a story of two neighbors livng in a rural town

so recently, more like yesterday, i was super bored because i had to study for sats. anyways, i started writing this story...or a play. i love plays. because then it seems more like a movie. so i wrote this play. its not near close to done. but i like it so far. so maybe you (since you're already reading my post) might enjoy a five minute break from what you're doing and read my...short play. or my beginning of a short play. so here it is. please let me know how it is. if its boring or whatever... thanks.

it is spring time. this play is set in a rural town where the neighbors live quite far apart. all the families own farms and lots of land. i guess its about 1947.

anne and james are sitting on opposite sides of anne's porch

James: say what a nice day it is ehh? i love this type of weather. when the sun is shining so brightly and there is a cool breeze and there are just a few clouds in the sky.

Anne: yes i must agree with you. it is very nice out.

they sit in silence for a few minutes until anne's mother comes out onto the porch.

Mrs. Couliar: james, how nice it is of you to visit and keep anne company. she's been bored all week and finally she has someone to talk with! anne blushes and James smiles crookedly. james, would you like to stay for lunch?

James: oh thats not necessary mrs. couliar. i should be getting home for lunch as well.

Mrs. Couliar: nonsense! i've made more than enough james, its not a problem. i'll just call up your mother and let her know we're having you for lunch.

James: thank you ma'am.

anne's mother goes inside the house. james looks over at anne just as she turns her head away. he can tell she was just looking at him and he smiles. anne is afraid to look back but she turns her head towards james.

Anne: what?!

James: nothing. he smiles again.

Anne: c'mon lets just go inside for lunch okay?

james doesn't say anything but he follows her inside the house. as they walk through the kitchen, anne's mother is preparing to set the table.

Mrs. Couliar: anne would you mind to set the table for us?

Anne: mother could you wait a minute!

James: oh i can do that mrs. couliar.

Mrs. Couliar: thank you james. anne, please give james a hand will you?

anne helps james finish setting the table and the three of them sit down to eat.

Anne: mother, could you pass the salad?

Mrs. Couliar, correcting anne: may i please.

Anne: may you please pass it?

james chuckles a little which embarrasses anne.

Mrs. Couliar: so how long has it been since your family moved here, james? i can't quite remember.

James: just a little over a two months.

Mrs. Couliar: oh thats right! moved here just after the snow melted away. well that was good timing...

no one makes a remark so she goes on

Mrs. Couliar: so you two see each other at school?

Anne: mother, we're at the same bus stop and since theres only one class for each grade, and we're in the same grade, that means we see each other all day long...

Mrs. Couliar: oh well thats...

Anne, cutting her off: five days a week, or actually six days a week because of church on sundays.

Mrs. Couliar: anne, whats with you and that tone. please get rid of it right away!

Anne: mother...

James, cutting in: mrs. couliar, so my mother tells me that you're planning to put up a shed?

Mrs. Couliar: why yes james! i'm not quite sure how to go about it, but i am planning to. ever since anne's father left well, we haven't had any time. but maybe...

James: yes i can help you. i'm sure my father would love to help as well.

Mrs. Couliar: well theres no need to bother him; i mean hes always away on business trips?

James: well yes, i guess so.

Mrs. Couliar: i am planning to build a shed so we can raise new chickens.

James: i would love to help out.

Mrs. Couliar: why thank you james. you're such a polite and fine young man!

James, blushing a little: thank you ma'am.

Anne: may i be excused for a moment?

Mrs. Couliar: anne, we have a guest here.

Anne: you didn't answer my question. may i please be excused mother?

Mrs. Couliar: anne i think i've made myself clear that...

James, interrupting again: it’s alright. i better get going as well. my mother might need a hand with some things back home. it was a lovely lunch mrs. couliar!

Mrs. Couliar: well alright. it was nice having you over james. i hope we'll see each other again soon!

James: of course. thank you!

Mrs. Coulair: bye james, smiling

james walks towards the door and when mrs. couliar is turned around, anne follows quickly after him.

Anne, calling after him: james!

James: anne.

Anne: i'm sorry you had to see me like that. its just that sometimes she really gets on my nerves.

James: still, i don't think thats any way to treat your mother. she is such a kind woman anne.

Anne: sighs. would you like me to walk you home?

James: well then when we get to my house, wouldn't i need to turn around and walk you home as well?

anne doesn't answer him

James: how about we'll meet tomorrow okay?

Anne: sure. bye james!

James: good afternoon anne.

james smiles and walks away.

the following day is Sunday and mrs. couliar hurries to get ready for church. anne is in the bathroom taking a long time to get ready. when she comes out, her hair is done perfectly and her makeup is also perfect.

Mrs. Couliar: my darling, is there a young man we're trying to impress today?

Anne: no mother, i want to look nice for church.

Mrs. Couliar: who is going to notice what you look like?

Anne: mother, i'm just dressing nice for church alright?!

Mrs. Couliar, chuckling: alright sweetie. now hurry up or else we'll be late.

upon arriving at the church, they quickly find seats in the middle of the room. anne glances around quickly for any sight of james.

