This is my new series where I introduce you to some of the past material I’ve written. I have written skits for special events at church and I have also written short stories, some of which I admit are half-done. Did I tell you, I once created my own entertainment magazine in high school! But I won’t be sharing my little paper bootleg magazine. At least for now. Anyway, welcome to Tannika’s Writing Vault and enjoy!

THE WAITING ROOM (c) 2014

CHARACTERS: 

FEMALE CHRISTIAN (distractions, broken fellowship with God)

TEENAGE MALE (living aimlessly, was shot)

MOTHER OF TEEN (burdened for her child)

ANGEL

MALE CHILD (aborted destiny)

SLUGGARD MALE (purposeless/visionless)

LADY DEPRESSED (gripped with fear)

CHILDLESS WOMAN (woman who aborted her child)

FEMALE ATHEIST (bitter and angry with God)

HOLY SPIRIT

ACT ONE

SCENE ONE

Just a typical day in the ER at Mercy Grace Hospital. Its waiting room is full of people in need of emergency care. They will soon be going behind those doors; but don’t worry, the doctor will discharge them as soon as they have been examined and treated.

The cast is all sitting in the waiting room except the MOTHER OF THE TEEN. She enters the waiting room.

MOTHER OF THE TEEN: She walks in holding her chest. She sits down slowly. 

CHILDLESS WOMAN:  (Reading a book but looks up as the MOTHER OF THE TEEN comes in.) What’s wrong with you?

MOTHER OF THE TEEN:  I’ve been having chest pains. I thought I was having a heart attack.

CHILDLESS WOMAN:  I don’t think it’s a heart attack.

MOTHER OF THE TEEN:  No, but this is unbearable. What are you here for?

CHILDLESS WOMAN:  I’ve been having severe stomach pains.

MOTHER OF THE TEEN:  Food poisoning?

CHILDLESS WOMAN:  No, it’s not what I put in it; it’s what I allowed to be taken from it.

MOTHER OF TEEN:  Just looks at her with concern and a pause. 

What were you reading?

CHILDLESS WOMAN:  I’m reading this book I found over on the table called “The Doctor Patients Forget & Who Nurses Went AWOL”. 

MOTHER OF THE TEEN:  Whoa, sounds interesting! How can a patient forget that there is a doctor who can take away their pain?

CHILDLESS WOMAN:  And how can nurses go AWOL when the patients see them more than the doctor?

PAUSE

The lights turn on over the “mid-seat” and the SLUGGARD MALE steps forward and sits.

SLUGGARD MALE:  (Looks like a bum, a slouch.) They say sometimes you look the way you feel. Well, y’all get the picture. Man, mom says I can do anything I set my mind to. The problem is I don’t set my mind, shoot, or my hand to anything. Man, my teachers used to tell me all the time I must not have any goals. I have goals; I want to be a rapper, a singer (tries to sing but cracks), a judge, a doctor, a chef, the next Michael Jordan, a um what they call business people—ontamanure, a model (poses). Shoot, I just want people to know my name. But first I got to get off this couch. They expect me to work; I expect it to be handed to me. Matter of fact, did y’all bring me Christmas gifts (to the audience)? I was told to take baby steps, plant the seeds and find out my calling. But my sister says the only thing calling me is (a telephone rings, then SLUGGARD MALE answers) Hello, who is this?

TWO KIDS:  Broke! And Busted!

HOLY SPIRIT To the ANGEL:  Another one who doesn’t realize the potential I put in him, My purpose for which he was created and the destiny that I have for him. He lives in his comfort zone. Pride and fear are his companions. He doesn’t know that his lack of faith and lack of vision will set him on a course towards failure.

DEPRESSED LADY:  (This person is holding a bottle of pills) I thought this bottle was the solution to my problems. I lie there in my bed with tears raining down my cheeks, snot oozing out of my nose. I looked a hot mess and I…was…exhausted and scared. Fear and worry gripped me and I didn’t want to live. I felt worthless. I believed every lie the devil told me. Then I heard…

HOLY SPIRIT: If you choose to go now, you’ll miss how things are going to turn out. 

DEPRESSED LADY:  Hmmm, He said that like something good was eventually coming. You mean this is going to work out for my good. All I have to do is surrender it all to Him. 

HOLY SPIRIT:  Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

DEPRESSED LADY:  Don’t forfeit on your destiny; the storms may cause damage, but God won’t let them devour you. And He will restore you. Stay in Him!

TEENAGE MALE:  After DEPRESSED LADY exits, he enters and sits.  I was walking to the bus stop from school. That’s when I heard it. Bang (say it loud to the crowd and do the hand gesture) I couldn’t believe I was lying there with blood spreading over the concrete beneath me. Now I ain’t perfect and I might be reaping what I sow, but I’m serious. I want another chance. I admit these streets got me scared; I’m always looking over my shoulders. They got us out here thinking that they got power over who lives or die and that our lives ain’t worth living. But God, you created us; it had to be for a reason. I thought I heard my mother screaming. I don’t want to see her in pain. I didn’t want this to be it. I know I don’t deserve it but God, help!

