SUMMARY​

Sam and her family are preparing to move from small-town Juniper, Texas to the big city of Fort Worth.  As moving day draws nearer, Sam will find out that the really big rats are not really rats at all and what happens when Mrs. Tiptin gets of all the “skunks” in the neighborhood.  Unfortunately, Sam will also learn a little about religious prejudice first hand as well as ethnic prejudice when new friend named Treah moves into the predominantly white town of Juniper.  “Skunks” is both a cute and a touching story of youth and life lessons that many of us learn as we grow up.

SETTING

The story takes place in the little town of Juniper, Texas; it’s no place special, just an ordinary little town in the early 1980s.  The set can be very simple; unit set pieces and a few furniture pieces can create the world of Juniper.  The last scene takes place in Sam and Chase’s new home

CHARACTERS

13 Characters: 5 Males, 8 Females   

ALAN:	(M) Sam’s and Chase’s father.  In his mid 30s.
AUDRA:	(F) ​Sam’s best friend.  8 or 9 years old.
BILLY:	(M) ​​Sam’s friend. 8 or 9 years old.  Comes from a very prejudiced family.
BOBBY:	(M)​ Chase’s best friend and Donna’s older brother.  12 or 13 years old.
CHASE:	(M) ​Sam’s older brother.  12 or 13 years old.
DONNA:	(F) ​Bobby’s little sister and Sam’s friend.  She’s prissy and is 10 or 11 years old.
EILEEN:	(F) ​Chase’s and Sam’s mother.  She is always seen with Sam’s youngest sister Dee Dee in her arms.  In her early 30s.
RIDGLEA:	(F) Mrs. Tiptin’s next-door-neighbor.  Most of the time Joy Ann Ridglea is nice.  She seems to really hate skunks.   She is in her late 70s.
SAM:	(F) Short for Samantha.  Tomboy.  8 or 9 years old.
TEACHER:	(F) ​​Mrs. Rauchmeyer.  Nice, sweet, young teacher.
TIPTIN:	(F) ​The landlady, Sue Tiptin.  A nice older woman who cares about Sam’s family very much.  She is in her late 70s.
TREAH:	(F) ​Treah is new to Juniper and is 8 or 9 years old.  She befriends Audra, Sam, and Wes instantly.  She is African-American, which is rare in Juniper.  She secretly has a crush on Wes.
WES:	(M) Sam’s other best friend. 8 or 9 years old.