The Chocolate Box

By Bruce Riley

Little Abigail Buffington was dangerously ill from eating a whole box of chocolates that her parents had hidden away for Christmas. Her feverish dreams transported her to the fabulous Land of Chocolate. But her dreams gradually deteriorated, and she descended into a perilous and demonic domain. She was saved by her unassailable innocence and escaped to enjoy Christmas with her greatly relieved parents and visiting grandmother.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098062965

Book preview

Act I

The scene opens within a child’s bedroom. Mrs. Buffington, seated beside the bed, and Mr. Buffington, standing, look gravely down upon their sick child. Through the window can be seen a few snowflakes tumbling out of a gray sky. A small Christmas tree sits atop the child’s dresser.

Mrs. Buffington, removing a thermometer from the child’s mouth and studying it, the child’s name being Abigail or Abbey. Oh dear, Abbey has a temperature of 104.

Mr. Buffington. We’d better call Dr. Hall right away. I hope our party line isn’t busy.

Mrs. Buffington. If it is, you’ll just have to tell them it’s an emergency. They’ll understand.

Mr. Buffington, exiting and, after a pause, his voice being heard from the next room. Hello, central. Give me Walnut 6198 please.

Abbey’s dream body appears to sit up out of a mist, while the body of the sick child remains motionless in bed. Wearing a flannel nightgown, Abbey dances lightly around the room as Mr. Buffington speaks in the background.

Mr. Buffington. Hello. Dr. Hall? This is Guy Buffington, and I’m calling about little Abigail. We brought her in last month because of a sty. Well, that’s cleared up, but now she’s got a temperature of 104, and we’re terribly worried. She doesn’t respond to anything… You can?… Right away?… Thank you ever so much. We’re much obliged.

As Mr. Buffington watches for Dr. Hall through the window, Mrs. Buffington places a damp washcloth on Abbey’s forehead. She kisses Abbey, then stands beside Mr. Buffington. He puts his arm around her shoulder.

An eccentric figure rises out of a mist from behind the bed.

Abbey. Hello there. Who are you?

Crafty Mind, an old-fashioned schoolmaster wearing a scholastic robe, which is the worse for wear. He may absentmindedly toss and catch a piece of chalk. I, my sprite, am the personification of your intellect, otherwise known as Crafty Mind.

A second figure rises out of a mist from behind the bed.

Abbey. Well, hello. What’s your name?

Lustful Body, a corpulent figure with a battered top hat and collar askew, wearing spats and carrying a walking stick. I, lassie, am your Lustful Body.

A third figure rises out of a mist from behind the bed.

Abbey. Hi there. And who might you be?

Foolish Heart, dressed like a flapper from the roaring twenties and perhaps speaking like Katharine Hepburn or Zsa Zsa Gabor. And I, my darling, am your Foolish Heart.

Abbey. Who’s the sick kid in bed?

Foolish Heart, giving Abbey a playful poke. She’s you.

Lustful Body. And you, moppet, happen to be our Miserable Self.

Abbey, standing beside each of her parents, gazing up into their faces. Gee whillikers! Mumsey and Dadsey, don’t pay any attention to me. Does that mean I’m invisible… or dead?

Crafty Mind. You have merely passed beyond the physical sight of your—or more precisely—our parents, but don’t worry about your last roundup. That will not occur until the milestones of your life are casting long shadows in the lurid sunset of your declining years.

Abbey. But I still feel sort of… sort of…

Crafty Mind. I believe the word you’re searching for is incorporeal.

Abbey. I was thinking more along the lines of unreal… sort of funny-like.

To the instrumental and/or a capella music (sung in ohhs, oos, and ahhs) of Images of the Bizarre and Unusual, Abbey and her companions dance lightly as though floating. Abbey occasionally waves a hand before her parents’ faces, but they take no notice. They stop dancing and listen as Mr. Buffington speaks.

Mr. Buffington. There’s Dr. Hall’s car turning into the drive.

Mrs. Buffington. Thank goodness he’s come promptly.

Mr. Buffington exits the bedroom to meet Dr. Hall. Abbey and her companions rush to the window and peer out. Mrs. Buffington resumes her seat beside the bed.

Mr. Buffington, offstage. Hi. How were the roads?

Dr. Hall. They were treacherous, but with chains, the snow didn’t slow me down.

After a pause, Mr. Buffington conducts Dr. Hall into the bedroom. Dr. Hall brushes snowflakes from his coat and hat before giving them to Mr. Buffington.

Dr. Hall. Well, well. This is quite a girl you have here. By the way, Abigail hasn’t been playing with the Standish children across the street, has she? No, I don’t suppose she would be that foolhardy—not with the scarlet fever quarantine posted.

Mrs. Buffington. Oh no, Doctor, not once has she ventured across the street.

Dr. Hall listens to Abbey’s heart and lungs with a stethoscope as Mr. and Mrs. Buffington study his face for indications of how serious Abbey’s condition might be. Abbey and her companions gather around, looking from one face to the other. Dr. Hall occasionally mutters, Mmmmmmm, and gravely shakes his head.

Mrs. Buffington. Actually, Doctor, Abigail discovered the Christmas presents we’d hidden, and ate a whole box of chocolates. We thought getting sick would be a good lesson, but she’s become delirious and we’re worried. (She starts to sob.)

Dr. Hall. There, there, Mrs. Buffington. I’ll give Abigail something to settle her stomach, and then… (He looks down at Abbey with mock severity.) And then it will be tea and toast for you, young lady. (An echoing voice offstage represents Dr. Hall’s thoughts.) The poor little kid should be in the hospital, but a long ambulance ride in the cold air might push her over the brink… And with the snow, roads will be treacherous.

In the background, Dr. Hall and Mr. and Mrs. Buffington continue their conversation in pantomime as Abbey speaks to her companions. Dr. Hall reaches into his medical bag, produces a bottle, and holds up three fingers as he gives instructions. Mr. Buffington helps Dr. Hall on with his coat and accompanies him out of the room. Mrs. Buffington resumes her seat beside the bed.

Abbey, during the pantomime. I asked Mumsey and Dadsey if I could