m glad that you feel that way.
NICK: Don’t worry. I’ll be careful of the girl’s feelings.
JULIE: Yes. I’m sure that you will. Well, I’m guessing that the good monks have had enough of “Hi-Ho Cherry-O” for one day. (She rises.) I’ll go get her.
NICK: What is the girl’s name?
JULIE: Cassie.
(JULIE exits. NICK sits deep in thought while she is gone.)
(JULIE returns and enters, accompanied by a child, CASSIE)
(NICK rises and steps forward to greet them.)
JULIE: Cassie, this is Mr. East, who I was telling you about.
NICK: Hello, Cassie. (He gently shakes hands with her.)
CASSIE: Hello.
NICK: I was a friend of your mother’s. She was a very nice lady.
CASSIE: I don’t remember her very well. She was pretty.
NICK: Yes, she was. (He points at the box that she is holding.) Did you enjoy playing your game with the monks?
CASSIE: I guess so. Are you a monk?
NICK: No. I just live here at the monastery. Do you like the Christmas decorations here?
CASSIE: They’re pretty, but there are too many white lights. I like lights to be red and green and blue and all sorts of colors.
NICK: I agree with you. I’m going to tell Brother Andrew that we have two votes in favor of more colorful lights.
JULIE: Make that three votes.
NICK: Three it is.
CASSIE: And I liked the stable with baby Jesus and Mary and Joseph and the three kings. The camels are as big as real camels!
NICK: Yes. A lot of persons drive by to see the Nativity scene.
JULIE: I liked the St. Nicholas out on the lawn, all dressed in white robes instead of the usual red Santa suit.
NICK: The monks like to remind our visitors how Santa Claus got his start.
CASSIE: Last year on Christmas Eve, I saw Santa Claus and his reindeer.
NICK: Where did you see them, Cassie?
CASSIE: I was living with the Clark family then. We went to visit their aunt. Some of the other kids and I went out on the balcony. We wanted to see Santa’s sleigh. And we did! Not right away, though. But, after a while, we saw lights off in the distance, moving through the sky. They were real low in the sky. It had to be Santa and his reindeer going from house to house.
NICK: How exciting! I wish that I had been with you.
CASSIE: Well, maybe some Christmas Eve you’ll see him, too.
NICK: I hope so. (He turns toward Julie) May I tell Cassie the news . . . the big surprise about which you told me.
JULIE: Let’s wait until tomorrow.
CASSIE: I want to know the surprise now!
NICK: Surprises are more fun when you anticipate them for a while.
CASSIE: What does “anticipate” mean?
NICK: It means to look forward to something. Like you look forward to Santa bringing you presents on Christmas Eve.
CASSIE: Oh.
JULIE: Cassie and I had better hit the proverbial road. If your schedule permits, we could come back for a longer visit tomorrow afternoon.
NICK: My dance card is clear tomorrow. The monks have some guest rooms for visitors to the monastery
JULIE: Thank you, but we have already checked into a motel in town. Our suitcases are back at the motel.
NICK: Then, ladies, I’ll bid you both good evening, and I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
CASSIE: You’ll “anticipate” seeing us.
NICK (laughs): This is one smart kid.
JULIE: She is smart. See you tomorrow. (They shake hands.)
NICK: See you then. Bye, Cassie.
CASSIE: Bye-Bye.
Scene II
(The following morning in the same garden)
JULIE: Hello.
NICK: Hello, Julie. Where’s Cassie?
JULIE: I gave her some money to get some candy and soda from the vending machines in the visitors’ lounge. She’s having trouble trying to decide what to buy, so we probably have a couple of minutes to talk.
NICK: Big decisions for a little girl.
JULIE: I’m glad to see that you’re still here. Some men run for the hills when they hear that they’re a father.
NICK: I can assure you that I have no inclination to flee.
JULIE: What are you feeling?
NICK: I’m feeling many things: amazed that I have a daughter; ashamed of myself that my irresponsible, hedonistic behavior caused the child to be without a father for so long; gratitude toward you for bringing this wonderful girl to me.