Mrs. Couliar: anne, please stop moving, they're about to begin!

Anne: mother i think i need to use the restroom.

Mrs. Couliar: alright but if when you're coming out and we're singing praises, then please stay in the back of the sanctuary until everyone is asked to be seated.

Anne: why is that?

Mrs. Couliar: so you do not interrupt anyone when you are pushing or shoving to get back to your seat.

Anne: mother i don't do that.

Mrs. Couliar: anne please just go if you need to go.

Anne: alright!

anne gets up from her seat and hurries towards that restrooms. from a few rows back, james catches sight of her. he also gets but pretends to go to the restroom. he quietly sits down in the back of the room. as anne walks out of the ladies room, james whispers her name and she turns to find him sitting in the back.

Anne: hi james!

James: shhh! hi anne. you're hair looks nice today.

Anne, blushing a little: thanks james. what are you doing back here?

James: i went to the restroom and now i'm staying back here so i don't bother the people in my row when i'm going back to my seat.

Anne: oh i see.

James: so why don't you sit back here with me.

Anne: okay.

james and anne sit together in the back of the sanctuary until the end of service. anne's mother, who has been wondering where her daughter has gone, sights anne in the back of the sanctuary,

Mrs. Couliar: anne there you are! i didn't mean for you to sit back here for the whole service!

Anne: sorry mother.

James: hello mrs. couliar!

Mrs. Couliar: oh james what a surprise! i didn't see you there for a moment. she turns her attention to anne. anne darling we must hurry home. i have to run a few errands and i was hoping you could watch your little sister when the babysitter leaves.

Anne: okay mother.

James: mrs. couliar, would it be alright if i stopped by and helped anne take care of her sister? i don't think i've met...

Anne: her name is layla.

Mrs. Couliar: sure sure james but we must hurry because the babysitter doesn't like to go over time. c'mon then.

back at home, mrs. couliar pays the babysitter and drives off to run her errands while anne and james stay home to watch layla.

Anne: c'mon layla, lets go play with your toys.

anne and james sit on the floor and watch layla playing.

Layla: toys anne!

James: so how old is layla now?

Anne: layla, tell james how old you are. how old are you layla?

Layla: two?

layla goes back to playing with her toys.

James: hahaha i see. so i guess your father didn't leave so long ago...two years about?

Anne: actually, no. he left us before layla was born. he left almost three years ago. and hes only been back once to visit us because of layla.

James: oh. i'm sorry about that.

Anne: james, theres nothing you should be sorry about. it doesn't really bother me. even when he was still here, he wasn't around all the time. i lived with him for thirteen years and all that time i never really felt like i had a father. he would come and go and sometimes bring me home a little gift or something.

James: you didn't mind that?

Anne: well my grandparents were here so i didn't miss him so much. my pappie and grammie were like parents to me. my mother had to work so pap and gram would watch me all day long. i cried for weeks when they finally left.

James: when did they leave...and why?

Anne: well they were angry at their daughter, my mother, for being so passive with my father. also, they missed their home. they said they would come back to stay with us permanently if my mother and father got a divorce.

James: well your parents are divorced right?

Anne: well yes but pap and gram said they have to first take care of some things before they come back.

James: oh so they are coming back!

Anne: of course! they would never break their word. and also they know layla is still young and they want to help raise her just like they helped to raise me.

James: they did a great job with you.

Anne, blushing: james!

James, laughing a little: i'm just saying!

Layla: anne, layla's tired!

Anne: okay c'mon layla. lets go take a nap alright?

Layla: mhmm

Anne: james could you help me put her toys away into the toy box while i get her into her crib?

James: yeah sure.

outside, mrs.couliar pulls up into the driveway with her car. she takes a few bags of groceries and goes inside the house.

Mrs. Couliar, calling out: anne sweetie, could you help me with the groceries?

Anne: sure mom i'm just getting layla into her crib for a nap!

mrs. couliar goes into the living room and sees james

Mrs. Couliar: oh hi james! babysitting wasn't so tough was it?

James: no not at all ma'am.

Anne, calling out from layla's room: mother, layla won't get into her crib!

Layla's voice: no crib!

Mrs. Couliar: anne, i'll get her into her crib and you can get the groceries okay? thanks.

mrs. couliar goes into layla's room and cradles layla. anne walks toward the front door, on her way to get the groceries.

James: anne, do you want me to help you?

Anne: sure if you'd like.

James: yeah i think i'm done organizing her toy box.

Anne: hahahaa james! all i said was to put her toys into her toy box. not rearrange everything! hahahahaa

James: haha sorry.

anne and james go outside to the car and bring in the groceries. they place them on the counter and can hear mrs. couliar's voice in the background, humming sweetly to layla.

Anne: james, will your mother expect you home at any particular time?

James: hmm, i don't think so. maybe i could give her a call?

Anne: of course.

thanks for reading. thats all i've written so far. please let me know how i can improve it.