GRETCHEN GROUNDHOG, IT'S YOUR DAY!
By Abby Levine
Parts (17): Narrator 1 Narrator 2 Narrator 3 Narrator 4 Narrator 5 Narrator 6
Gretchen Hester Townsfolk(2) Town Historian Police Chief
Editor Father Mayor Visitor Little Boy Great-Uncle Gus
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Narrator 1: GRETCHEN GROUNDHOG, IT'S YOUR DAY!
Narrator 2: It was a dark and snowy night. Gretchen Groundhog sat in her burrow, worrying. In a
few days it would be February 2, when the world would be watching the little town of
Piccadilly.
Narrator 3: On that day, for the first time, Gretchen would step from her burrow to stand before
TV cameras, newspaper reporters, tourists, all the townsfolk, and a brass band.
Everyone would be waiting as Gretchen looked for her shadow.
Narrator 4: For as long as she could remember, it had been Great-Uncle Gus who searched for his
shadow before the anxious crowd.
Narrator 5: If he saw it, there would be a roar of disappointment, for this meant winter would
last six more dreary weeks. The band would play slow, sad music, and Gus would
trudge back into his burrow.
Narrator 6: If there was no shadow, the band would play a lively tune, and everyone would cheer.
Spring was around the corner!
Narrator 1: But now Great-Uncle Gus was too old. It was up to Gretchen, his only relative, to
carry on. Gretchen told her great-uncle,
Gretchen: "I can't do it, I'm just too shy. I can't stand there with everyone looking at me."
Great-Uncle Gus: "You can do it. The first time is always the hardest,"
Narrator 2: said Great-Uncle Gus. But Gretchen knew she could not Go Out.
Narrator 3: "Gretchen's not Going Out!" The news flashed through Piccadilly.
Townsfolk: "What will we do?"
Narrator 3: the townsfolk asked each other.
Narrator 4: On January 30, there was a story about Gretchen on the front page of the Post.
"PICCADILLY PUZZLED" the headline said.
Narrator 5: The story continued, "There has always been a Groundhog Day in Piccadilly. But this
year, it seems Gretchen Groundhog will not Go Out. How will we plan if we do not
know when winter will end?"
Narrator 6: The townsfolk stopped Gretchen on the street. They peppered her with questions.
Mayor: "Should we buy more salt to put on icy roads?"
Narrator 1: asked the mayor. A father asked,
Father: "Shall I chop more wood for my family?"
Little Boy: "When can the bears stop hibernating?"
Narrator 2: asked a little boy. Everyone begged.
Townsfolk: "Please, dear Gretchen, Go Out on Groundhog Day. Tell us when winter will end!"
Narrator 3: But Gretchen only shook her head.
Narrator 4: On January 31, Gretchen lit a cheery fire, but it did not help her mood. All day
the doorbell chimed, the phone rang, e-mail erupted, and urgent letters plopped
through the mail slot.
Narrator 5: Gretchen felt terrible. It seemed like the longest day of her life.
Narrator 6: On February 1, the town was in an uproar. Tourists filled the motels. In front
of Gretchen's burrow, carpenters were building wooden stands for the crowd.
Narrator 1: The TV crews had arrived, and the band was practicing with squawky sounds.
Groundhog Day was only hours away!
Narrator 2: "PICCADILLY PANICKED" read the Post. "Soon the eyes of the world will be upon us.
What will happen if Gretchen does not Go Out?"
Narrator 3: KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! Three townsfolk were waiting when Gretchen opened her door.
Town Historian: "You must try, Gretchen, there has always been a Groundhog Day in Piccadilly."
Narrator 4: said the town historian.
Chief of Police: "Do, Gretchen. I'll stand beside you,"
Narrator 4: said the chief of police.
Editor: "I'll make you famous,"
Narrator 4: said the editor of the Post. But Gretchen only shook her head.
