The Garden

By Deneja Atkins

Cast of Characters

Rose: The oldest daughter who is 17 years old and soft-spoken

Violet: The middle daughter who is 13 years old and bossy

Sage: The youngest daughter who is 7 years old and hardheaded

Mother: The mother of the three girls who is 32 years old.

Setting in the kitchen during breakfast time around 9 am. Rose is cooking, and Violet and Sage sit at the kitchen table. In black families it is tradition for conversations to happen in the kitchen. The kitchen is where everything happens.

(Rose puts the bacon on the paper towel to dry off the grease and places the bacon next to pancakes. There were only four small strips of bacon left, less than half a box of pancake mix, and one egg in the egg carton left).

Rose: (softly yells) Violet and Sage breakfast ready.

Sage: C’mon Violet. Don’t take forever! Breakfast is ready. Mhm, I smell Bacooooon!!

(Sage dances to the kitchen table).

(Violet walks in the kitchen)

Violet: (in a grumpy voice) Thank you

Rose: Well, good morning. (In a sarcastic voice)

Violet: Morning.

Rose: (mumbles under her breath) rude.

Sage: Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

(Rose hands them each their plates that had bacon and pancakes, but without the eggs. They each had one nice size pancake and two small pieces of bacon)

Sage: Thank you sister.

Violet: Yes, thank you. (Changing her grumpy face to a smile because she sees bacon).

Rose: No problem loves.

Violet: Hey, no eggs?

Rose: I’m working on them right now. I could not find them they were hiding in the back. But they will be ready in five minutes.

Sage: Hey Violet be grateful bacon and pancakes would have been just enough. Thank you, Roro.

Violet: No one asked for your two cents, but you are right I didn’t mean to come off as ungrateful.

Rose: You know mom raised us better than that.

Sage: Where is mommy? Is she in her room? Let me go check.

(Sage backs her chair out and Rose stops her from leaving her chair and the table)

Rose: That won’t be necessary she is not here. And remember I told you it’s rude to leave the table without finish eating.

Violet: Where did she go?

Rose: I don’t know. Maybe she had an important arrand to run.

Sage: Are the eggs ready?

Rose: Uh I forgot to put them on.

Sage: Okay.

Violet: Where do you think mom went this time?

Rose: To be honest. I don’t know. But I believe it was somewhere she needed to be.

Violet: I know two nights ago she went out the club.

Rose: I don’t think people go out to clubs in the wintertime. I'm sure that is not where she went.

Violet: Well, she does not work. You know what mom be doing when she goes out. So don’t act like you don’t know.

Rose: Hey watch your tone.

Sage: Are the eggs ready yet?

Violet: So where did mom go? (In a furious voice)

Rose: Sage I am so sorry. I got preoccupied again by talking your sister.

Violet: Sage, she knows where mommy is, but she won’t tell us.

Rose: I do not know where mom is. That’s the truth.

Violet: Liar.

Rose: (Rose raising her voice) Excuse me. I am your older sister who has practically raised you when mom was not around. You need to start respecting me around here. I mean it!

Sage: Violent being violent again.

Violet: Sage shut up. You are always in business where you do not belong.

Sage: Well, you are always so rude to our older sister. I'm sorry Roro that Vi is so mean. You don’t deserve it.

Rose: I don’t pay her no mind.

Violet: You never answered my question.

Rose: Hey you want me to call her?

Sage: Oh, I want to talk to her! (Says in excitement)

(Rose picks up her phone and dials mom’s number and puts it on speaker)

Rose: She did not answer.

Sage: Aww I really wanted to tell her. I miss her.

Violent: Call her again!

Rose: You know how she gets when we call her multiple times.

Violet: Just call her again!

Rose: Finish eating your food so you can leave the kitchen, so I can clean.

Sage: If you did not make the eggs, it’s okay I don’t want them anymore because I don’t have any more bacon to eat it with. But do we have any more bacon left?

Rose: Sorry hun, we are out of bacon. I know it probably was not much. When mom comes home, I am going to use my few dollars to go to the grocery store.

