THE MISADVENTURES OF SARA AND DINA
SCENARIO TWO: THE STUDENT – TEACHER RELATIONSHIP
SARA:
(In pain, maybe hung-over) Oh my gosh, I feel terrible!
DINA:
Well what do you expect; we were out until 6 in the morning.
SARA:
Got any aspirin?
DINA:
In my purse… somewhere… ah, here it is.
SARA:
(Trying to get serious) So what are we going to do about Professor
Miller’s assignment? He is so serious about things being turned in on time.
DINA:
(Annoyed) I know, he needs to lighten up.
SARA:
What are we going to do?
DINA:
We need a good excuse!
SARA:
I could say that my grandma died.
DINA:
Oooh, that’s good… I want to use that one.
SARA:
I thought of it, I get to use it.
DINA:
(A bit sulkingly) How about, “My mother accidentally used my
assignment to line the birdcage…
SARA:
And the bird had diarrhea!
DINA:
That’s gross!
SARA:
I know… ok, what about something about my cousin going in
hospital?
DINA:
Yeah… but why?
SARA:
They got shot?
DINA:
(Excitedly) OOO, even better – I had to take my cousin to the
emergency room because he accidentally shot off his big toe!
SARA:
That’s stupid.
DINA:
You’re stupid!
SARA:
Shut up!
DINA
You shut up!
SARA:
You!
DINA:
YOU!
(Awkward pause, furtive glances)
SARA:
Let’s just say we forgot them, it’s the start of the weekend tomorrow,
that will give us some time to try to get them done.
DINA:
(Whining) But there’s that big party this weekend in Alex.
SARA:
Oh, that’s right… well, we still need to get the professor off our back
today.
DINA:
Yeah… ready?
SARA:
Here goes (knocks three times on the door).
PROF:
(Distracted) Come in.
SARA:
Act sad, this is going to work.
PROF:
Good afternoon you two. I missed you both in class this morning…
DINA:
(Really working the professor) We are so sorry, we both were feeling
sick. Last night –
SARA:
(Suddenly nervous) We got sick last night! We wanted to come, but
our parents wouldn’t let us. We are so sorry (Shoots a look at Dina).
DINA:
(Adjusting) Yes, we are sad that we had to miss one of your great
lectures.
SARA:
Anyway, in our rush to get here, we forgot our assignments. But we
can bring them in to you the first thing Sunday morning, before our classes.
PROF:
(Matter of factly) You both know what the syllabus says, all
assignments due by 5pm. No exceptions.
DINA:
But… but we both live all the way out in Maadi; we wouldn’t be able
to get them back in time.
PROF:
I thought you both said that you lived in the dorm?
SARA:
(Quickly trying to cover) Well, we… we used to live there, last
semester, but we moved because it was too noisy to really study…
DINA:
That’s right.
PROF:
(Perhaps a bit suspiciously now) Doesn’t one of you have a car?
SARA:
Yes, I do…
PROF:
So, if you leave right now, you should just be able to make it back in
time… I will wait for you.
DINA:
We can’t!
SARA:
What Dina means is that my car got a flat tire on the way to school
this afternoon. I had to call my father to send a tow truck out to get it fixed, while
we had to walk the last part.
DINA:
(Starting to panic a bit) Yes, I saw it; the tire was flat as a pancake!
PROF:
(Studying them both) Ok, I tell you what. I am going to give you both
a very short, very easy quiz right no, one question. If you both get it right, you can
turn your assignments in next week with no penalty.
SARA:
Great!
DINA:
(to Sara, under her breath) See, I knew this would work.
PROF:
Are you both ready? Here is a piece of paper for you, Sara, and for
you Dina. Please sit on opposite sides of the room. Ready? Here’s the question…
Which Tire?
NARRATOR: Can you start to understand how it looks to the teachers when they
hear all these excuses? If you were the instructor, how would you respond?