MOTHER OF THE TEENAGER:  (Screams) That’s my only son. My baby, barely hanging on. I tried the best I could. Some nights I wanted to give up. Raising children in these times literally feels like it’s killing you right along with them. But my Madea use to remind me that you have to pray without ceasing and I’m going to keep praying for mine, and for your child too. I’ll pray for them like they are my own; the devil cannot have our children. Hear me son! I’m not a perfect parent and you won’t be either but I’m going to keep speaking God’s Word over you and into you. I tried to raise you the best I can; now I must surrender you in God’s hands. Hell is real son and the devil wants to steal, kill and destroy your destiny. Lord, have mercy on my child!

CHILDLESS WOMAN:  Cake and balloons placed on the table of my brain. I see his smile; I hear his voice and I feel his love. His vibrant personality greets me and then I’m hit with grief and regret. I let them take my little one, his dreams, and his talents. What was his purpose? What was his destiny going to be? Was he going to be the doctor who could bring relief to cancer patients or a cure for the Coronavirus? My child loved me but my career, reputation, my time was too much to risk; my heart deceived me. Now I miss what some call a fetus, but God calls him by name. Please forgive me God!

ANGEL of GOD:  God forgives you! He sent me to warn you about the decision you were making, but your heart was hardened and broken. He knew you were afraid and He would have given you strength to raise His child because the child that He sent did not belong to you, but to Him. He put awesome gifts and talents in him and God was going to use him to help impact lives inside of a hospital’s surgery room. And that’s just half of what God called him to do. Yet, God loves you no matter what. 

FEMALE ATHEIST:  You Christians believe in anything these preachers put before you. There’s no God. I control my own universe; not some ancient, make-believe God. And who is this Jesus? Just some mere teacher with blue eyes you simple-minded people put trust in. God’s no more real than Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, these TV ministers, these reality shows. How can I believe in someone who let this world suffer? How could I believe in God who watched my pain? I’ll save myself. And by the way all I see is my grandmother and my mother suffering, and the so-called Christians’ lives not changing. There’s nothing grand going on with their lives, and you want me to serve a God like theirs. 

HOLY SPIRIT:  For since the creation of the world, My invisible qualities-eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Command the waters of the sea to rise and then stop. Dress the lilies of the field and trees for the Fall. Command the sun to not rise or rule the universe at the same time with your words. Who made man spring forth from dust and who knit all your organs, cells, bones and flesh together in your mothers’ wombs? Is it you who breathes life into you and gives you new mercies day by day? Your disbelief in me is merely your rejection of me. You’re angry, but I can handle it. Talk with me. You’re bitter; your heart is hardened and your mind full of folly. You want love; I am love and I love you so much that it cannot be measured by man. I love you so much that I gave my only Begotten Son to take your place on the cross.

FEMALE CHRISTIAN: I don’t do emergency rooms but I’m feeling fatigued and dehydrated. I hate having to wait. I got so much stuff to do. So many places to go. You don’t even understand. (Cell phone rings and she answers it and starts gossiping on the phone, looks up at the audience after a few seconds) Oh, I’m sorry, I got distracted. What was I saying? Every detail has to be tended to and if I don’t take care of it, it won’t get done and it won’t be done right. I stay busy; dinner parties, errands for the family, school, choir, women’s ministry, book club, catering business, hair appointments, church, my fave reality show. (Looks at a female in the audience) Yes, Hunni, I got a lot on my plate and leftovers in the fridge. I give everyone and everything my time and attention. The only one I haven’t given my undivided time and attention to is myself. 

HOLY SPIRIT:  That’s a lie; the only one you have not given your time and attention to is Me. Fix your eyes on me!

ANGEL:  (Walks in with a chart.) The doctor will see you all now. 

The world is sick and the children of God are destined to be the medicine for a sick world, but oftentimes they are distracted and enveloped by plagues that were never meant to hang over their spiritual doorposts. So walk in God’s forgiveness, surrender your lives to Him, and come out of your comfort zone, allow Him to renew your minds, pray without ceasing. Intercede for the children of today, the single parent, the young man without a vision, the young woman who aborted her child’s destiny, the one who may be in great despair, and for your sister and brother to fight the good fight of faith. Someone’s life depends on your obedience to God and intercession on their behalf. The Holy Spirit is here to help and Jesus, who was born and died and resurrected for your sake, is waiting with open arms!

Prayer

–Written by Tannika Moore

My book, Bring It To The Surface, is available now at Amazon!