Raul and Rafael are in Jason´s backyard.

Raul: when are you going to start trusting Francis?
Rafael (dramatizing): NEVER!

They both break out laughing.

Rafael/Raul (holding their stomachs): Ha! Ha! Ha!
Cat (out of nowhere): Hey guys.

Rafael/Raul (screaming): Ah!

Rafael: please don´t eat me!

Off of Francis´s look.

Rafael (cont.): Oh, it´s just you.
Cat: Jee, thanks.
Raul: I think he actually meant that in a nice way this time.

Rafael: why do you always do that?
Raul: do what?
Rafael (ignores the question and turns to Francis): Anyways…

Suddenly Rafael goes silent and turns to stone from shock.

Cat: what’s wrong?

Raul looks at Francis and notices something behind him that makes him equally frightened.

He swallows in dry, petrified.

Cat: Hello? Guys? What´s wrong…?

Both of his friends remain unresponsive and frozen in place.

Cat (cont./confused): what?

He turns around to see what´s behind him.

Right in his face he finds Charlie, the snake.

Rafael and Raul hug each other in fear.

Cat (like its nothing): Oh hi Charlie.
Charlie: Hi Francis.

Rafael blinks a few times, dumbstruck.

The rat and the bird un-hug each other.

The bird opens his mouth to say something but rethinks before uttering a word.

He looks at Raul who he finds is equally baffled.

Cat: How have you been?

Before Charlie can answer.

Rafael: wow! Hold up!
Cat: what?
Rafael: what? What? Are you high on something?

Cat (thinking/unknowing):  No?
Rafael: that´s a SNAKE!
Cat: This is Charlie, and yes, I´m aware he´s a snake. I have eyes you know?

Rafael is speechless.

Raul (fearful): Francis, is this “nice” snake your friend?
Cat: Guys this is Charlie, he lives across the street.

Rafael: if he lives across the street, why is he here, now, and not across the street, where he lives?

Charlie (innocent): I came to say hi.

Rafael opens his mouth to speak but looks at Raul first and decides to stay silent.

Raul slowly raises his hand as if asking permission to speak.

The cat, the bird and the snake all look at him.

Cat: yes?
Raul (to Charlie): are you going to eat us?

Charlie immediately lowers his head, saddened.

Francis looks at Raul and gives him a “really?” look.

Raul just shrugs.

Charlie readies himself to leave.

Cat (to Charlie): Hold up. (to Rafael and Raul) Guys, come on…
Charlie: It´s okay Francis. I´ll just go home.
Cat: No, wait. (to Rafael and Raul) Guys, this is Charlie. Charlie this is Rafael and this is Raul.

Raul: Hi.
Charlie: hi.
Rafael: Hi? Are you high on exhaust pipe fumes or something?

Cat (anticipating more of Rafael´s mean comments): Rafael!
Rafael: what?
Cat: this is Charlie.

Rafael: you said that already.
Charlie: It´s okay Francis…
Cat: No. Rafael, Charlie´s my friend. He´s nice.

Rafael: He´s a snake!
Raul: Look Francis, I know you make friends with just about anyone but, I´m with Raf on this one.
Cat: seriously? Even you?

Raul just shrugs apologetically.

Francis sys in annoyance.

Cat (cont.): Charlie, please ignore them.

Charlie just looks down, sad.

Raul notices this and decides to give a step forward.

Raul: Charlie?
Charlie (looking to the side/not facing the rat): what?
Raul: I´m Raul. Nice to meet you.
Charlie (pouting): nice to meet you too…

Raul nudges Rafael.

Rafael (bitching): what?

Rafael rolls his eyes and sys.

Rafael (cont.): Nice to meet you Charlie.
Cat (upset): and?
Rafael: and I´m sorry. But you have to understand, snakes usually want to eat us.

Raul: Yes, they´re not friendly like you.
Charlie: okay.
Cat (anticipating something bad): Okay! So now we´re all friends, right?

Before any of them can answer.

Cat (cont.): Okay!
Charlie: thank you.
Rafael (confused): for what?
Charlie: for wanting to be my friends.

Rafael is about to say something but Raul covers his mouth and shakes his head as if telling him to just shut up.

Raul: well Charlie, it´s been a pleasure meeting you. I have to go home or the “Missus” will kill me and trust me when I say that she can be scarier than any snake on the planet.

Rafael: yeah, I have to go too. It was nice meeting you.

Rafael turns and stomps near Francis.

Rafael ( cont./bitching): crazy ass cat!

Francis just smiles.

Rafael (cont.): stop smiling, you idiot!

Rafael flies away.

Raul: I have to go too. Bye Francis. Bye Charlie, it was nice meeting you.
Charlie: You too.

Raul disappears.

Cat: you okay?
Charlie: your friends are nice.

Cat: Now they´re your friends too.
Charlie (smiling/flashing those huge fangs): Really?

Francis turns white with fear. He swallows in dry.

Cat: sure…
Charlie: thank you Francis.
Cat (confused): for what?

Charlie: thanks to you, now I have three friends.
Cat (realizes Charlie´s loneliness): I’m sure you´ll make many more.
Charlie: you really think so?

Cat: yeah. Now get on home. It´s getting late. Don´t want you entering the wrong house and killing someone with a heart attack.

Charlie: yeah, okay. Bye.

Charlie slithers away.

Francis drops to the floor, exhausted.

Cat (mumbling): why do I have to be such a good soul?

He forces himself up and drags his butt home.

He sys, loudly.

The end.

2018_ Joana Teixeira