Sage: That’s okay I had enough anyway. Thank you

Rose: I promise I’ll make it up to both with dinner.

Sage: What are we going to have?

Rose: I’m thinking about making some rice and beans and some baked chicken.

Violet: Yeah, and we want more chicken and less rice and beans on the plate.

Rose: It is amazes me how rude and demanding you are.

Sage: Roro dinner sounds good. I can’t wait!

Rose: Thank you Sage. You seem to be the only appreciative one around here.

Violet: If we are struggling just say that. Why are trying to hide things?

Rose: I am not hiding anything. Just finish your food so I can wash the dishes.

Violet: If you want, I can call my dad? My dad has money.

Rose: Yeah, when is the last time your dad picked up his phone?

Violet: I am going to call him now. Can I use your phone?

Rose: (sucks her teeth) You have the nerve to ask me for something after you just spoke to me to me rudely.

Violet: Please can I use your phone? (Violet has her hand out)

Rose: Here! (Rose hands her the phone)

Violet: (Violet talking to herself) You better answer you bastard.

Rose: Hey even though he has not been in your life or did much for you. Don’t be disrespectful.

Violent: I don’t care. It is ashamed how no one is around, and mom must take care of all of us on our own. Your dad doesn’t take care of you. Sage’s dad comes and go. He doesn’t get up and work. Look the bastard did not pick up his phone.

Sage: Hey don’t talk about my daddy.

Violet: I am sorry Sage, but your dad is no different from our dad. That is probably why mom does what she does because she is stressed out.

Rose: Okay time to be quiet Violet.

Violet: No forget that. I know what’s going on. Mom is probably stressed out because we have no money to buy food. Sage’s dad left her again. She is probably out there trying to find him like the last time and she probably getting (Rose interrupts her before she gets more words out)

Rose: (raises her voice) Just shut up. Just shut up. I am so damn tired of hearing your voice. If you know all of this was going on, why didn’t you make it easier on me? Huh? You are no better. If was not for me, you both will probably be in child protective services. Have you ever thought about that?

Sage: Thank you for the breakfast, Roro. I am going to put my dish in the sink and go watch tv.

Rose: I apologize for the yelling. (Sage gives Rose a hug)

Sage: I love you both, I just don’t like the arguing back and forth.

Rose: I know I don’t like it either.

Sage: I’ll be in the living room (as Sage exits the kitchen the front door opens. Sage is the first person to see who enters.

Sage: Mommy (jumping up and down)

Mother: Hi baby.

Sage: I like your sunglasses mommy they make you look cool. When did you buy those?

Mother: I brought them this morning. The light was bothering my eyes.

Sage: I thought you didn’t need sunglasses when you drive because you have tinted windows.

Mother: What’s with all the questions?

Sage: I am just curious.

Mother: Look at you are using big words. When did you learn that word?

Sage: Roro taught it to me the other day when she was helping me with my homework.

Mother: Oh, wow did she. That was nice of her. Where is she anyway?

Sage: In the kitchen.

Mother: Let’s go in the kitchen because it smells like she cooked something.

Sage: (Sage sings) Mommy’s here, Mommy’s here (dancing to her song she made up).

Mother: Hello my other babies.

Violet: Hi mommy (gives mom a hug).

Rose: Hi mom. (Turns around from the kitchen sink to give her mother a smile and observe her mother’ appearance.

Mother: I hope you didn’t give your sister a hard time while I was gone.

(Violet becomes silent).

Mother: Girls let me get situated and settled. Go in my room and grab my iPad and play a few games on it.

Sage: I call first dibs. (running towards mom’s room).

Violet: You went first the last time.

Sage: But I called it first.

(Violet and Sage exits the kitchen)

Rose: Mom I left you a pancake and a fried egg on the plate. (Places the plate right in front of her at the kitchen table.)

Mother: Thank you hun. Take a seat with me. Did you eat?

Rose: Yes, I had the same thing the girls had.

