Skit

Hunger Awareness Script

Scene 1

Three students sit in chairs, eating lunch. Two of them have lunchboxes (insulated sacks or Vera Bradley totes), and the third has a paper bag with an apple inside.

Michelle: I’m so sad it rained today, you guys. We didn’t get to have recess!

Lily: I know! I love getting to play with you two outside.

Sarah: I missed out on my favorite part of the day.

Michelle: Hey, I have an idea. You guys should come over to my house after school tomorrow so we can play together even more! Just get your mom to write you note and you can both ride home on the bus with me.

Sarah: That’s a great idea Michelle. I’m so excited.

Lily: Yeah it sounds like fun, Sarah, but I’m not sure if I can. My mom might need me to help keep an eye on my little brother tomorrow.

Michelle: Oh, come on! That’s what babysitters are for! Please say you’ll come over.

Lily: I need to talk to my mom first…

Sarah: Oh, Lily, please come, it will be so much fun!

Lily: Okay, I guess. I’ll try.

Michelle: Perfect! Bring your favorite stuffed animal to school tomorrow so we can have a tea party!

Sarah:  TEA PARTY! Awesome! I’ll bring my _____!

Lily: stops to think for a moment. I can bring Mr. Dog, I guess.

Sarah: Wait, why does he have such a boring name?

Lily: because he’s my little brother’s, and Sammy hasn’t learned big words yet.

Michelle: Do you not have a doll you can bring?

Lily: I can look, but I don’t think so.

Sarah: Well, you should find a pretty one, or else it won’t be any fun!

Lily: I’ll try.

Bell rings.

Scene 2

Lily runs around stage, looking frantic. It’s 7am, and she needs to get her mom to write her a bus note before she leaves for school. Also, she’s looking for a doll.

Lily: MOOOOOOOOOOM PLEASE COME DOWNSTAIRS! I’M RUNNING LATE! MOOOOOOOM!

Lily’s Mom: Hold your horses, Lily. I’m coming.

Lily: (in a rush) Hey-can-you-please-write-me-a-bus-note-I-want-to-go-to-Michelle’s-this-afternoon-also-please-do-we-have-any-dolls-I-can-bring-because-we’re-having-a-tea-party-and-I’ll-look-stupid-if-I-don’t-have-one.

Lily’s Mom: Whoa, slow down there, tiger. Bus note first.

Lily: Thank you! Now do we have any dolls?

Lily’s Mom: I don’t think so, sweeties. I had to sell them all a couple of months ago. You didn’t play with them anymore, anyways.

Lily: yeah, but I want one now!

Lily’s Mom: You also needed to get new sneakers that month, which is why I had to sell them. Besides, you use your new shoes way more than you would have used those dolls. Your old ones were completely worn through, and they had holes in the toes.

Lily: That’s true. Do you think Sammy will let me bring Mr. Dog instead?

Lily’s Mom: That’s a great idea! Calls: SAMMY! Can you bring me your doggy?

Stuffed dog flies into the room

Lily: Thanks, Sammy! Okay, Mom, I’ve gotta go. Love you!

Lily’s Mom: Wait, don’t forget your lunch!

Hands her an apple

Lily: Mom, just an apple, again?

Lily’s Mom: Your father and I told you things were tight this month. I’m so sorry, sweetie.

Lily: It’s okay Mom. I understand. It just sometimes gets really hard to pay attention if I get hungry.

Lily’s Mom: Looks pained. I’m sorry, Lily. Picks up a second apple. Here, you can have my lunch too. I love you! Now don’t be late!

Scene 3

*the three girls walk in with backpacks*

Michelle: Hi, Mom! This is Lily, and this is Sarah!

Mrs. Brown: Hello, girls. I’ve heard so much about you!

Sarah: Hi, Mrs. Brown! It’s so good to meet you!

Lily: *looks around* Hi, yes, good to meet you. Wow Michelle, your house is HUGE!

Michelle: I guess so. let’s go up to my room to have our tea party!

***

Sarah: Lily, did you end up finding a doll to play with?

Lily: um, no, but I do have this stuffed dog! It’s my brother’s favorite!

Michelle: it’s kind of cute I guess.

Mrs. Brown: *comes into room* hey again, girls! I brought you some snacks!

Lily: oh wow, is all of this for us? *grabs a snack*

Sarah: thank you so much!

Michelle: *nonchalantly* yeah, thanks mom.

Mrs. Brown: alright girls, let me know if there’s anything else I can get you!

