Skit: “Can I Have the Keys?”

When you want to ask your mother or father to give you something… Who do you usually prefer to ask? Why? Is there any “special way” that you ask? For example, do you try to act “sweet,” or use a certain tone of voice or body language? What kinds of things are you most likely to ask for? Do you usually get what you ask for?

"Can I Have the Keys?" Characters: Sean, dad Scene: Sean wants to borrow his dad's car (Dad is sitting in a living room chair, reading a newspaper. Sean walks in.)

Sean: Can I have the keys to the car? Dad: (hands him the keys) Where are you going? Sean: Out. Dad: Out where? Sean: Nowhere. Dad: Nowhere, huh? And what are you going to do there? Sean: Nothing. Dad: I see. You're going nowhere to do nothing. Sean: It's the same old thing, dad. You know. Dad: Who are you going with? Sean: Nobody.

Dad: Let me see if I understand this—you're going nowhere to do nothing with nobody? Sean: (impatient) Come on, dad. If you don't want me to use the car, just say so. Dad: That's not it, Sean. I just can't figure out why you need a car. I mean, if you want to go nowhere to do nothing with nobody, you could just stay in your room. Sean: (a little upset) Ha, ha, very funny, dad. (he starts to walk away)

Dad: Sean, where are you going? Sean: (impatient) I'm going to pick up Jordan and we're gonna go to a movie, OK? Dad: OK, that's all you had to say in the first place. Sean: Man, a {guy/girl} can't have any privacy around here. (he walks out the door) Dad: (looking at the audience) I can't wait until {he/she} has kids of {his/her} own. (he continues reading his newspaper)

Do you think a conversation like this could happen in your family? Why or why not? How might it be different if it happened to you? Would you ever ask for the same thing that Sean did? Would you speak to your mom or dad the same way that Sean did?