Career

By Sharon-Kathleen Corner

Career (3 People)

People come in, start eating lunch.

A:  how did you do on that math test?

B:   Ugh.

C:  Did we even study any of that stuff in class?

B:  Ugh! 

A:  I think I got three out of ten right….maybe.

B:  UGH!

C:  I gather you didn’t do that well B?

B:  I hate math…I mean, I  seriously hate math, it is my worst subject…and yet…do you realize, since the day we started school, in kindergarten, we have been taking class every single year?

A:  (think for a moment) I never thought of it that way…but yeah, we have.

C:  Before school actually.  Remember our mother teaching us our abc and 123’s?

B:  I have been doing math all my life…and I hate math..!

C:  What do we need math for anyway?  I’m not going to be a math teacher…I am not going to be an accountant, I am not going to have any career that requires math.

A:  What do you want to do?

C:   I am going to be an interior designer.

B:  (laughs)  I think you are going to need math for that.

C:  No I’m not!

B:  Ah, yeah, you are!  You are going to have to measure the room – math – then figure out how much material and paint are going to be needed – math – and what furniture is going to fit in the room – math – and then figure out how much it is all going to cost – math – and how much you are going to charge to make a profit – more math. 

C:  (goes to backpack and grabs a book and pen and crosses something out)

A:  What did you just do.

C:  Changed careers.   Interior Decorating is out, Modeling in is.

A:  Modeling….you are still going to need math, you are going to know how much to charge per hour, pay your manager, pay your bills…..

C:  (growls) I’ll hire my mom to do the work!  I am getting math out of my life! 

A:  (Holds hands up) Okay…good idea…hiring mom…great idea.

A and B look at each other with big eyes, C takes a bite of her lunch.

B:  Okay, on to the next topic……

A:  Yes, what shall we talk about next?

B:  You going to youth group tonight?

A:  Yeah, trying to get Janet to come with me.  You bringing a friend?

B:  I was going to ask-

C:  I think mathematicians are trying to rule the world.

A:  What?

C:  They are!  They are trying to take control, they are planting their seeds everywhere and one day, when we aren’t paying attention, we will have numbers instead of names.

B:  C….are you okay?

C:  Think about it….A, don’t you live on 4^th street?  (A nods)  It’s already started, streets are going to be numbered, stores are going to be numbered….there is even a 5^th/3^rd bank, and a 2^nd bank, and there schools are numbered – (stands up and screams) THEY ARE TAKING OVER!

B:  Oh my gosh.

A:  C, you need to calm down! (stands up and pushes C back in her seat)

B:  What in the world are you talking about?

C:  Sorry, sorry.   I am okay.

A:  I am not so sure about that.

B:  What just happened?

C:  I hate math.

A:  (laughs)  no really?   Figured that out.

B:  You may hate it, which I have to admit, it isn’t my favorite subject either, but it does have its uses.

C:  Like what?

B:  Well, you just paid for that lunch, right?  Because of math class, you knew how much it was going to cost, and what each coin was worth, and you knew how much money to give. 

A:  When you go to the mall –

C:  I love the mall!

A:  Yes, yes…you love the mall!  So when you go to the mall, you want to buy a pair of boots –

C:  Shoes, or better yet, flip flops….boots are out of season.

B:  Focus here, C.   Just focus in here.

A:  Flip flops, she wants to buy FLIP FLOPS!!  (takes a deep breath)  You go into buy them, you already know how much they are going to cost, and you have the money with you and you know how much change you are going to get, right?

C:  Down to the penny!

B:  That’s math.

C: (Whines) But why do I have to learn math?

B:  It’s like….it’s like….oh….like going to church.  I go every Sunday and every Wednesday to youth group.  Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don’t.  I don’t like hearing about sin, I don’t like hearing that I am a sinner, but I like hearing the good stuff and I like going to youth group, so I go.

A:  I get tired of hearing I am a sinner, I get tired of hearing what I have done wrong in life, but I know it is what I need to hear to keep me on track and my friends hold me accountable. 

C:  (Looks at B)  You go to church every week?  Twice a week?

B:  Yes, I do.  You should come with me to youth group, we are having a game night, tons of fun, lots of people from school are there.

A:  And the youth pastor will have a sermon, short and sweet, and even if we don’t like what he has to say, it is a message we need to hear.

C:  Sounds like math class to me.

B:  Yeah, but when was the last time you were allowed to throw a water balloon in math class?

A:  Or have shaving cream wars?

B:  (Mention something else you do at youth group game night)

A:  (Mention something else you do at youth group game night)

C:  You do that at church?

B:  No, we do that at youth group…trust me, water balloon fights don’t go over very well during sermons.

A:  So come with us to youth group, and we will struggle though math together, deal?

BELL RINGS, they gather up stuff and head off stage.

C:  (Whines really loudly) I really hate math. (almost collapsing)

A& B hold her up and drag her off stage

A&B:  We can do it, come on, etc.