 *girls mime playing as a tick-tock-tick-tock noise plays to signal time passing*

Sarah: That was so much fun, Michelle! Thanks for having us over!

Michelle: I had fun too! We should do this more often! How about tomorrow? Can we go to your house?

Sarah: No, sorry. We just got a new puppy and she’s not ready for visitors yet. How about your house, Lily?

Lily: Um, I don’t think so.

Michelle: why not? Did you get a new puppy too?

Lily: No, I just…don’t think it would be a good idea.

Sarah: why not? We can have another tea party! It will be so much fun!

Michelle: C’mon, Lily! Don’t hold out on us! I was getting so excited!

Lily: well, I guess that would be okay. I need to ask my mom though.

Sarah: I’m sure she’ll be fine with it! Come on, my mom will be here soon, let’s go downstairs.

Mrs. Brown: Hi, girls! Leaving so soon? I just baked you some chocolate chip cookies! Won’t you stay for a bite?

Lily: YUM! Thank you, so, so, so much, Mrs. Brown! I can’t remember when I had chocolate chip cookies last and they are my absolute favorite.

Michelle: they’re my favorite, too! My mom bakes them whenever I have friends over. Thanks, by the way!

*knocking is heard*

Sarah: oh, that’s my mom! Lily, do you need a ride home?

Lily: that would be amazing. See you tomorrow, Michelle!

Michelle: I’m excited for tea-party-part-two!

*sarah and michelle giggle, Lily looks kind of stressed*

Scene 4

*everyone walks in with backpacks*

Michelle and Sarah: TEA PARTY TEA PARTY TEA PARTY

Lily: *laughing* come on guys, we’re almost to where I live!

Michelle: good, because I’m tired of walking!

Lily: here we are!

Sarah: Yay, I’m starving!

Lily: LOOKS DISTRESSED Hi, Mom! This is Sarah and Michelle!

Mrs. Winchester: Hi, girls! It’s nice to meet you!

Lily: okay guys, let’s go upstairs to Sammy and I’s room to play.

Sarah: aren’t we going to have a snack first?

*Lily and Mrs. Winchester look at each other in silence*

Mrs. Winchester: …I’m not sure if we have anything around. I’ll look. You girls go on ahead.

Lily: TEA PARTY TEA PARTY…tea party?

Michelle: right. Tea party.

Lily: Okay, I’m going to go grab Mr. Dog, I’ll be right back! *leaves*

Sarah: *stage whispering* Okay, what is up with this? Why does she share a room with her little brother? There are baby toys everywhere!

Michelle: Does she not eat a snack after school?

Sarah: Maybe that’s why she’s so skinny! *giggles*

*during the giggling, door opens and Mrs. Winchester and Lily walk in*

Mrs. Winchester: Well, I brought some water for you girls, but it seems like we have another issue now.

Michelle: what are you talking about?

Mrs. Winchester: Michelle, Sarah…do you know what hunger is?

Sarah: of course! Sometimes when we go to the park my mom forgets to bring us snacks and then I get really hungry.

Mrs. Winchester: well, yes, but that’s not exactly what I’m talking about. Did you know that some people are hungry every day?

Michelle: yeah, but only like, homeless people and stuff.

Mrs. Winchester: Homelessness is a huge problem, Michelle, but there are also thousands of people every day who have homes but struggle to get food on the table.

Lily: I’m not homeless, but…

Mrs. Winchester: …we struggle with hunger.  It’s not always easy to spot. I try to make sure Lily has at least something to pack for lunch, but it isn’t easy.

Lily: That’s why I was so surprised by all the snacks we had at your house yesterday, Michelle. I just wasn’t used to it.

Michelle: I’m so sorry, Lily. I’m sorry that you’re hungry sometimes, and I’m sorry that I made fun of you for it.

Sarah: Now that we know, we’ll be nicer about it. Maybe sometimes we can even share my lunch!

Lily: I would like that. Thanks, guys.

Mrs. Winchester: Ladies, just try to be more sensitive in the future. There’s a whole wide world of people out there who don’t have a roof over their head or food on the table, and it’s really important to be mindful of that.

Lily: Yeah, because I’m not the only one. Remember that.

Sarah and Michelle: We’ll remember.

Recommended: Follow-Up Discussion and Questions

What was Lily's problem in the skit?

What would you do if you had a friend who struggled with hunger?

What is hunger?

Discuss food insecurity (when not everyone in a family is able to get enough healthy food to eat at all times)

Have any of you ever known someone who has struggled with hunger?