Mother: I hope you are not lying to me. You and your sisters come first.

Rose: Yes, and are you okay?

Mother: Yes, I am fine. Why do you ask? (Starts eating)

Rose: Well, I didn’t see your car in the driveway and you’re wearing sunglasses in the house.

Mother: I was in a car accident. That’s why I did not return home last night.

Rose: Oh my gosh, why aren’t you in the hospital?

Mother: They were going to arrest me or put me in rehab. So, I had to leave the hospital.

Rose: Mom you cannot do that. They are going to show up here any minute because they have your car and can find out where you live.

Mother: Oh shit! You are right.

Rose: So, what are you going to do

Mother: (starts crying) I don’t know. I don’t want to go to jail.

Rose: Where did the accident happen and did anyone get hurt?

Mother: I ran into a tree at 2am in the morning. It was just me, no one else was there.

Rose: Okay that’s a good thing. If it was just you in the accident, why would they arrest you?

Mother: Please promise me something.

Rose: Yes, what is it?

Mother: Never do drugs.

Rose: Mom that was reckless, to do drugs and drive.

Mother: I know. I know. I am just so stressed out. Sage’s dad left me again. I saw him hanging out with another women. People are talking about how I have too many baby daddies. I am just tired of it.

Rose: You cannot listen to what people say.

Mother: I know. I know. But its really about Sage’s dad leaving me again. He left me by myself with three kids. But I don’t regret one minute of having all three of you. And I tell people yeah, I have three baby daddies, but I have created a garden like the old folks say. I have three different beautiful flowers. At least all my flowers don’t look the same. I told this woman at least I wasn’t stupid three times for the same man.

Rose: (starts laughing) That is true.

Mother: All three of your girls have very different personalities. All three of you are talented. I am just sorry I am failing to be there as a mother should be. But your three beautiful flowers are going to bloom into even bigger flowers and do great things in life and be better than your mama.

Rose: I don’t think they are going to take you jail. They are most likely going to give you the option to go rehab. Would you go if they ask you?

Mother: There’s nothing wrong with me.

Rose: But mom you have a drug problem. The drug you are doing kills the brain cells. You most certainly need help.

Mother: I can manage.

Rose: What if they give you an ultimatum? What if they say rehab or jail? What are you going to tell them?

Mother: They are going to treat me like I am mentally insane.

Rose: Mom, but you are doing PCP. Do you understand the dangers of that drug?

Mother: How do you know that?

Rose: The other day I saw some spilled on the rug on your floor when you asked me to get something out of your room for you.

Mother: How would know its PCP, it could have been baking soda? I use it to clean my shoes.

Rose: I know its PCP because you told me your it was your mother’s drug of choice before she got clean. Also, you show all the signs for a person who use PCP. You have irritability, aggression, hallucinations and paranoia. To be honest me and the girls are sometimes scared of you.

Mother: Thank you for the breakfast. I always love how you season eggs.

Rose: Mom you must get clean or me and the girls might have to go into child protective services because I can’t keep doing this. I am seventeen and need to start living my own life. I love my sisters, but they are not my kids. I need to breathe.

(The front door opens, and a tall man walks through with take-out food)

Sage: Daddy (Sage jumping up and down)

Mother: You see Rose everything will be okay. He is back. You and the girls aren’t going into CPS. Everything will be back to normal.

Rose: (she gets up from the table and takes her mom’s dish and places it in the sink and walks past Sage’s dad without acknowledging him). Mom I will be in my room.

Sage: Mommy daddy’s here and he brought our favorite Chinese food.

Mother: I see. How about you get Violet and you both make you some plates while me and Daddy go talk in the room.

Sage: (she places the takeout food on the kitchen table and runs to get violent while calling her name) Violet! Violet! Daddy brought Chinese food!

(Their mom goes into the bedroom with Sage’s father and stays in the room the the entire day. Sage and Violet sit at the kitchen table eating the takeout food while playing games on the iPad. Rose could be doing two things in her room: repeating generational behavior or planning out her future.)