Narrator 5: All afternoon and evening, visitors came. KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Townsfolk: "Gretchen, are you there?² KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! ³Gretchen!"
Narrator 6: That night, weary and sad, Gretchen fell asleep in her rocking chair. But she heard
the townsfolk even in her dreams.
Townsfolk: KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! "Please, Gretchen, open the door!"
Narrator 2: Gretchen awoke, but the knocking did not stop. She hurried to the door and looked
out the peephole. There, on the moonlit snow, stood a little girl. It was Hester,
the town historian's daughter.
Hester: "May I come in?"
Narrator 3: Hester asked. Gretchen opened the door. She helped Hester take off her coat, soggy
mittens, and wet boots and muffler. Hester said,
Hester: "I won't stay long. I wanted you to see these. I found them while I was helping my
mother."
Narrator 4: She held out a wooden box with some yellowed pieces of paper in it. Gretchen could
see that they had old-fashioned writing on them. Gretchen asked,
Gretchen: "What's this?"
Hester: "Records from our town history,"
Narrator 5: Hester explained. While Great-Uncle Gus made cups of steaming cocoa, Gretchen
studied the first piece of paper.
Narrator 6: "Tomorrow I Must Go Out," it read, "to Stand Before the Pilgrims and the Indians.
I Am Greatly Afeared." It was signed ³Goody Groundhog." Gretchen was amazed.
Gretchen: "Goody Groundhog lived a long time ago! She came to America on the Mayflower,
before there was a Piccadilly."
Hester: "My mother says Goody told everyone the Second Winter would be better than the first.
They were very glad,"
Narrator 1: said Hester. Gretchen leafed through the papers. She exclaimed,
Gretchen: "Here's one by George Groundhog at Valley Forge! He says, 'I Am Affrighted to Go Out,
but I Shall. The Winter Has Been Long and Hard. The Soldiers Must Know What Will
Be.'"
Hester: "My mother says George told them the winter would go on a long time. Everyone was
very sad,"
Narrator 2: said Hester. As Gretchen read through the papers, she became more and more excited.
Narrator 3: There was a page from brave General Grant Groundhog, who had fought in the Civil
War. And Gene Groundhog, the tough cowboy. And Gloria Groundhog, who became a
movie star.
Gretchen: "They were all afraid to Go Out!"
Narrator 4: Gretchen said. She read the last piece of paper. "I am scared, but tomorrow I will
try to Go Out," it said. It was signed "Gus Groundhog."
Gretchen: "You?"
Narrator 5: said Gretchen to Great-Uncle Gus. Her great-uncle looked surprised. Then a dreamy
look came into his eyes.
Great-Uncle Gus: "It was so long ago I had forgotten it. Now I remember-I couldn't eat or sleep
the night before."
Narrator 6: he said. Gretchen asked
Gretchen: "What happened then?"
Great-Uncle Gus: "My great-uncle Grover helped me. He said, 'You can do it, Gus. The first time
is always the hardest.'"
Narrator 1: The clock began to chime. "...nine, ten, eleven, twelve," they counted together.
Hester: "Oh, my gosh, I've got to go! I've never stayed up so late."
Narrator 2: said Hester.
Gretchen: "Thank you for everything, Hester,"
Narrator 3: Gretchen said. She and Hester gave each other a big hug. Gretchen went to bed and
lay quietly in the darkness.
Narrator 4: She thought about the next morning, about all the townsfolk gathered, the TV cameras
and the crowds, the blaring of the band.
Narrator 5: She turned on the light, wrote a few lines on a piece of paper, and put it in the
history box. Then she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Narrator 6: Gretchen's dreams were peaceful. She was awoken by the sound of voices and the
screeks of the band tuning up.
Narrator 1: She put on her coat and muffler, boots and mittens. She took a deep breath.
Gretchen: "You can do it,"
Narrator 2: she whispered to herself. Then Gretchen Groundhog flung open the door...
Narrator 3: and stepped out into the February morning.