JULIE: We will need to do those medical tests in order to conclusively determine that Cassie is your daughter. In my opinion, the test will confirm your fatherhood. Cassie resembles you.
NICK: Yes. I noticed the resemblance. In fact, unless a blood test and DNA test is necessary, we don’t need to bother with any tests. I am probably Cassie’s biological father, but even if I weren’t, I would be willing to serve as her father.
JULIE: I like your attitude.
NICK: Cassie needs a stable home and a father. She is the daughter that I always wanted.
JULIE: Few men would accept her so graciously.
NICK: I believe that God places us with the persons with whom we are supposed to be. Biological, genetic connections might not be so important. We are all created by God out of a gene pool that He also created.
JULIE: The monks have had a good influence on you. Perhaps I’ll send some of my clients to stay with them.
NICK: Sure. Send them here. My room here is going to be empty soon.
JULIE: I think that it will be all right now for you to tell Cassie that you are her father. I’ll trust you to give her the news gently.
NICK: Yes. I will. Don’t worry.
(CASSIE enters carrying bags of snacks and cans of soda.)
JULIE: Here’s Miss Cassie with our refreshments. What did you get us, honey?
CASSIE (handing snacks and soda to them.) This is for you. And this is for you.
NICK: Thank you, Cassie. That’s my favorite kind of soda.
CASSIE: Mine too.
NICK: Ladies, why don’t we sit down on the bench over here?
JULIE: You and Cassie go ahead without me. I want to take a look at the chapel. I’ll be back in about ten minutes.
(JULIE exits)
CASSIE: She wants to give you time to talk to me by yourself.
NICK: How did you get so smart, kiddo?
CASSIE (she shrugs): I don’t know. I just am.
NICK: Julie said that I could tell you about the surprise that I mentioned yesterday. Can you guess what it might be?
CASSIE: No. Tell me.
NICK: It has to do with both of us. Julie told me yesterday that I’m your father. You are my daughter.
CASSIE: Like Mr. Clark was?
NICK: No. He was just your foster father. I’m your real father. If you want, you can come to live with me forever.
CASSIE: Forever?
NICK: Yes.
CASSIE (she hugs him): Will we live here with the monks?
NICK: Oh, no. I have a house. We’ll need to prepare a room for you, but I think that you’ll like it just fine. It has a big backyard.
CASSIE: Wow!
NICK: What’s that under the bench?
CASSIE: A big red bag!
NICK: Do you think that Santa might have left that there?
CASSIE: No, silly. Christmas isn’t for two more weeks.
NICK: Oh, well, I guess that we’d better check out this bag.
(He places the bag on the bench. CASSIE pulls out one of the presents.)
CASSIE (reads the gift tag on the bag): It says, "To Cassie, With love from her father.”
NICK: I did some shopping at the mall.
(CASSIE takes the first present out of the bag.)
CASSIE: It is a Barbie Doll! I used to have one, but it got broken. This one is much nicer anyway!
NICK: Good.
CASSIE (pulling a book out of the bag) A Nancy Drew mystery book! They are so good!
NICK: I’m glad that that you like it. I wasn’t sure whether you were old enough yet for Nancy Drew books.
CASSIE: I just started reading them. I’m a good reader. (She pulls another book out of the bag.) And a Cinderella pop-up book! This is so beautiful!
NICK: There are some very clever pop-ups in that book.
CASSIE (pulls out the last present): A chess set. It’s pretty, but I don’t know how to play. But I’m good at playing checkers!
NICK: Oh? I’m good at checkers, too. And I’ll teach you to play chess.
(JULIE enters)
JULIE: Cassie, it looks like Christmas has come early for you this year.
CASSIE: Nick is my father.
JULIE: Yes. And you have a generous father. Nick, you do realize that she is going to be expecting more presents on Christmas morning?
NICK: I do. She’ll be getting some from Santa and some from me.
CASSIE: Yea!
Scene III
(Nick is standing in the garden with two suitcases beside him. BROTHER ANDREW approaches.)
