Jamarius enters wearing an overcoat...

Jamarius enters wearing an overcoat and carrying a small package.

JAMARIUS

Yoo-hoo? Anyone home?

BRYSON

(unseen voice from the porch)

Over here.

JAMARIUS

Mr. Bryson? Are you off your rocker?

BRYSON

No.

(pulls off the blankets from the rocking chair he’s on)

I’m on my rocker.

JAMARIUS

It’s forty degrees!

BRYSON

I was going to guess thirty-seven.

JAMARIUS

What in God’s creation are you doing out here?

BRYSON

I told myself I’d stay out here until Hell freezes over. Thought I only had five degrees to go, but now I find out it was more like eight.

JAMARIUS

Use your weather app thingy.

BRYSON

Can’t. Internet and cell service were turned off last month.

JAMARIUS

Well, cheer up ‘cause I have a special delivery for you.

Jamarius hands Bryson the small box.

BRYSON

I didn’t order anything.

JAMARIUS

Has your name on it right there.

Bryson hands the box back to Jamarius.

BRYSON

No thanks.

JAMARIUS

Mind if I open it for you?

BRYSON

Suit yourself.

Jamarius opens the box, pulls out Maddie’s old rosary beads.

JAMARIUS

These are for you.

BRYSON

Those are Maddie’s beads. I don’t want them.

JAMARIUS

Sometimes you need something even when you don’t think you want it. You may want to check for a note, too.

Jamarius hands the box back to Bryson with the beads in it.

BRYSON

(feels around, pulls out a note)

Did you break into this box?

JAMARIUS

Didn’t have to. Been doin’ this awhile. A gift from the heart’s always followed by a note from the same.

BRYSON

(reads the note aloud)

Dear Uncle Bryson. Thank you for staying to take care of the animals... I don’t need to go any further. You can see by looking around that I let her down, again.

Bryson wads up the note and tosses it. Jamarius steps over, picks up the note, and unfolds it.

JAMARIUS

(reads the note aloud)

Please pray for me. Love Maddie.

BRYSON

A lot of good prayers would do from a flawed person like me.

JAMARIUS

Maybe it’s more than prayers.

BRYSON

I don’t follow.

JAMARIUS

Maddie needs you.

BRYSON

I have no clue where she is, and I can’t even call her to figure it out.

JAMARIUS

I got an idea where she is.

BRYSON

How?

JAMARIUS

The package was picked up from a residence in Wilmington, North Carolina.

(holds up his hand held device)

The full address is in here.

BRYSON

Don’t do it. The last thing I want is you to break the law because of me.

Jamarius presses a button, prints out a ticket. He hands it to Bryson.

JAMARIUS

If doing this keeps me from gettin’ to Heaven, I’ll take that chance.

BRYSON

I’m not sure I’ll know what to do when I get there.

JAMARIUS

Listen for voice of the Lord.

BRYSON

How will I know it’s His voice I’m hearing?

JAMARIUS

You’ll know. It sounds different.

Bryson bear hugs Jamarius this time.

JAMARIUS

God bless.

Jamarius heads to his truck to leave.

BRYSON

(wipes back tears)

Thank you, my friend.

For licensing inquiries or further information, please visit Gitelman & Good Publishers