Words: Words are powerful, testimony, Christ-like
A young girl, maybe (6-7) years old, is sitting alone. She can be studying, reading, whatever. A second girl about the same age walks up and sits.
Second girl: Hi, Jenny. What's up?
Jenny: Not a lot, just studying (my memory verse).
Second girl: I've studied a little, and I don't think I'm ready. (pauses) You know, it's not fair that we have to take a test at all. Mr. (White) is a lousy teacher. I don't know how we're supposed to learn anything in his class.
Jenny looks a bit uncomfortable, as if the second girl has horrible breath and doesn't know it.
Third girl walks in.
Third girl: Hi, (guys), are you ready for this test?
Second girl (rolls her eyes) Whatever. This is so stupid.
Jenny senses the "odor" again...
Jenny is being hit on both sides by deplorable breath. She should be obvious enough that the audience understands her suffering. Bulging eyes, waving hands, etc.
The second and third girls continue talking quietly in a negative way as a pianist (or tape) begins playing the theme from the Twilight Zone. If you don't know it, any suspenseful music will do. A narrator in a suit walks up and speaks very dryly to the audience.
Narrator: Jenny Smith has a gift; maybe a curse. At the tender age of (age of girl playing Jenny), she developed a sense of smell; a sense of smell like no one else. When people talk, she hears their words AND she SMELLS them. A pleasant, kind word can be as fresh as a dew-covered tulip on a sunny spring morning. A cruel word smells a lot like a warthog (Pause if the audience laughs. If not, keep going), sitting in a pile of old corned beef (pause again if the audience reacts) on a humid summer day. (Junior Church) was tough on Jenny, and she carried this unique sense of smell into (the Teen Class)…and…The Twilight Zone.
(Teen) Jenny sits between two empty chairs as two (friends) enter the room.
Jenny: Hi, how's it going?
(friend) 1: How's it going? Honey, where have you been?
Jenny winces a bit. The smell is back. Her nose twitches a bit.
(friend 2): Old man Peterson's (bugging us) to get this (prayer journal filled in). He just doesn't let up.
(friend) 1: (And Sara's always making us look bad! If she had a LIFE she wouldn't spend all her time in her "prayer closet")
It's clear Jenny is suffering from the bad breath. She starts to hold her breath to avoid the odor. Make it obvious! Have fun!
(friend) 2: (I don't know why pastor lets him teach that class - yes I do. It's cause he's the biggest tither in the church!).
Jenny starts to wave her arms as if it will help somehow. Her eyes bug out a little as she holds her breath. She continues this type of behavior as the two continue to talk.
(friend) 1: (How about Billy, being left in charge of the building workday! Telling us all what to do!) Am I right? That reminds me, I heard this joke the other day. Now, I'm not racist, but…
Jenny can't take it any more. She stops holding her breath and shouts.
Jenny: You two are KILLING me! C'mon, can't you try to say something NICE about somebody?
Both are astonished.
Jenny: Leave, please! Go, go, go!!
She chases them from the room…pauses and sits down again. She may pull out a container of deodorizer or perfume to clear the air. She's glad to be alone.
A third (friend) walks in.
(friend) 3: Hi, Jenny. How's it going?
Jenny's hesitant to speak, but she does.
Jenny: Hi, Bob. (sheepishly) How's that (prayer journal) coming along? (she braces for the smell)
Bob: It's okay. I can't complain.
Jenny (lights up): Really? You can't?
Bob: I'm really glad to have this (church. Some of the assignments take a lot of time, but I know the teachers are trying to guide us. A good church) is a wonderful thing.
Jenny tries to contain her excitement, but it's obvious she's happy. She subtly tries to smell his breath.
Jenny: You're glad to (be here)? I'm really glad you're here.
Bob: Thanks. It's tough at times, but all in all it's not too bad. She's more attracted to his sweet-smelling breath. Well, I have to get back to work. I'm surprising my (mom by cleaning my room today..plus I can't find my gym shoes). (he exits)
Jenny: (happy hunting), and thank you, thank you! (Go a little over the top with the thanks, if it feels right.) She follows him off the stage.
Narrator returns with music: If your words had a smell, what would you be like? Pleasant and sweet or rancid and stale? The next time you start to talk, remember, your words affect everyone around you. Be nice to Jenny. Be nice to all of us…And you have taken your next step into…The Christ-like Zone.
Exits stage
Modified version of a skit by Brian Bowman
