My Fuzzy Valentine
by
Marilyn A. Kinsella
Puppets: Groundhog, Sally Jean, Mouse, Bird, Rabbit
Props: Hole in the ground for groundhog, a big fancy Valentine and a small one each with Fuzzy’s name in the middle, cotton snow
SCENE ONE: (Sally Jean is walking outside, humming to herself. Groundhog hole is off to stage left)
Narrator: It’s the afternoon of Groundhog’s day and Sally Jean is walking through the woods singing to herself.
SJ. La, la, la, la, la - Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day. I got a beautiful feeling everything goin’ my way. (stops and looks around when she hears the crying)
GH. Boo, hoo, boooo, whooo!
SJ. What’s that? I sounds like someone is crying.
GH. Boo, HOOOO!
SJ. It sounds like it’s coming from that clump of dirt over there. I wonder who it is.
GH. Boo, hoo
SJ. Boo, hoo, who? Who’s there?
GH. There’s no one here. Now go away!
SJ. That’s just silly. How can there be no one there? If there is no one there, there would be no one to say there’s no one there. There’s just got to be somebody there.
GH. Oh, all right! Enough already.
SJ. So, who are you? And why are you crying?
GH. (Sniffing) My name is Fuzzy the Groundhog and I’m crying because it was such a beautiful Groundhog day, today.
SJ. That’s true. It’s beautiful… gorgeous - blue skies, not a cloud to be seen. The sun is shining. Makes me want to break out in song…Oh, what a …
GH. Stop it, stop it! You’re killin’ me with all that light and sunshine talk.
SJ. Gee, what’s your problem, Fuzzy?
GH. Well, everybody knows that if I, or a fellow groundhog, wakes up on February 2nd and we see our shadow, we go back to sleep for another 6 weeks.
SJ. Why is that?
GH. Because a shadow is a pretty scary thing, that’s why. And since we are so scared, we go back to sleep. And when Old Man Winter sees that, he stays around for another 6 weeks.
SJ. Yeah, I remember our teacher telling us the story of Puxatawny Phil.
GH. Yea, that’s my cousin up north. So you see why I’m so sad.
SJ. No, actually I don’t. Why don’t you just get yourself some hot chocolate, a good book and snuggle down?
GH. True, but don’t you see? I’ll miss out on Valentine’s Day again this year. And you know, if you don’t give valentines you don’t get valentines.
SJ. Unfortunately, that’s the way it usually works. Gee, I’m sorry, Fuzzy. Well, maybe next year it will be rainy and snowy and yucky on February 2nd and you can celebrate Valentine’s Day with the rest of us. Remember - there’s always next year. (exits)
GH. There’s always next year (sniff). There’s always next year. (sigh) (Yawns) Maybe when I go to sleep I’ll dream of getting a valentine - even a little valentine would be nice. After all - it’s the thought that counts. (yawns and snores)
SCENE 2 (snow on the ground )
SJ. Brr! Fuzzy was right! It’s been snowing and icing up a storm since Groundhog Day. This has to be the coldest Valentine’s Day on record. I have had plenty of time to think about Fuzzy and his not getting any valentines. Giving valentines shouldn’t mean getting valentines. So I made him a special one. I made it real big, too. Just to show him how much I care. I can’t wait to show it to him. (walks over to the hole)
GH. (snoring noises)
SJ. Fuzzy, oh Fuzzy! Wake up! Look what made for you (snoring) Gosh, Fuzzy seems to be in a deep six. Oh well, I’ll just leave it over here by this big tree so he’ll see it when he wakes up. (puts heart down and exits)
MS. Oh, I am so hungry. With all this snow on the ground I can’t find any food. But wait a minute. I smell something sweet. Look, somebody dropped a big red heart. (nibbles) yummy! It tastes like paste! I love paste (nibble) I’ll have to tell my family to come over here and get their fill. (exits)
BD. Caw, caw. All this snow on the ground and I can’t find any material for my nest. Wait! What’s that? A soft red heart. I bet I can peck some of that red material so I can line my nest. When my eggs hatch, my little birdies will love it. (goes over and pecks at heart.) Caw, caw (exits with a piece of red in its beak)
RB. Oh dear, oh dear! What will I ever do? This snow is covering our little hole in the ground and my little bun-rabs will never find their way back inside. What to do, what to…Wait! What’s that? A red heart left over from Valentine’s Day. Just what I need to make a flag so my bun-rabs can find their way back home. I’ll just take a little. Maybe some other animal will need it too. (hops over to the heart and take a little piece in its mouth and hops away.)
SCENE 3 : Snow is gone. Replace the big Valentine with a small one
Narrator: It’s now 6 weeks since Groundhog’s day. The snow has melted and the sun is finally shining.
GH. (out of the hole and walking around and stretching) Oh it feels so good to be out in the sunshine again. I slept like a log. Had some fantastic dreams too. The best of all was about a Valentine card I received. It was a whopper! And the best thing of all was that I got to share that heart with many of my animal friends. But, alas, it “twas but a dream” as Shakespeare once sai…(looks down) But then and again maybe it wasn’t a dream. There is a Valentine here…a very small valentine …not at all like the one in my dream, but it does have my name on it. Oh look, here comes Sally Jean.
SJ. Hi, Fuzzy! Boy, your predictor was right on target this year. After I saw you on Groundhog’s Day, we’ve had nothing but snow and ice. Say, did you get that Valentine card I made for you?
GH. Why, yes I did. I thought maybe it was from you. It was the biggest, most beautifulingest Valentine I ever received.
SJ. Oh good, I’m glad you liked it. Well, I’m off. Now that spring is here I’m going over to the big field to fly my kite. See ya’! (exits)
GH. (to audience) That wasn’t quite a lie, you know. It was the biggest and best valentine I ever received…’cause it was the only valentine I ever received. And I didn’t want to hurt Sally Jean’s feelings. Besides it’s not how big or fancy something is…It’s the thought that counts. Have a Happy Valentine’s Day.