ANDREW: Where are Julie and Cassie?
NICK: In the visitors’ lounge. Julie is waiting for Cassie to finish a game of checkers against Brother Michael.
ANDREW: She’s a very skillful little checkers player. She has won every game against the brothers, and they’re not letting her win.
NICK: You are finally getting rid of me, Brother Andrew.
ANDREW: You know that I will miss you, my friend. And I’ll also miss our theological discussions. Your words of wisdom were always valuable.
NICK: I’m not departing from the mortal world, Brother -- just from this monastery.
ANDREW: That’s true. I suppose that we can continue our conversations by telephone or email.
NICK: Right. Well, do you have a “question de jour” for me?
ANDREW: Who is the greatest of the saints?
NICK: Mary, of course -- the Queen of All Saints. All Catholics would place her first.
ANDREW: I meant who is the greatest saint after the Blessed Mother?
NICK (grinning): I have always been partial to Saint Nicholas.
ANDREW: He was a wonderful man who would be very surprised to find himself at the top of the list. My own patron, Saint Andrew, would also be surprised.
NICK: Perhaps Saint Peter or Saint John?
ANDREW: Those are excellent choices. Saint Mary Magdalene was also very great. She was at the foot of the Cross and was the first person to see Jesus after His Resurrection.
NICK: Saint Francis of Assisi is the favorite saint of many persons. Saint Augustine and Saint Thomas Aquinas were great doctors of the Church.
ANDREW: Those are also fine choices. My friend, I thank you for attempting to answer that question. We both know that it cannot be answered with any certainty.
NICK: That’s true. However, if I did have to choose one saint, I would choose that gentleman standing over there in the manger next to Mary and the baby Jesus. (He points toward a Nativity scene.)
ANDREW: Saint Joseph. Yes. I believe that he would be my choice also.
NICK: Defender of the Holy Family. Perfect husband. Perfect father.
ANDREW: Ite ad Joseph.
NICK: Go to Joseph. I will heed that advice.
ANDREW (looking into the distance): I see Julie and Cassie coming now. Cassie looks like she is glowing with triumph of another victory in checkers over poor Brother Michael.
NICK: How could such a wondrous child spring from such an illicit union?
ANDREW: You already know the answer to that question, my friend. We discussed the subject just yesterday.
NICK: Yes. God brings good out of evil.
ANDREW: I suppose that this is one of those occasions where we are fortunate enough to see the good results in this life.
NICK: The ocean of mercy. Spiritual writers like Saint Faustina have written about it. This is the first time that I fully understand what it means to be immersed in the ocean of God’s mercy.
ANDREW: Over there, in that humble manger, we see His mercy. And now, over there, in that little girl, we again see His mercy.
NICK: Brother Andrew, thank you for giving me a place to stay while I waited for Cassie to arrive. I didn’t know that I was waiting here for her all this time, but I was. Who knows to what far-off land I would have wandered if you and your brothers had not provided me with a home here.
ANDREW: Somehow I suspect Julie and Cassie would have shown up on your doorstep no matter where you went.
NICK: That’s probably true.
ANDREW: You now have a daughter, and Cassie has a father. And I think that Julie would be a lovely stepmother for her.
NICK: Brother Andrew!
ANDREW: Just an observation, my friend. Just an observation. Remember, you and your family are always welcome here. Think of this as your second home.
NICK: I will, Brother. Thank you. May the Christmas star always shine upon you.
ANDREW: May it shine upon us all!
(CASSIE and JULIE enter.)
CASSIE: We’re ready to go!
(NICK picks up his suitcases and walks forward.)
NICK: I’ll be seeing you, Brother Andrew. Think of some good, difficult theological questions for me.
ANDREW: I will do that. Farewell, Nick. Bye, Cassie. Good-bye, Julie.
JULIE: Good-bye, Brother Andrew. Thanks for everything.
CASSIE: Bye-bye! Merry Christmas!
ANDREW (waving): Merry Christmas to all!
(NICK, JULIE, and CASSIE exit.)
THE END
